‘Purple Rain’ Returns To Theaters in Dolby Cinema

The legendary rock musical drama Purple Rain is being brought back to theaters for a one-night-only presentation in Dolby Cinema on March 5th, 2025. The 1984 film starring Prince in his film acting debut was co-written and directed by Albert Magnoli, and loosely based on Prince’s own life. Depicting the story of an emerging Minneapolis rock musician, the movie grossed over $70 million worldwide, which was a lot of money in the 1980s — especially for a musical drama starring musicians with no Hollywood experience. The newly-restored movie will be screened at Dolby Cinema AMC Theaters here in the USA, and at ODEON theaters in the UK. Existing fans are promised an experience unlike any they’ve had in theaters before, while new generations of Prince fans can expect to be wowed not only by an incredible performance, but also by the dazzling video quality and newly-mixed Dolby Atmos audio. Tickets are on sale now.

Purple Rain reimagined in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for Dolby Cinema is a celebration of Prince’s genius and enduring legacy. Devoted and new fans alike prepare to be exhilarated by an unforgettable and unparalleled performance from one of music’s greatest of all time.

— Jed Harmsen, Head of Cinema and Group Entertainment at Dolby

Now a cult classic, Purple Rain is celebrated by millions of fans, many of whom are too young to have experienced the movie on the big screen during its original release (though the movie did see a limited re-release in AMC theaters after Prince’s death in 2016). Thanks to the movie’s enduring appeal, we can now look forward to the new Dolby Cinema presentation, with improved picture and sound. According to a press release from Dolby, “every detail of the film – from the vibrant neon lights of First Avenue night club to The Kid’s iconic guitar – comes to life through the ultra-vivid visuals of Dolby Vision.” As impressive as the image quality may be, it’s the newly-mixed Dolby Atmos audio that will have the most appeal to many Audioholics readers. Dolby says that “each electrifying performance, from the heartbreaking beauty of “Purple Rain” to the exhilarating guitar riffs of “When Doves Cry,” (will) wash over the audience with pristine depth and clarity in Dolby Atmos.”

The digital restoration of the film started with a new 8K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative (OCN) film. The digitized footage was then color-graded specifically for Dolby Vision, likely resulting in higher peak brightness and improved contrast. Naturally, great care was taken with the audio as well. The original Dolby Stereo tracks from four decades ago were restored and used alongside the 5.1 multi-channel master from 2004’s 20th anniversary DVD release to create what Dolby calls a “faithfully remastered Dolby Atmos audio presentation.” Purple Rain has never before been presented in an immersive format, and Dolby says that every attempt has been made to stay faithful to the original artistic intent while maximizing the impact of the audio presentation.

Purple Rain was in many ways a magnum opus for Prince, who was only 25 years old when filming began. In addition to playing the leading role as The Kid, he also composed and produced the score, along with original songs like “Let’s Go Crazy” and “I Would Die 4 U.” Thanks in part to the chart-topping hit “When Doves Cry,” the soundtrack sat in the top spot of the Billboard album chart for an incredible 24 consecutive weeks, and has sold over 25 million copies during the 40 years since its release. Purple Rain won the Academy Award for “Best Original Song” and the Grammy Award for “Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.”  

 L. Londell McMillan was Prince’s personal friend and former manager. He now co-manages Prince’s estate and Prince Legacy LLC. McMillan spoke to thesource.com, the online magazine of “Hip Hop Music, Culture, and Politics,” to discuss the exciting re-release of Purple Rain. Here’s what he had to say:

Prince was the greatest musician and entertainer of all time. The Purple Rain film was a tour de force on the big screen, especially from a music artist, leaving a lasting impact that has transcended the culture over the last four decades. With the 40th anniversary and celebration of Purple Rain (last) year, it is wonderful to see Prince’s classic film once again in theaters, remastered in AMC Theaters domestically and Odeon, over the pond in the UK. We hope the release energizes Prince’s global fanbase and (reintroduces) his cinematic masterpiece to an entirely new generation. Along with other major projects, especially new music, this is a major time for Prince’s legacy and the culture at large.

— L. Londell McMillan

In the summer of 2024, Warner Home Video celebrated the 40th anniversary of Purple Rain with a release on 4K Blu-ray and various online digital platforms. The Blu-ray offers fans a treasure trove of previously unreleased special features. There’s commentary by director Albert Magnoli, producer Robert Cavallo, and cinematographer Donald E. Thorin, plus a featurette called “First Avenue: The Road to Pop Royalty.” There are eight music videos on the disc, including “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Take Me with U,” “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U/Baby I’m a Star,” “Jungle Love,” “The Bird,” “Sex Shooter,” and of course, the title track “Purple Rain.”

Later this year, the world premiere of a new stage adaptation of Purple Rain will take place at the historic Hennepin Arts State Theatre in Minneapolis. This pre-Broadway production will debut on October 16th, 2025 and run for one month. Based on the original screenplay by Albert Mangoli and William Blinn, the play is directed by Tony Award nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz, and features a book by Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb. The play was first announced last year as part of the 40th anniversary celebration, with longtime Prince collaborators Bobby Z and Morris Hayes listed as Music Advisors.

It’s been… 40 years since Prince’s legendary film, Purple Rain, took the world by storm and we can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to honor Prince and the Purple Rain legacy with this stage adaptation of the beloved story. We are thrilled with our Broadway partners and creative team, who are bringing a theatricality to the film’s original fictional story. We can’t wait for a new generation to discover Purple Rain and for lovers of the original film and album to experience its power once again, this time live.

— L. Londell McMillan, with Primary Wave Music Founder and CEO Larry Mestel

More information on the upcoming Broadway show: purplerainbroadway.com

Tickets to the Dolby Cinema at AMC presentation of Purple Rain on March 5th: https://dolbylabs.co/PurpleRain