The 6 Best Cinemas in Jerusalem (2026)

Updated August 2026 · 6 picks

The best cinemas in Jerusalem are the Jerusalem Cinematheque for repertory and international film, Lev Smadar in the German Colony for art house, and Yes Planet Jerusalem for mainstream releases. Films screen in their original language with Hebrew subtitles, so English-language releases need no translation. Six worth knowing, and which open on Shabbat, below.

1. Jerusalem Cinematheque — Hebron Road, overlooking the Hinnom Valley

The city's film institution — repertory, world cinema, archive and the Film Festival.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Couples · Solo

The Jerusalem Cinematheque is the serious film venue in the city and one of the most important in the country. It programmes retrospectives, restorations, international art cinema, documentary and Israeli work, alongside talks and director appearances, and it houses the Israel Film Archive.

It is also the home of the Jerusalem Film Festival, which takes over the building and the surrounding area each summer and is the calendar highlight for anyone who takes film seriously here.

The building's position is part of the appeal: it sits on the slope below Mount Zion with the Old City walls in view, and the terrace and cafe are worth arriving early for. Summer open-air screenings there are a Jerusalem institution in themselves.

Good to know: Membership pays off fast, and it opens on Shabbat when much of the city does not.

Google Maps Website

2. Lev Smadar — German Colony

Jerusalem's oldest cinema, and the one that fought to open on Shabbat.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Couples · Solo

Smadar opened in the British Mandate era and is the oldest continuously operating cinema in Jerusalem. It is a single small art-house venue in the German Colony, now part of the Lev chain, and it carries more history than any other screen in the city.

Its reputation rests substantially on a decades-long fight over Shabbat opening, which made it a symbol in Jerusalem's long argument about the secular character of public space. It became a rallying point, and it survived.

The programming is art house and quality mainstream, the room is small and characterful, and the cafe and the Emek Refaim strip outside make it an easy evening rather than just a screening.

Good to know: Combine with dinner on Emek Refaim — the German Colony's main street is a two-minute walk.

Google Maps Website

3. Yes Planet Jerusalem — Talpiot

The big multiplex — every current release, the large-format screens, and Saturday opening.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Groups · Couples

Yes Planet in Talpiot is Jerusalem's main large multiplex, with a full slate of current international and Israeli releases across many screens, including premium large-format and reclining-seat options.

It is the practical answer when you want to see a specific new film at a specific time rather than whatever the art houses have programmed, and it has generally operated on Saturday, which matters in this city.

Talpiot is a commercial district south of the centre — easy by car with parking, and served by bus, but not a neighbourhood you would otherwise wander.

Good to know: Book online for opening weekends and Saturday nights; midweek you can walk up.

Google Maps Website

4. Cinema City Jerusalem — Kiryat HaLeom, near the government precinct

Large, modern multiplex by the Knesset — and closed for Shabbat by design.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Groups

Cinema City sits in the government precinct near the Knesset and the Supreme Court, and is a full entertainment complex — many screens, restaurants, and a large plaza — rather than just a cinema.

Because it was built on state land, it closes from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, a condition that was itself the subject of public argument when it opened. Plan around it: this is the one that will not be open on your Saturday.

For everything else it is the most comfortable mainstream cinema in the city, with easy parking and a light rail stop within reach.

Good to know: Closed Friday afternoon to Saturday night — the Cinematheque or Smadar are the Shabbat alternatives.

Google Maps Website

5. Beit Avi Chai — King George Street, city centre

A cultural centre with a strong film strand, usually with something to discuss afterwards.

₪ BudgetBest for Solo · Couples

Beit Avi Chai is a Jewish culture centre in the middle of town that programmes concerts, lectures and a regular film strand — documentary, Israeli cinema and themed series, often paired with a discussion or a guest.

It is not a cinema in the commercial sense and you will not find blockbusters. What you get instead is curated screenings with context, in a comfortable auditorium, frequently free or very cheap.

Much of the programming is in Hebrew, but film screenings are often accessible to English speakers and some events are explicitly in English. Check the individual listing.

Good to know: Check whether the specific event is in Hebrew or English before booking — the listings say.

Google Maps Website

6. Yabous Cultural Centre — East Jerusalem

East Jerusalem's cultural venue, with Palestinian and Arab cinema you will not see elsewhere.

₪ BudgetBest for Solo · Couples

Yabous is a Palestinian cultural centre in East Jerusalem, housed in a former cinema building, programming music, theatre and film — including Arab and Palestinian cinema that does not screen at the west Jerusalem venues.

It is a genuinely different programme from anything else on this list, and for anyone interested in the city as a whole rather than half of it, it is the most interesting screen in Jerusalem.

Programming is intermittent and event-based rather than a daily schedule, so check what is on before making the trip.

Good to know: Check the programme in advance — screenings are scheduled events, not a rolling daily timetable.

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Are films in Jerusalem shown in English?

Foreign films screen in the original language with Hebrew subtitles rather than dubbed, so English-language films play in English. The exception is children's animation, which is usually dubbed into Hebrew — look for a screening marked as the original version if you want the English soundtrack.

Which cinemas in Jerusalem open on Shabbat?

The Cinematheque and Lev Smadar have historically screened on Friday nights and Saturdays, which in Jerusalem is a meaningful and long-contested distinction. Cinema City, on municipal land near the government precinct, closes for Shabbat. Yes Planet in Talpiot has generally operated on Saturday. Confirm the current week's schedule directly.

What does a cinema ticket cost in Jerusalem?

Roughly ₪40–₪55 for a standard ticket, more for premium formats at the multiplexes and less for matinees, students and members. The Cinematheque runs a membership that pays for itself quickly if you go more than a few times a year.

When is the Jerusalem Film Festival?

It has traditionally run in July, centred on the Cinematheque, and it is the biggest film event in the country alongside DocAviv in Tel Aviv. Tickets for the notable premieres go fast. Check the current year's dates, which have shifted in recent years.

Do I need to book ahead?

For a normal weeknight screening, no — turn up. For opening weekends at the multiplexes, Saturday nights, and anything at the Cinematheque during the festival or with a director Q&A, book online in advance. Cinematheque screenings in the smaller halls sell out routinely.

Is there outdoor cinema in Jerusalem in summer?

Yes. The Cinematheque has a long tradition of open-air screenings on its terrace overlooking the Old City walls and the Hinnom Valley, and various venues and the municipality programme summer outdoor screenings. It is one of the better things to do in Jerusalem on a summer evening.

1. Jerusalem Cinematheque — Hebron Road, overlooking the Hinnom Valley

2. Lev Smadar — German Colony

3. Yes Planet Jerusalem — Talpiot

4. Cinema City Jerusalem — Kiryat HaLeom, near the government precinct

5. Beit Avi Chai — King George Street, city centre

6. Yabous Cultural Centre — East Jerusalem

Frequently asked questions

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