Magic Johnson Theatres are a chain of movie theaters, originally developed in 1994 by Johnson Development Corporation, the business holding of basketball player-turned-entrepreneur Magic Johnson, and Sony Pictures Entertainment through a partnership with Sony-Loews Theatres. A 1998 merger between Sony-Loews and Cineplex Odeon Corporation caused Magic Theatres to become part of the new Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. Currently the chain's former locations are owned by AMC Theatres after Sony-Loews was acquired by the cinema giant in 2006. They are branded Magic Johnson Theatres still however they are solely controlled by AMC now, only using the Magic Johnson Theatres name.
The focus of Magic Theatres was to build first-rate multiplexes in urban communities, bringing high quality facilities and technology, as well as job development, encouraging local economic growth. While Magic Theatres are patterned after the Loews Cineplex Entertainment model, they retain the Magic name and focus on urban markets. Each complex is around 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) with multiple concession areas, 10 to 15 screens with SDDS stereo sound, stadium seating and a capacity of 3,200 to 5,000. After building the Magic Theatre in Harlem, multiple businesses followed suit including Old Navy, Disney, and HMV.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr., is no longer actively involved in the management committee, strategic planning, operations and public relations.
There are two multiplex theatres in, or near, major cities of the United States of America, namely in areas which are predominantly African-American (hence the branding) and previously were underserved by modern cineplexes. The venture dates back to 1995, when the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 opened in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, California.
The first theater opened, the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 was closed in 2010. It was renovated and reopened by Rave Motion Pictures.
The only remaining original theatre still opened is the Harlem 9 theatre in Harlem, New York. The theatres in Cleveland, Ohio (Randall Park 12) Houston, Texas (Northline 12), and Atlanta, Georgia (Greenbrier 12) were all closed by AMC due to lack of profitability. The Magic Johnson theater in Largo, Maryland (Cap Center 12) is still open and operated by AMC. The location at Cap Center was the first one opened that was not a Partnership with Magic Johnson. Loews Cineplex Entertainment used the Magic Theatres name only to brand the location.