Cobb Theatres

Cobb Theatres was an American cinema exhibition company whose roots extended to a single theatre in Fayette, Alabama, in 1924. Jefferson A. Richards acquired the Putman Theatre that year after selling his power plant to Alabama Power; before the sale, the plant had helped supply electricity for educational film screenings at the theatre. The business remained within the Richards family. In 1934, Lucille Richards Cobb acquired the theatre, and in 1947 Rowland C. Cobb purchased Lucille's two theatres and began a sustained expansion across northern Alabama. The company developed a reputation for building and operating large-format venues as cinema technology and audience habits changed. Its estate included indoor theatres and drive-ins, and it pursued expansion beyond Alabama during the postwar period. Among its notable projects were the Thunderbird Drive-In in Atlanta, opened in 1963 and promoted as one of the South's largest and most modern drive-ins; an early four-plex opened in 1971; Cinema City 8 at Birmingham's Roebuck Shopping Center, opened in 1978; and Sawgrass 18 in Florida, opened in 1991. Cobb had reached 27 theatres by 1965 and moved its corporate offices to Birmingham after acquiring eight Birmingham theatres in 1966. The company entered Florida more aggressively in the 1990s. It acquired General Cinema's theatres in west-central Florida in 1992 and Wometco Theatres in 1994. The Wometco transaction produced a related operating entity known as Cobb Theatres II and helped bring the company's network to approximately 315 screens. Robert M. Cobb succeeded Rowland C. Cobb as chief executive on December 1, 1995. Regal Cinemas agreed in 1997 to acquire Cobb Theatres. At announcement, Cobb reportedly operated 67 theatres with 643 screens. Regal completed the transaction on July 31, 1997, and the original operating company left the market. Robert M. Cobb subsequently re-entered the cinema business by forming a new Cobb Theatres organization, commonly described as Cobb Theatres III. The revived company opened Dolphin 19 in Miami on May 25, 2001, and attracted approximately 1.4 million visitors to that venue. By 2006, the revived business had grown to 11 theatres and 166 screens. Cobb continued to emphasize differentiated cinema formats. In 2008 it introduced CinéBistro, a premium dinner-and-a-movie concept combining theatrical exhibition with restaurant-style food and beverage service. The company later expanded into Colorado, Virginia, and Georgia, reaching 21 theatres and 253 screens by 2011. At a later point in its development, the chain was reported to operate 25 locations, most of them in Florida, with additional sites in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia. In October 2017, Mexican cinema operator Cinemex acquired Cobb Theatres. The locations were subsequently operated under Cinemex's United States banner, CMX Cinemas, effectively ending Cobb as the principal consumer-facing theatre brand. CMX entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, closed 10 underperforming theatres, and later emerged after negotiations with creditors and landlords. CMX filed for Chapter 11 protection again on July 1, 2025, and reported that it was considering asset sales or further closures. These later proceedings concern the successor CMX business rather than an independently operating Cobb Theatres chain.

Cobb Theatres began in 1924 when Jefferson A. Richards purchased the Putman Theatre in Fayette, Alabama. The venue had previously been known as the Dixie Theatre, and Richards had supplied power for educational film screenings before selling his power plant to Alabama Power. Lucille Richards Cobb acquired the theatre in 1934. In 1947, Rowland C. Cobb bought Lucille's two theatres and expanded the family business through northern Alabama, developing both indoor theatres and drive-ins. The chain expanded rapidly during the postwar era. It had 27 theatres by 1965 and acquired eight Birmingham theatres in 1966, after which its offices were moved to Birmingham. Cobb's development strategy emphasized large and technologically distinctive venues. The Thunderbird Drive-In in Atlanta opened in 1963; a four-plex opened in 1971; Cinema City 8 opened at Birmingham's Roebuck Shopping Center in 1978; and Sawgrass 18 opened in 1991. These projects reflected the industry's movement from single-screen theatres toward multiplexes and larger suburban entertainment destinations. Cobb entered Florida through acquisitions. In 1992 it purchased General Cinema's west-central Florida theatres, followed by Wometco Theatres in 1994. The latter transaction was associated with Cobb Theatres II and brought the company's screen total to roughly 315. Robert M. Cobb became chief executive on December 1, 1995. In 1997 Regal Cinemas agreed to acquire the chain, then operating 67 theatres and 643 screens, for reported consideration consisting of cash and assumed debt. Regal completed the acquisition on July 31, 1997. Robert M. Cobb later formed a new company and returned to theatre operations. The revived business, often identified as Cobb Theatres III, opened Dolphin 19 in Miami on May 25, 2001. The venue reportedly drew 1.4 million visitors, and the company grew to 11 theatres and 166 screens by 2006. In 2008, Cobb launched CinéBistro in Miami and Tampa, offering premium food and beverage service alongside movie screenings. The chain subsequently expanded into Colorado, Virginia, and Georgia and reached 21 theatres with 253 screens by 2011. Later descriptions placed the network at 25 locations, with a strong concentration in Florida and additional operations in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia. Cinemex acquired Cobb Theatres in October 2017. The acquired locations were transferred to the CMX Cinemas banner, ending the independent Cobb brand's operating role. CMX sought bankruptcy protection in 2020 during the pandemic, closed 10 underperforming theatres, and emerged after negotiations that included modified revenue-sharing arrangements with landlords. A second CMX Chapter 11 filing occurred on July 1, 2025. Because Cobb had already been absorbed into CMX, the later bankruptcy proceedings belong to the successor company and should not be treated as a separate Cobb corporate filing.

1. 2017Cinemex acquisition

   Cinemex acquired Cobb Theatres and transitioned the locations to the CMX banner.

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2. 2008CinéBistro launches

   Cobb introduced its premium dinner-and-a-movie format in Miami and Tampa.

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3. 2001Cobb returns with Dolphin 19

   The revived Cobb organization opened Dolphin 19 in Miami on May 25.

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4. 1997Regal acquisition completed

   Regal Cinemas completed its acquisition of Cobb Theatres on July 31.

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5. 1994Wometco acquisition

   Cobb acquired Wometco Theatres, expanding its Florida presence and screen count.

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6. 1992General Cinema acquisition

   Cobb purchased General Cinema's theatres in west-central Florida.

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7. 1991Sawgrass 18 opens

   Cobb opened Sawgrass 18 in Florida and promoted it as the largest theatre east of the Rocky Mountains.

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8. 1978Cinema City 8 opens

   Cinema City 8 opened at Birmingham's Roebuck Shopping Center and was promoted as a very large eight-screen complex.

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9. 1971Four-plex development

   Cobb opened a venue described as the first four-plex theatre in the United States.

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10. 1966Birmingham acquisition and headquarters move

    The company purchased eight Birmingham theatres and moved its offices to Birmingham.

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11. 1965Network reaches 27 theatres

    Cobb was operating 27 theatres.

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12. 1963Thunderbird Drive-In opens

    Cobb opened the Thunderbird Drive-In in Atlanta and promoted it as a major modern drive-in venue.

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13. 1947Rowland C. Cobb begins expansion

    Rowland C. Cobb acquired Lucille Cobb's two theatres and began building indoor and drive-in venues across northern Alabama.

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14. 1934Lucille Richards Cobb acquires the theatre

    Lucille Richards Cobb purchased the Fayette theatre from Jefferson A. Richards.

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15. 1924First family theatre acquired in Fayette

    Jefferson A. Richards purchased the Putman Theatre in Fayette, Alabama, establishing the business that became associated with the Cobb family.

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Regional cinema operator focused on broad theatrical exhibition, venue scale, multiplex development, and differentiated premium experiences such as dinner-and-a-movie service.

• Multiplex cinema theatresCinema exhibition1924

  Cobb's core business was the operation of multi-screen movie theatres. Its portfolio developed from traditional indoor and drive-in venues into large multiplexes, including eight-, 18-, and 19-screen complexes. The chain concentrated on the southern and southeastern United States, particularly Florida and Alabama, while also operating selected locations in Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Colorado. Theatres generated revenue from ticketed film screenings, concessions, and related guest services.

• Drive-in theatresCinema exhibition1947

  Drive-ins were an important part of Cobb's mid-century expansion. The company built drive-in theatres throughout northern Alabama and opened the Thunderbird Drive-In in Atlanta in 1963. The format enabled large-scale outdoor film viewing and was positioned as a modern mass-entertainment destination during the period when drive-ins were prominent in American cinema culture.

• CinéBistroPremium cinema dining2008

  CinéBistro was Cobb's premium dinner-and-a-movie concept, introduced in 2008 in Miami and Tampa. It combined theatrical screenings with elevated food and beverage service, seeking to differentiate the chain from conventional multiplexes and increase the value of the overall visit. The concept anticipated the broader industry trend toward premium seating, dine-in theatres, restaurant partnerships, and experience-led cinema formats.

• 2017Sell the chain to CinemexM&A

  Cobb had developed a regional network with a particularly strong presence in Florida and operated differentiated formats including CinéBistro.

  What changed. Cinemex acquired Cobb Theatres in October 2017 and placed the locations under its CMX United States banner.

  Aftermath. Cobb ceased to function as the principal consumer-facing brand for the acquired locations.

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• 2008Introduce the CinéBistro premium formatProduct launch

  Conventional cinema operators faced pressure to differentiate the theatrical outing from home entertainment and to create additional per-guest spending opportunities.

  What changed. Cobb launched CinéBistro locations in Miami and Tampa, combining movie screenings with premium dinner and beverage service.

  Aftermath. The concept became a notable part of Cobb's positioning around premium, experience-oriented cinema.

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• 1997Accept acquisition by Regal CinemasM&A

  After extensive regional expansion and acquisitions in Florida, Cobb operated a large theatre network and became the subject of a strategic acquisition by Regal Cinemas.

  What changed. Cobb agreed to be acquired by Regal. The transaction was announced on June 11, 1997, and completed on July 31 of that year.

  Aftermath. The original Cobb operating company was absorbed into Regal, although Robert M. Cobb later returned to the cinema business through a newly formed Cobb organization.

  Reported transaction consideration. $200 million plus $100 million of debt (1997 acquisition announcement and completion)

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• 2025CMX files for Chapter 11 for a second time

  CMX Cinemas filed for Chapter 11 protection again and indicated that it was evaluating asset sales or closures of some remaining locations.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2020CMX files for Chapter 11 during the pandemic

  The successor CMX business sought Chapter 11 protection during the COVID-19 crisis, closed 10 underperforming theatres, and negotiated revised arrangements with creditors and landlords.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2017Cinemex acquires Cobb Theatres

  Cinemex acquired Cobb Theatres and moved its locations under the CMX banner in the United States.

  M&A
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• 2008CinéBistro premium cinema concept introduced

  Cobb introduced CinéBistro in Miami and Tampa, combining film exhibition with an elevated restaurant and food-service experience.

  Product launch
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• 2001Cobb Theatres returns with Dolphin 19

  Robert M. Cobb re-entered the cinema business through a new Cobb Theatres organization and opened Dolphin 19 in Miami.

  Product launch
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• 1997Regal Cinemas agrees to acquire Cobb Theatres

  Regal Cinemas announced an agreement to acquire Cobb Theatres, then reported to have 67 theatres and 643 screens. The transaction was completed later that year.

  M&A
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1. Cobb Theatres