For many of us, the dream of running a cinema usually involves private screenings and endless popcorn. Movierooms: Cinema Management, the debut title from indie developer Mad Pumpkins, suggests that the reality is a bit more… historical. Released into Early Access in March 2026, this tycoon sim doesn’t just ask you to manage a modern multiplex; it invites you on a time-traveling odyssey through the evolution of the silver screen.
Developer: Mad Pumpkins
Publisher: Mad Pumpkins
Release Date: 17 March 2026
CPU: Intel Core i5 / AMD Equivalent
GPU: Geforce GTX 1060 / AMD Equivalent
RAM: 8 GB
HDD: 2 GB
Review code provided.
A Journey Through Film History
The standout feature of Movierooms is its Historical Mode. Rather than a static sandbox, you begin in the early 1900s, managing Nickelodeons with antique lantern-style projectors and era-appropriate films like A Trip to the Moon. Guided by a charming, Oscar-esque statuette named Gaspard, you must recover lost film icons—directors and actors who have been scattered across time.
As you progress, you unlock new decades (the 1950s, 70s, and beyond), each bringing its own technological hurdles and aesthetic shifts. Watching your theater evolve from a dusty room with wooden chairs to a neon-soaked 80s hub or a sleek modern megaplex provides a satisfying sense of progression that most management sims lack.
The Gritty Details of the Big Screen
Mechanically, the game leans into the tycoon DNA popularized by classics like Theme Hospital. You aren’t just picking movies; you are:
Building & Designing: Using a click-and-drop system to place projection rooms, toilets, and concession stands.
- Staff Management: Hiring projectionists, janitors, and cashiers while keeping an eye on their morale in the staff breakroom.
- Film Programming: Renting specific titles and scheduling them strategically. You have to balance genre appeal against equipment constraints—you can’t exactly run a 70mm epic on a 1910 hand-cranked projector.
- The Sandbox Mode is where the creativity truly shines, allowing players to mix and match equipment from different eras to create a timeless cinema empire.
The Early Access Intermission
While the heart of the game is pure gold for cinephiles, it currently shows some work-in-progress rough edges typical of Early Access:
- The Notification Problem: The game is a bit too chatty. You’ll receive constant pings for every minor issue (like a plant needing water), which can interrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Repetitive Audio: While the music is period-accurate and atmospheric, the tracks can become repetitive during long play sessions. Many players may find themselves reaching for the volume slider after the third hour of 1920s ragtime.
- AI & Degradation: NPC pathfinding and object decay rates still need tuning. Items like ticket counters tend to break down a bit too quickly, occasionally making the game feel more like a Repair Simulator than a cinema tycoon.
Final Thoughts
Movierooms: Cinema Management is a refreshing take on the management genre. It prioritizes historical charm and accessibility over hyper-granular spreadsheets. If you are a movie buff who appreciates seeing The Jazz Singer on a digital marquee or learning about the mechanics of early projection, this is a must-play.
Despite some technical clunkiness, the passion of the seven-person team at Mad Pumpkins is evident in every frame. It’s a love letter to the history of film that just needs a little more “post-production” to reach its full potential.
