Roxy Cinema, Tangier

A surviving historic cinema in central Tangier

Roxy Cinema is one of Tangier’s few historic movie theatres that remains in regular operation. Located at 9 Rue El Mansour Dahbi in the Ville Nouvelle, it belongs to the cinema-building boom that shaped the city’s cultural life during the 1930s. Its curved corner frontage, glass-block windows and rooftop “CINE ROXY” sign make the building an easily recognisable urban landmark.

The architecture is commonly associated with late Art Deco and Streamline Moderne. Curved lines, restrained ornament and a sense of movement distinguish it from more traditional theatre façades. A street-level café also keeps the building connected to everyday neighbourhood life beyond screening hours.

Closure, restoration and reopening

After a long closure, the Roxy was restored and returned to public use in the mid-2000s. Published sources differ on the exact year: some place the renovation and reopening in 2005, while the Tangier municipal heritage portal gives 2007. The cinema itself marked the twentieth anniversary of its reopening in 2025, so the most reliable description is a phased return between 2005 and 2007.

The refurbishment preserved the venue’s retro character while adapting it for contemporary exhibition. Roxy remains a single-screen cinema with stalls and balcony seating. A reliable current capacity and complete technical specification are not publicly available, so those details should be confirmed directly for professional events.

Moroccan films, international releases and original-language screenings

Roxy operates as a neighbourhood cinema with a changing weekly schedule. Programmes published in 2025 and 2026 show Moroccan Arabic-language films alongside international releases in original versions, French-language titles and family screenings. Because screening times and language versions change from week to week, visitors should consult the latest programme before travelling.

The cinema was still publishing several daily screenings in 2026, usually from the afternoon into the late evening. A mobile booking service is available, while tickets may also be sold at the box office. Prices can vary by screening, special event and seating area.

Film festivals and live performance

The Roxy has played a visible role in Tangier’s festival history. It has hosted National Film Festival screenings, including Moroccan features in competition followed by discussions with filmmakers. This connection places the cinema within the public circulation and debate surrounding Moroccan film, rather than limiting it to commercial exhibition.

The auditorium is also used for comedy, theatre, concerts and community events, which explains the recurring name “Cinéma Théâtre Roxy”. Recent Culturama listings include a choral concert, while performers such as Hassan El Fad, Yassar and Zouhair Zair have also appeared at the venue.

Planning a visit

The cinema stands at 9 Rue El Mansour Dahbi, close to Avenue Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah and Salle Beckett. Its verified coordinates are 35.7779604, -5.8095688. Published contact numbers are +212 5 31 05 90 56 and +212 5 39 32 33 66; the listed email address is [email protected].

Directory hours often begin around 4.30 pm and continue until midnight, but the actual opening pattern follows the screening programme. Always confirm the film, time, language version and ticket conditions beforehand.

Continue exploring Tangier’s film culture at the Cinémathèque de Tanger – Cinema Rif, the Cinema Mauritania redevelopment project, Megarama Tangier and the current Tangier programme.