The Oriental Theatre

On July 2, 1927, the Oriental Theatre opened its doors. In July 2018, Milwaukee Film took over operations of the Oriental Theatre, dramatically expanding our year-round presence with the ability to show movies 365 days a year. Designed to feel like a "temple of Oriental art," the Oriental Theatre was conceived of by the Milwaukee architecture firm Dick & Bauer and constructed by Saxe Amusement Enterprises in 1927. The theater features three auditoriums, the best popcorn in the Midwest, and assistive technologies for accessibility. As of 2026, the Oriental Theatre holds the world's record for the longest continuous run of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadowcast (since 1978). Milwaukee Film also hosts the annual Milwaukee Film Festival, the Dialogues Documentary Festival, group sales & rentals, memberships, and more. From 2018–2021, the organization completed three phases of a $10M renovation.