UGC Ciné Cité La Défense

UGC Ciné Cité La Défense is a multiplex cinema operated by the French exhibitor UGC, located in the Les Quatre Temps shopping centre in the La Défense business district, on the territory of Puteaux in the Hauts-de-Seine department west of Paris. It opened in 2006, replacing the older Quatre Temps cinema as part of the shopping centre's renovation programme, and was built on the plans of architect Alberto Cattani in the former premises of the Musée de l'automobile and an IMAX theatre that had closed in 2001. The cinema has 16 screens with a total capacity of 3,627 seats, on a net floor area of about 12,000 m². Screen sizes range from 43 to 135 m² and auditoriums from 163 to 394 seats. Several auditoriums are equipped for 3D projection. The largest, Salle 16, occupies the former IMAX dome and offers 394 seats, including 10 wheelchair spaces, with a giant 135 m² screen. UGC Ciné Cité La Défense was inaugurated on 27 April 2006 with an avant-premiere of Mission: Impossible III attended by Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan and director J. J. Abrams; a red carpet more than 1.2 km long was laid along the historic axis from the Esplanade de la Défense to the parvis of La Défense. The venue has hosted numerous star-attended premieres, including the French premiere of Superman Returns on 10 July 2006 with Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and director Bryan Singer, accompanied by a free concert by the Krypton Orchestra at the foot of the Grande Arche. At opening, the cinema hoped to attract up to two million spectators a year by 2010. By June 2007 it had drawn 1.7 million admissions since opening, and by April 2008 that figure had reached 3 million, including 1.42 million for 2007 alone, making it the seventh-largest multiplex in France and the fifth in Île-de-France by attendance. It welcomed 1.6 million spectators in 2008. In 2006 it was the first cinema to offer Bluetooth technology allowing passers-by to receive upcoming showtimes on their mobile phones and book tickets via WAP. The cinema is part of the UGC network and offers the group's standard commercial programmes, including the UGC Illimité subscription (from €19.90 per month), UGC 5-place cards (from €8.20 per seat), and the UGC Culte loyalty programme. Standard adult admission is €15.90, with reduced rates for morning shows, under-26s, under-14s and groups. It is accessible via the La Défense metro station (Line 1) and the La Défense–Grande Arche RER/Transilien/tram station, with direct indoor access from the transport hub through the Quatre Temps shopping centre.

UGC Ciné Cité La Défense was developed as part of the renovation of the Les Quatre Temps shopping centre in the La Défense business district. The cinema was fitted out on the plans of Alberto Cattani in the former premises of the Musée de l'automobile and an IMAX theatre, both of which had closed in 2001. The project faced local opposition: Les Lumières, the municipal cinema of Nanterre, objected to its opening on grounds of competition, and the CDEC (Commission départementale d'équipement cinématographique) issued an unfavourable opinion, but the CNEC (Commission nationale d'équipement cinématographique) ultimately authorised it in May 2002. The multiplex opened shortly after the closure of UGC La Défense, which had been located at the other end of the Quatre Temps centre; a few relics of that older cinema remain, notably the glass engravings depicting film stars that can be seen on the exterior facades of the shopping centre and which formerly stood in the exit corridors of UGC La Défense. The cinema was inaugurated on 27 April 2006 with an avant-premiere of Mission: Impossible III, attended by actors Tom Cruise and Michelle Monaghan and director J. J. Abrams. A red carpet more than 1.2 km long was laid along the historic axis, from the Esplanade de la Défense at the boundary with the Pont de Neuilly to the parvis of La Défense and the entrance to the complex. In an original staging for a premiere, Tom Cruise arrived by helicopter at the foot of the steps leading to the cinema, in front of the Grande Arche. At opening, the cinema hoped to attract up to two million spectators a year by 2010. By June 2007 it had drawn 1.7 million admissions since opening, and by April 2008 that figure had reached 3 million, including 1.42 million for 2007 alone, making it the seventh-largest multiplex in France and the fifth in Île-de-France by attendance. It welcomed 1.6 million spectators in 2008. In 2006 it was the first cinema to benefit from Bluetooth technology allowing people passing nearby to obtain the list of upcoming showtimes on their mobile phones and to book a ticket via WAP. Since opening, UGC Ciné Cité La Défense has hosted various avant-premieres with the lead actors of the films concerned, such as the French premiere of Superman Returns on 10 July 2006, attended by lead actors Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth and director Bryan Singer. Once again an original staging was chosen, with a free concert by the Krypton Orchestra performing themes from the film at the foot of the Grande Arche. The cinema is accessible by public transport at La Défense station (metro Line 1) or La Défense–Grande Arche station (RER lines A and E, Transilien lines L and U, and tram line 2). The recommended exits are access B "Dôme", which gives access to the cinema from outside via the staircase near the Grande Arche, and access C "Quatre Temps", which provides fully indoor access from the transport station.

• 2008

  By April 2008 cumulative admissions reach 3 million, including 1.42 million in 2007, ranking it seventh in France and fifth in Île-de-France.

• 2008

  The cinema welcomes 1.6 million spectators in 2008.

• 2007

  By June 2007 the cinema has drawn 1.7 million admissions since opening.

• 2006

  UGC Ciné Cité La Défense is inaugurated on 27 April 2006 with the avant-premiere of Mission: Impossible III.

• 2006

  The French premiere of Superman Returns is held on 10 July 2006 with a free Krypton Orchestra concert at the Grande Arche.

• 2006

  The cinema is the first to offer Bluetooth distribution of showtimes and WAP ticket booking.

• 2002

  The CNEC authorises the cinema project in May 2002, after the CDEC had issued an unfavourable opinion.

• 2001

  The Musée de l'automobile and the IMAX theatre in the Les Quatre Temps centre close, freeing the premises later used for the cinema.

A flagship UGC multiplex in the La Défense business district, positioned as a high-capacity, event-driven cinema with premium large-format and 3D screens.

• Standard admission

  Full-price ticket at €15.90.

• Morning screenings

  Reduced rate of €10.80 for first screenings before noon.

• Under-26 rate

  €9.90 on presentation of proof.

• Under-14 rate

  €6.90 on presentation of proof.

• UGC Culte

  Reduced rate of €8.50 for members of the UGC loyalty programme.

• 3D supplement

  €2 supplement for 3D films on all rates except UGC Illimité cards; reusable 3D glasses cost €1.

• Groups and schools

  Minimum 20 people; €9.90 for over-14s, with one free accompanying adult per 10 paying visitors.

• UGC Illimité

  Subscription from €19.90 per month.

• UGC 5-place card

  Five tickets at reduced rates, from €8.20 per seat.

1. 1UGC Ciné Cité La Défense, cinéma à La Défense (92092)ugc.fr
2. 2UGC Ciné Cité La Défense – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3UGC Ciné Cité La Défense – Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org