Cosm Adds Warner Bros., Universal Films to Dome
The domed-theater chain is licensing classic films from two major studios as it expands to a fifth venue.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Film — General
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Cosm has expanded its content library with licensed films from Warner Bros. and Universal, including The Matrix, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and Shrek. The domed-theater company has opened four locations since 2024 and is backed by a $100 million minority investment from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Why it matters
The licensing deals give Cosm access to established franchises for its large-format dome screens, which may broaden the range of titles available to moviegoers in the United States. The partnerships also signal that major studios are willing to back alternative exhibition formats.
Cosm ticket prices range from $18 for matinee showings to about $70 for premium seats, and its domes feature 87-foot-diameter concave screens. The company has opened four venues since 2024, near Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Detroit.
The players
Cosm
Cosm is a domed-theater company that presents films and live programming on large concave screens at its venues.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment is the film studio division of the Japanese electronics and entertainment conglomerate Sony.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is a major Hollywood film studio and a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Universal
Universal, a division of NBCUniversal, is one of the largest film studios in Hollywood.
The details
Cosm has licensed The Matrix, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and It from Warner Bros., and has signed an agreement with Universal to bring Shrek to its venues. The company works with creative partners Little Cinema and MakeMake to adapt films for the dome format, and it initially built its audience through live sports programming.
Timeline
2024: Cosm began opening domed theater locations.
June: Sony Pictures Entertainment committed $100 million to take a minority stake in Cosm.
December: The Universal agreement to bring Shrek to Cosm venues takes effect.
2027: A fifth venue is planned for Cleveland, with a 100-foot dome.
Industry Dynamics
Cosm's expansion into licensed studio films reflects a broader push by theatrical exhibitors to differentiate the moviegoing experience from home streaming. Sony's minority investment and the Warner Bros. and Universal licensing deals suggest studios see value in premium large-format venues as a counterweight to streaming-first distribution.
Moviegoers in the cities with Cosm venues can now see titles such as Shrek, The Matrix, and Harry Potter on the dome screens, at ticket prices from $18 to about $70. Viewers who want these films in the large-format setting will need to visit a Cosm location rather than watch them at a conventional theater or at home.
The takeaway
Large-format dome venues are becoming a place where classic studio films can be seen in a different way, and the Cleveland expansion will test whether that model travels beyond the current cities.
What happens next
A fifth Cosm venue is planned for Cleveland in 2027, with a dome expanded to 100 feet in diameter.
Further reading
For more on how studios are approaching theatrical releases, see Film — General coverage.
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