Before this week there weren’t any theaters with XPlus auditoriums in Rhode Island.

That has changed with the debut of the first one in Rhode Island at the Showcase Cinemas de Lux Warwick on Division Street.

On Thursday and Friday the new features will be on display at the theater with the playing of “The Batman”

“We are thrilled to unveil the new XPlus Laser premium large format auditorium at our Warwick cinema on Quaker Lane.

XPlus is one of the most technologically advanced, incredibly comfortable and larger-than-life ways to see a movie, so it’s fitting that we are introducing it in the state of Rhode Island with the release of ‘The Batman’,” said Mark Malinowski, Vice President of Global Marketing for Showcase Cinemas. “With XPlus you get everything a modern moviegoer could want - crystal-clear laser projection, Dolby Atmos immersive sound, power recliners with personal trays and a massive screen.

XPlus has proven to be our most popular movie-going format across all of our cinemas here in the US and internationally, and we are so excited to introduce this tried and true offering here in Rhode Island.”

According to a press release “the brand new XPlus screen is two and a half stories high and wall-to-wall. It is also powered by laser projection, allowing for films like ‘The Batman’ to be presented with brighter, clearer, more vivid images on one of the industry’s largest, most immersive screens.”

The other auditoriums at the theater will include new reclining seats. Malinowski in an interview Tuesday said that the company began planning for the renovations before the pandemic.

“Planning started in 2019, but we began renovations in the fall, which were conducted on a rolling basis as we kept the cinema open during the renovation period. It took us about 6 months to get the XPlus Laser auditorium ready to debut,” said Malinowski.

Additional updates to the theater are continuing with expected completion this spring, which will include all reserved, fully powered recliners and upgraded sound and projection systems in all 15 auditoriums, along with a “re-imagined lobby” with a brand new concession and hot foods center.

Malinowski said that the entire renovation was a multimillion dollar investment.

The Division Street location is one of two locations that Showcase Cinemas operates in Rhode Island, the other location being in the Providence Place Mall.

The previous Warwick Mall location was closed in INSERT. Malinowski called it a business decision noting that several factors went into the decision.

Asked why Showcase decided to make the upgrades to the Warwick location Malinowski said “Warwick is an incredibly important market for us as we have been here for more than 40 years, and we are committed to offering our patrons in Rhode Island the best movie-going experience possible.”

“XPlus Laser is simply the best way to watch a movie – it’s larger than life.

With XPlus you get crystal-clear laser projection, Dolby Atmos immersive sound, power recliners with personal trays and a massive screen,” said Malinowski. “XPlus has proven to be our most popular movie going format across all of our cinemas here in the US and internationally, and we are so excited to introduce this tried and true offering here in Rhode Island.”

Malinowski noted that the theater employees more than 50 people and has been able to keep the majority of their staff throughout the pandemic.

“ Many of these people have been working for the theater for decades,” said Malinowski.

The first screening of Batman in the new auditorium was slated for last night with two additional showings Thursday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.