If you've ever stepped through the doors of the Grand Rex, the iconic cinema located in the Grands Boulevards district of Paris, you're probably familiar with the “wow” factor of Le Grand Large: a massive screen that stretches across the entire width of the theater, completely immersing viewers in the film. Yet, few realize that this spectacle was designed — at least in part — to serve a very specific purpose: to showcase a film by Luc Besson.
Le Grand Rex: the world's largest cinema
Its starry vault, its atypically decorated facade, its grandeur... You've got a thousand and one reasons to visit the Grand Rex! In fact, it's the world's largest cinema, with a grand auditorium seating 2,702 people. [Read more]
Paris, 1988. Spectators pack into one of Europe's largest cinemas. The Big Blue, the poetic film by Luc Besson that has everyone across France talking, is about to premiere… but with a catch. The director feels that the Grand Rex theater, impressive as it is, simply won't do justice to his film — especially in terms of visuals and sound quality.
According to some sources, the then-director, Philippe Hellmann, who owned the cinema at the time, saw an opportunity to revolutionize the movie-going experience. He proposed creating an enormous screen so large that it could showcase The Big Blue like never before. Despite initial reservations — primarily because Besson was concerned about a subpar presentation — a bold project was underway: to design a colossal screen dedicated to complete audience immersion.
Alexandre Hellmann tells the story of the Grand Rex, between family heritage, daring innovations and an undiminished passion for cinema. [Read more]
The result? The Grand Large: a massive screen approximately 300 m² in size, which was installed and inaugurated in 1988 specifically for the film The Big Blue. Some even say that it was the release of this movie that gave the Grand Rex team the decisive push to bring this visionary project to life. Designed by engineer Luc Heripret, this screen wasn’t just used to showcase The Big Blue: it transformed the cinema experience at the Grand Rex, drawing crowds for months and helping to set box office records with the film.
The ingenious mechanism of this retractable screen has added a new dimension to the iconic character of the Grand Rex: Le Grand Large. It literally descends from the theater's ceiling like a vast curtain of light. When not in use, it is retracted upwards, leaving the stage free for a variety of other events. This technical innovation allows for the preservation of the original Art Deco decor, notably the famous red illuminated arch, while providing an impressive immersive experience during screenings. Since its installation, Le Grand Large has become one of the largest screens in Europe outside of IMAX.
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Location
Grand Rex
1 Boulevard Poissonnière
75002 Paris 2
Le Grand Rex: the world's largest cinema
The Grand Rex: a cinema, a party and a living Parisian myth, with Alexandre Hellmann
