Adult movie theaters, venues dedicated to exhibiting pornographic films, often tolerate or condone public nudity and sexual behavior among patrons. Before the widespread availability of VCRs and the Internet, these theaters were often the only public spaces to view erotic films, leading to a peak of approximately 750 such establishments in the U.S. by 1970, with the O'Farrell Theatre opening in San Francisco in 1969. However, their numbers significantly declined as home video and online pornography became prevalent.
Additionally, these theaters have faced strict local and state regulations, with the 1986 Supreme Court case Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. upholding zoning laws that restrict their proximity to sensitive areas. While major operators like Deja Vu Services still exist in the U.S., many adult theaters globally, including those in Japan and the Netherlands, are closing due to various factors like aging infrastructure and redevelopment.