Colisée, former cinema-theatre, former cinema and theatre in Nîmes, France

The Colisée is a former cinema and theatre building in Nîmes designed in 1927 by architects Paul Furiet and Georges-Henri Pingusson. The structure features a substantial facade with clear lines and straightforward design typical of early 20th-century architecture in southern France, originally accommodating up to 1,000 spectators with an orchestra pit and balcony seating.

The building opened in 1927 as a prestigious venue for films and theatrical performances using modern technology of that era. In the 1950s and 1960s, it introduced advanced projection systems including widescreen and later 70mm film technology.

The name echoes the Roman amphitheatre of Nîmes, though this Colisée was a cinema. Weekly galas Baret were held there, and the usher Jean Granier created the local sound effects for Ben-Hur, including the galley and naval battle scenes. In November 1929 an orchestra broadcast the Tannhäuser overture before The Jazz Singer.

The former cinema stands on Boulevard Amiral-Courbet, and the entrance shown in the photograph is marked by a sign reading "PORTE D'AUGUSTE" on the flat canopy. The building is now the hôtel communautaire of Nîmes Métropole, so it is seen from the street rather than visited as a cinema. It was inscribed as a monument historique on 22 January 2015.

The venue hosted special events beyond films, including opera performances with major orchestras and even circus acts. After closing in 1988, it received protected monument status in 2015, ensuring its structure is preserved for future generations.