11 Abandoned Theaters and Opera Houses Frozen in Time

11. Zvezda Cinema – Moscow, Russia

Once a glittering Soviet-era cinema, the Zvezda (“Star”) opened in the 1950s as part of Moscow’s campaign to provide cultural amenities in every neighborhood. With murals celebrating workers, towering gold-trimmed columns, and a vast domed ceiling, it offered escapism to generations. After the fall of the USSR, it slowly deteriorated, falling prey to vandals and urban neglect. Today, its graffiti-covered walls and shattered chandeliers feel more like a dystopian art installation than a memory of collective joy.