From Berlin to LA, cinema marquees around the world are reacting to our strange times

Cinema marquees nowadays are rarely just used to announce the names of upcoming movies. In the social media age they’re also used to make in-the-know movie jokes, propose marriage – and, now, to spread reassurance and humour in these strange and uncertain times.

From LA to Berlin via Montreal, independent cinemas the world over have had to close for now. But their signs are defying the spirit of the times, spreading both serious PSAs and eye-catching notes of optimism, with plenty of in-jokes for film buffs. Here are the best we’ve spotted so far. Did we miss one? DM us @timeouteverywhere.

Uptown Theater, Minneapolis

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A post shared by Jess (@jlbergie5) on Mar 27, 2020 at 5:08am PDT

Cinéma Beaubien, Montreal

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A post shared by Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie 🌷 (@rosemont_lapetitepatrie_arr) on Apr 24, 2020 at 11:44am PDT

Grand Lake, San Francisco

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A post shared by David Nash (@davidbryannash) on Mar 16, 2020 at 2:32pm PDT

Terrace Theater, Charleston

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A post shared by CHStoday (@chstoday) on Apr 23, 2020 at 4:56pm PDT

Film Forum, New York

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A post shared by Sign Of The Times (@signofthetimesnyc) on Apr 5, 2020 at 4:47pm PDT

Rio Theater, Santa Cruz

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A post shared by The Cosmic Saunter (@cosmic_hiker) on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:17pm PDT

Burg Kino, Vienna

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A post shared by Markus Unger (@markusunger) on Apr 28, 2020 at 12:26am PDT

Rio Theatre, Vancouver

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A post shared by Jeremy Hood (@jeremyshawnhood) on Apr 26, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT

Kino International, Berlin

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A post shared by Alex Billington (@abillington) on Apr 19, 2020 at 8:02am PDT

Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles

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A post shared by Ronnie Pessin (@ronnietoursthings) on May 1, 2020 at 9:54pm PDT

Weisshaus Kino, Cologne

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A post shared by Ray (@fairhoneypeople) on May 2, 2020 at 7:13am PDT

Everyman Screen on the Green, London

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A post shared by Nikita Suyetin (@nikita.suyetin) on Apr 30, 2020 at 8:41am PDT

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