Village Roadshow Ltd., Act III, Lambert Entertainment and the Retirement Systems of Alabama pension fund are partnering to bring a luxury cinema chain to the US.

The companies will spend $200 million to build 50 Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas over the next five years.

The chain will offer reclining chairs, footrests, digital projection facilities, a bar and a waiter service that will bring customers food from an on-site chef. The cinemas aim to bring in "upscale and affluent" consumers and will charge $35 (£17.50) for a movie ticket.

Graham Burke, managing director and CEO of Village Roadshow, said: "It's a new way to go to the movies. It's like what Mercedes is to a Toyota or like flying first class in an airplane."

With complexes initially launching in Illinois, Washington, Texas and Arizona, the company is also hoping to build cinemas in California, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New York.

Despite an impending recession in the US, Burke believes Americans will be attracted to the new cinemas for "a top-end experience".

He added: "People want to get away from their blues. I don't think the recession will affect it one iota."