[3][4] In 1931, at the age of 16, Dwight "Red" Harkins left Cincinnati, Ohio, for Los Angeles, California hoping to become involved in the film scene there.

Being unable to secure many first-run movies caused Harkins Theatres to experience financial difficulties.

Dan Harkins sued a group of movie distributors in 1977, claiming they had stopped him from scheduling a number of high-profile first-run films.

[9] After Harkins won the lawsuit, the chain was able to show a run of the 1940 Walt Disney animated film Fantasia in May 1982, starting a string of successful releases.

[23][24] In 2023, with the closure and bulldozing of Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix, Harkins Metro 12 was also permanently closed on May 29 after 31 years in operation.

According to William Olson, senior executive vice-president for Concord Wilshire Companies and project leader for the Metrocenter redevelopment, a new version of the theater will be considered.

Themed after movie backlots, it will include a restaurant with a bar, a sports-viewing area, bowling lanes, an outdoor patio, and immersive virtual-reality experiences.