More than two decades after the city’s cinema complex screened its first movies, the four picture theatres are going digital.

Maitland Reading Cinema will close on Monday for a $1.5 million refurbishment, which will include the conversion to digital, new carpet, seats, curtains and lights.

The final three movies screened via film will be Prisoner staring Hugh Jackman, Captain Phillips staring Tom Hanks and Two Guns with Denzel Washington.

“These will be the last films shown in Maitland, possibly the Hunter,” cinema manager Yvette Cavanagh said.

“This has been a long time coming and we are well and truly overdue for it but there is something very nostalgic about film.”

The cinema opened 23 years ago amid much fanfare and excitement with the release of The Big Steal with Claudia Karvan and Ben Mendelsohn. 

Projection manager Logan Muirhead joined the fold six years ago.

“There is definitely an element of sadness that goes along with this change,” Mr Muirhead said.

“It involves a complete overhaul of the projection room which will mean a lot less time with the movies themselves. 

“I’ve been doing this job a fair while now and I’ve really enjoyed making up the films. 

“Tuesday and Wednesday nights are my favourite nights because I get to go upstairs and make all the films up and that’s been the best part of my job for a long time.

“But at the same time it will be good to have this challenge and new experience aswell. 

“It’s definitely bittersweet.”

But the old-look cinema will not be forgotten. 

“There’s been a lot of first dates here, we’ve had a wedding proposal and a lot of romances have blossomed in the back rows of the cinema shall we say,” Ms Cavanagh said.

“It’s a special place.”

The cinema will reopen on November 22 with The Hunger Games:Catching Fire.