Comoedia is a movie theater in Lyon whose history began in 1914, when Jules Melchior Pinard installed his projector on avenue Berthelot. One of the early fixed cinemas opened there later became the Berthelot, then took the name Comœdia after Émile Peyre bought it in 1924. Peyre enlarged the cinema to 900 seats and was among the first to install sound equipment and a projection system.
Bombings destroyed the Comœdia, and Georges Peynet redesigned it before its 1949 reopening. The cinema was then equipped with a modern 12-by-8-meter screen. It became a major venue in Lyon, known for drawing audiences from Paris to films no longer shown there. The complex was expanded several times, with two additional halls added in 1974 and three more in 1987. After UGC closed it in 2000, Marc Guidoni and Marc Bonny restored the Comœdia, which reopened on April 3, 2001. Further expansion followed in 2014 with three new halls opening in the former INPI premises.
Nearby Objects
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Centre Hospitalier Saint-Joseph et Saint-Luc 250 m away -
Brasserie Georges 500 m away -
Rue de Marseille 500 m away -
Lycée Juliette Récamier 550 m away
From Avenue Berthelot Cinema to a Multi-Hall Complex
In 1914, Jules Melchior Pinard installed his projector on avenue Berthelot. He later opened three fixed cinemas, including the Berthelot, which became the Comedia when Emile Peyre bought it in 1924. Peyre enlarged the cinema to provide 900 seats, and he was among the first to acquire sound equipment, later adding a projection system as well. The Comedia was destroyed by bombings, but Georges Peynet redesigned it and it reopened in 1949 with a more modern screen measuring 12 by 8 meters.
The Comedia became highly successful in Lyon, drawing Parisian audiences who came to see films no longer shown in Paris. Its history also reflects repeated expansion and technical change. Pierre and Jacques Lapouble added two additional halls in 1974, then three more in 1987. In 1979, Apocalypse Now inaugurated Dolby stereo in France at the Comedia, marking a technical milestone for the venue. UGC purchased the complex in 1993 and showed mainstream films in original versions, but decided to close it in June 2000, transferring its programs to Astoria and Cine Cite Internationale in Lyon. The Comedia was later bought and restored by Marc Guidoni and Marc Bonny, and Yann Lecocq renovated it after having realized an expansion in 1984.
Reopening, Expansion, and Later Developments
The Comedia reopened on April 3, 2001, after the lower part of its large 900-seat hall was removed, reducing the seating capacity to 292. A documentary, Comedia, une renaissance, was made for the reopening occasion. In late 2007, the cinema faced two complaints concerning unfair competition and commercial name usage. In response, the Comedia launched a blog and petition to gather viewer support. During interim proceedings in 2009, UGC was condemned for unfair competition and ordered to pay damages to the Comedia.
The cinema later expanded again. In 2014, the Comedia announced three new halls in the former INPI premises. Marc Bonny had reduced the seating capacity because of the purchase of three cinemas by Institut Lumiere for Cinemas Lumiere, and hall 6 had to be reduced from 78 to 45 seats to allow access to the new halls. The three new halls, with 85, 80, and 50 seats, opened on October 15, 2014, bringing the total capacity to 552 seats. The Comedia recorded an attendance record of 225,000 in 2018. In 2021, Frédérique Duperret and Ronan Fremondiere took over the Comedia.
Refurbishment and Technical Upgrades
Refreshment works led to the temporary closure of halls 4, 5, and 6 from July 2022. During adjacent building works, hall 4 was reduced in size by about 100 seats. The halls reopened progressively between late 2023 and early 2024. After refurbishment, hall 4 was fitted with stadium seating and now has 335 seats. Since early 2024, hall 1 has been equipped with a 4K laser projector, and the refurbished hall 4 has also been equipped with a laser projector.
Awards and Recognition
Comoedia has received notable industry recognition alongside Cinemas Lumiere and as an independent exhibitor. In 2018, it was awarded the Prix de l'entrepreneur de l'annee together with Cinemas Lumiere. Later, in 2025, it received the Deluxe trophy for exhibitor of the year, an award given by Le Film francais. These honors highlight its standing within the film exhibition sector.