Edwards Theatres is an American movie theater brand owned and operated as an in-name-only unit of Cineworld through its Regal Cinemas chain.

[1] During World War II, Edwards Theatres experienced growth as the war-related economic boom in the United States coupled with rations on other consumer goods drove cinema attendance.

In 1963, Edwards was motivated by new development in Orange County, where his Newport Beach home was located, to come out of retirement to open a theater in Costa Mesa.

The complex was dubbed "the Big One" due to its immense size – both its 6,444 total seats and 158,000 square feet (14,700 m2) of space were new world records at the time.

Company president James Edwards III announced the news and stated that his father was involved in the planning of the expansion up until his death.

The decision occurred at a time when other companies, such as Carmike Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, were similarly filing for bankruptcy.

[7] In September 2001, Philip Anschutz took control of the Edwards Theatres chain alongside minority partner Oaktree Capital Management.