Ohio's first 4DX movie auditorium is open at Liberty Center in Liberty Township.
The 98-seat auditorium is part of a $20 million round of upgrades at the shopping and entertainment complex that will also bring hundreds of apartments and a hotel to the property.
B&B Theatres opened the 4DX auditorium at its 7514 Bales St. location on Friday, Sept. 4, WLWT reported. The format synchronizes motion-enabled seats with effects including wind, vibration, lightning, scent and water to match the action on screen.
The theater raised its ceiling to fit the larger screen.
B&B also debuted the largest ScreenX auditorium in Ohio. The 198-seat auditorium features a 57-foot-wide main screen and extends select scenes onto the side walls for a 270-degree panoramic view. It is the first ScreenX auditorium in North America to feature Dolby Atmos surround sound, according to a CJ 4DPLEX press release.
A third new concept, screenPLAY!, combines a play area with the moviegoing experience for children.
B&B Theatres, a family-owned chain since 1924, took over the former CMX cinema at Liberty Center on Jan. 15 after signing a lease in late 2025, WCPO reported at the time. The company operates about 517 screens at 54 locations nationwide and is the fifth-largest theater chain in the country.
The theater upgrades are one piece of the broader $20 million investment at Liberty Center. Jonathan Maher, senior vice president of asset management for Centennial, the property's owner, said the site also plans for about 300 apartment units and a full-service hotel.
"We're not simply investing in individual projects — we're helping shape the next chapter of Liberty Center," Maher told WLWT.
The renovation also calls for a remodeled Dick's Sporting Goods with batting cages and golf simulators, plus a new event center for corporate meetings, weddings and community gatherings. No timelines have been announced for those projects or for the apartment and hotel development.
Tickets for the 4DX and ScreenX auditoriums are available at bbtheatres.com.
