After 90 years of showing movies to the people of Smithfield, North Carolina, the Howell Theatre has closed.

From what we can tell, the last day of operation for the historic movie theater was April 20, 2025.

Theater History

According to our records, the Howell Theatre originally was opened February 4, 1935 by Henry Paul (H.P.) Howell. It was divided into twin theatres in the 1970s and sold to Multi-Cinema Theaters Limited in January 1981. Rudy Howell bought the theater back in December 1986. It was expanded to four screens in 1990. It was sold in April 1999 to Mickey Buffaloe, who then sold it to Chuck and Amy Kirkman in December 2010. It was purchased in April 2017 by Bill & Leanne Johnson.

Where to Watch Movies on the Big Screen

Moviegoers in the area will need to visit one of the other nearby theaters, including the Smithfield Cinemas in Smithfield and the Regal White Oak in Garner.