The Castro Theatre opened in 1922, a 1,400-seat movie palace designed by Timothy Pflueger with a Spanish Colonial facade, a neon marquee, and a cast ceiling shaped like a tent interior. For decades it anchored Castro film culture: the Frameline LGBTQ film festival, sing-alongs, and revival screenings, with a Wurlitzer organ rising before evening shows.
Another Planet Entertainment took over management in 2022 and closed the building for a renovation that ran more than two years and cost $41 million. The theater reopened on February 6, 2026, with restored Pflueger details, new seating, and programming that mixes film with live music and comedy.
It is a designated city landmark. Check the calendar for current programming; the neon marquee and vertical blade sign are visible from anywhere on the block.
