Brainerd Lakes Area Movie Theater Announces Permanent Closure

For anyone who lives in a small town that happens to have a movie theater in the area, this will hit home for you.

The clock is ticking as the final day of operation for a Northern Minnesota movie theater looms, and it's a real bummer for locals and visitors to the area.

The team at the Sunset Cinema between Pequot Lakes and Jenkins in the greater Brainerd Lakes Area has been giving movie lovers a place to enjoy new films for nearly 20 years.

Along with locals in the Pequot Lakes, Pine River, Crosslake, and Breezy Point area having a closer movie theater option than traveling about a half hour to Brainerd, the Sunset Cinema also gave the thousands of visitors to the popular vacation area a place to go and enjoy a movie if the weather wasn't cooperative for their trip "up north".

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Sadly, the days of Sunset Cinema welcoming moviegoers are numbered, as the theater shared the unfortunate news that it will be closing soon.

In a social media post on August 15, Sunset Cinema shared that they will continue serving customers until Labor Day Weekend, after which they will close permanently.

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In their social media post, they explained they've "had a blast going to the movies" with customers over the last 17 years. They shared gratitude for their customers, telling customers they are "sooooo thankful for your patronage".

While they say they are sad they won't be able to continue sharing movies with the area, they say they are "proud to have been part of your community!"

Before they close, Sunset Cinema invites customers to stop by for one final movie (or a few) before they say their final goodbye.

The final day of showing movies at Sunset Cinema will be Monday, September 1, 2025.

I've seen several movies there over the years, and I'm sad to see them go. It was a convenient and fun moviegoing experience on occasions when I was in the area.