Brattle Theatre, Independent movie theater in Harvard Square, Cambridge, US.

Brattle Theatre is an independent movie theater in Harvard Square, Cambridge, run by a nonprofit organization and focused on classic, foreign, and independent cinema. It has a single screen and uses a rear-projection system, with the projector placed behind the screen rather than above the audience, supporting both 35mm film and digital formats.

The building opened in 1890 as the Cambridge Social Union, serving as a meeting space for the local community. Veterans returning to study at Harvard converted it into a movie theater in 1953, starting a new chapter focused on international and independent film.

During Harvard's final exam period, students gather at the theater to watch Humphrey Bogart films, a tradition that has repeated itself for decades. What started as an informal habit has become a seasonal event that many students look forward to as much as any lecture.

The theater sits in the heart of Harvard Square and is easy to reach on foot from the Harvard subway station, though parking nearby can be hard to find in the evenings. The single-screen hall is wheelchair accessible, and booking ahead is a good idea for special programs as seats fill up fast.

The rear-projection setup at this theater is now a rarity in modern cinemas, producing an image through a semi-transparent screen that gives the picture a slightly soft look, different from standard front projection. This technical choice was originally a practical solution to the building's layout and has since become part of the theater's identity.

• Phone: [phone]
• Website: http://brattlefilm.org
• GPS coordinates: 42.37353,-71.12148
• Latest update: March 3, 2026 22:40