Last verified: June 1, 2026. Showtimes, formats, and prices change weekly and sometimes daily; the live listings linked below are the source of truth. Always confirm the day’s schedule on each theater’s official site before you drive out.
If you grew up here, you know the Tacoma movie map looks nothing like it did when the Tacoma Mall Twin still ran. The mall theater closed in 2002 and was replaced by retail and dining, so a search for a “Tacoma Mall movie theater” no longer lands on a screen inside the mall. What replaced it is better: a waterfront megaplex at Point Ruston, a century-old single-screen landmark in Proctor, a nonprofit art house downtown, and a big IMAX house just across the Narrows. Here is how a local actually navigates it.
Tacoma movie theaters at a glance
- Cinemark Century Point Ruston and XD — the waterfront megaplex with XD, D-BOX, RealD 3D and reserved Luxury Loungers at 5057 Main St. Pull live showtimes at cinemark.com.
- The Blue Mouse Theatre — Washington’s oldest continuously operating theater, in the Proctor District since 1923; first- and second-run films plus Rocky Horror and cult nights. Showtimes at bluemousetheatre.com.
- The Grand Cinema — Pierce County’s only nonprofit art-house, four screens of independent and foreign film downtown at 606 S Fawcett Ave. Calendar at grandcinema.com.
- Galaxy Theatres Gig Harbor (Uptown) — the closest IMAX and DFX luxury-recliner house, a short hop across the Narrows Bridge. Listings at galaxytheatres.com.
- Regal Lakewood & RPX — the big-circuit south-end option with RPX, just down I-5 from the Tacoma Mall. Showtimes at regmovies.com.
- Plan a Tacoma visit around showtimes with the regional events and visitor guide at Travel Tacoma + Pierce County.
Century Point Ruston (the “ruston theater” everyone searches)
When people type “ruston theater Tacoma” or “century theater Tacoma,” this is the room they mean: Cinemark Century Point Ruston and XD, the anchor of the Point Ruston waterfront development at 5057 Main St, Tacoma, WA 98407. It is the modern blockbuster house for the city — a nine-screen complex with stadium seating, reserved reclining Luxury Loungers, and a format lineup that covers Cinemark XD (the large premium screen), D-BOX motion seats, and RealD 3D, alongside standard digital auditoriums.
It is also the most pleasant approach in the city. You can make a full evening of it: park in the Point Ruston garage, walk the promenade along Commencement Bay, grab dinner on Main Street, then catch a show. For accessibility, the theater offers closed captioning, assisted-listening devices, and descriptive narration — confirm any specific accessibility showtimes on the official listings before you go. Because the premium formats (XD and D-BOX) sell out first on opening weekends, buy reserved seats ahead rather than walking up. Live showtimes, formats per film, and seat maps are at the official page on cinemark.com; the venue overview also lives on the Point Ruston site.
The Blue Mouse: the historic Proctor landmark
The Blue Mouse Theatre at 2611 N Proctor St is the soul of moviegoing in Tacoma. It opened in the Proctor District in 1923 and is the oldest continuously operating theater in Washington state — a single-screen, roughly 205-seat house that has outlasted every multiplex that tried to bury it. This is not where you go for the newest tentpole on opening night; it is where you go for the experience.
The Blue Mouse mixes first-run and second-run releases with a calendar of curated events: monthly midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Friday Night Frights horror series, live-music nights, and free family screenings. It runs on a lean weekend-heavy schedule, and hours shift with the programming, so this is exactly the kind of theater where you should never assume — check the current “Upcoming Showings” calendar before you go. You can also rent the house for private events. Tickets, the event calendar, and the Friends rewards program are at bluemousetheatre.com, and the district keeps a listing at theproctordistrict.com.
The Grand Cinema: Tacoma’s nonprofit art house
Downtown at 606 S Fawcett Ave, The Grand Cinema is Pierce County’s only nonprofit, community-based art-house cinema. Its four digital screens carry first-run independent, documentary, and foreign films you usually will not find at the megaplex, along with filmmaker discussions, festivals, and education programs. It is the answer for “what’s the artsy theater in Tacoma” and a reliable stop for awards-season titles before they go wide. As a nonprofit, it is volunteer-supported and membership-driven, so a Grand membership pays for itself if you go more than a handful of times a year. Current titles, showtimes, and membership details are on the official site at grandcinema.com.
Galaxy Uptown IMAX, Regal Lakewood, and the Tacoma Mall question
Two more rooms round out the practical map. Just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Galaxy Theatres Gig Harbor (at Uptown Gig Harbor, 4649 Point Fosdick Dr NW) is the nearest IMAX to Tacoma and adds DFX luxury recliners and D-BOX — the move when a film is shot for the big format and you want the largest screen in the area. Listings are at galaxytheatres.com.
For the south end, Regal Lakewood & RPX is the big-circuit multiplex down I-5 with Regal’s premium RPX format; it is the closest comparable chain experience to anyone searching “Tacoma Mall movie theater,” since the mall itself no longer has a cinema. Showtimes are at regmovies.com. Bottom line on the mall: there is no screen inside Tacoma Mall today — for a quick show near the mall, Century Point Ruston (waterfront) and Regal Lakewood (south on I-5) are your two real options.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a movie theater at the Tacoma Mall?
No. The historic Tacoma Mall Twin closed in 2002 and the site was redeveloped, so there is no cinema inside Tacoma Mall today. The nearest full-size options are Cinemark Century Point Ruston on the waterfront and Regal Lakewood & RPX down I-5. Confirm showtimes for either on cinemark.com or regmovies.com.
What is the Ruston theater in Tacoma?
“Ruston theater” refers to Cinemark Century Point Ruston and XD at 5057 Main St, Tacoma — the waterfront megaplex at the Point Ruston development. It offers XD, D-BOX, RealD 3D, and reserved reclining Luxury Loungers. Live showtimes are at cinemark.com.
How old is the Blue Mouse Theatre?
The Blue Mouse opened in Tacoma’s Proctor District in 1923, making it the oldest continuously operating theater in Washington state. It runs a weekend-heavy, event-driven schedule, so check the current calendar at bluemousetheatre.com before you go.
Where can I see independent and foreign films in Tacoma?
The Grand Cinema at 606 S Fawcett Ave downtown is Pierce County’s only nonprofit art-house, with four screens of independent, documentary, and foreign film plus festivals and discussions. See current titles at grandcinema.com.
Where is the closest IMAX to Tacoma?
The closest IMAX is Galaxy Theatres Gig Harbor at Uptown Gig Harbor (4649 Point Fosdick Dr NW), a short drive across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It also offers DFX luxury recliners and D-BOX. Check formats and showtimes at galaxytheatres.com.