The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the trade body representing the interests of cinema operators in 39 European territories, and Boxoffice Prothe world’s leading trade publication covering the global theatrical exhibition industry, today released the second edition of Exhibition giants: Europe listing, ranking the top 50 European cinema groups by number of screens. A ceremony honoring the circuits will be held on June 20 in Barcelona during CineEurope, the largest and longest-running convention dedicated to cinema operators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
After the successful launch of the first edition in 2022, UNIC renewed its partnership with Boxoffice Pro for this second iteration of Exhibition giants: Europethe ranking of each group or company is determined by the total number of screens in Europe until 31 December 2022.
Once again at the top of this year’s ranking is ODEON Cinemas Group, the European subsidiary of UK-based AMC Theatres, with nearly 2,500 screens across the UK and Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The top four are completed by Cineworld (UK), Vue International (UK) and Pathé Cinémas (France).
Each of the top four counties on this year’s list has a multinational European presence with over 1,000 screens across the region.
Welcoming today’s announcement, UNIC President Phil Clapp said:
“On behalf of all UNIC members, I would like to congratulate each of the fifty companies presented in the second edition of Exhibition giants: Europe ranking, which celebrates the largest cinema operators in Europe.
The top 50 circuits represent almost 20,000 screens and over 2,600 cinemas across Europe. With headquarters in 20 countries and operating in 38 territories, this ranking shows the strength and diversity of the European cinema industry. Eleven groups are present in three or more countries, confirming their role as key regional or European players.
“In the face of extraordinary ticket returns across Europe, we witness the extraordinary resilience and unwavering spirit of cinema chains,” added Julien Marcel, CEO of The Boxoffice Company. “As we reveal the ranking of the 50 largest cinema chains in Europe, let us take a moment to salute the profound contribution these theaters make to our society. Beyond their economic importance, they embody the very essence of our landscape and cultural heritage. By celebrating their rebirth, we acknowledge the extraordinary role played by cinemas in shaping our collective journey and we embrace the transformative power of cinema in our lives.”
of this year Exhibition giants: Europe the list includes counties based in 20 different markets across the region. The United Kingdom and France are the most represented markets on the list with seven counties each, followed by Spain and Turkey (five), and Germany (four). Other territories featured in the list are Portugal and Ireland (both with two counties) and Austria, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia and Ukraine (each with one county). . .
Also this year, as a statement of solidarity with Ukrainian exhibitors as well as with the Ukrainian people, UNIC and Boxoffice ProThe company’s parent corporation, The Boxoffice Company, have jointly agreed not to include the names and screen numbers of Russian companies that would otherwise have been included in the top 50.
EXHIBITION GIANTS: EUROPE
Ranking of the top 50 exhibition circuits in Europe by number of screens
1. Kinema Odeon Group (United Kingdom)
Corporate parent: AMC Theaters (United States of America)
Screens: 2471 | Locations: 283
European brands: Cinesa, Filmstaden, Finnkino, ODEON, UCI
European markets: Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland
2. Cineworld (United Kingdom)
Screens: 2237 | Locations: 237
European brands: Cinema City, Cineworld, Fotohouse
European markets: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK
3. Vue International (United Kingdom)
Screens: 1911 | Locations: 223
European brands: Cinemaxx, MultiKino, The Space Cinema, Vue
European markets: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Great Britain and Ireland.
4. Pathe Cinemas (France)
Screens: 1280 | Locations: 125
European brands: Street
European markets: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland
5. Paribu Cineverse (Turkey)
Corporate parent: CJ CGV (South Korea)
Screens: 783 | Locations: 90
European brands: Paribu Cineverse (formerly Cinemaxium)
6. Cinema CGR (France)
Screens: 705 | Locations: 74
European brands: Cinema CGR
7. Kinepolis (Netherlands)
Screens: 648 | Locations: 61
European brands: Kinepolis
European markets: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland
8. Russian Cinema Chain
9. UGC (France)
Screens: 595 | Locations: 58 European brands: UGC
European markets: Belgium, France
10. Cineplex (Germany)
Screens: 551 | Locations: 93 European brands: Cineplex
11. Cinema Helm (Spain)
Corporate parent: Cinepolis (Mexico)
Screens: 519 | Locations: 51
European brands: Cinema Helm
12. Russian cinema chain
13. Cineplexx (Austria)
Screens: 425 | Locations: 62 European brands: Cineplexx
European markets: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
14. CineStar (Germany)
Corporate parent: Event Cinema (Australia)
Screens: 373 | Locations: 47
European brands: CineStar
15. Helios (Poland)
Screens: 296 | Locations: 53
European brands: Helios
16. Omniplex (Ireland)
Screens: 285 | Locations: 38
European brands: Omniplex
European markets: Ireland, UK
17. Ocine (Spain)
Screens: 268 | Locations: 29
European brands: Ocine, Monciné
European markets: Spain, France
18. Nordic Film Cinemas (Denmark)
Screens: 261 | Locations: 46
European brands: Nordic Film Cinemas
European markets: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
19. Russian cinema chain
20. Russian cinema chain
21. Swedish cinema (Sweden)
Screens: 230 | Locations: 54
European brands: Swedish Bio, BioRex, Biografkompaniet
European markets: Sweden, Finland, Denmark
22. Megarama (France)
Screens: 229 | Locations: 29
European brands: Megarama
European markets: France, Spain
23. National pastimes (United Kingdom)
Corporate parent: National Amusements (United States)
Screens: 228 | Locations: 17
European brands: Showcase cinema
24. Cinemas NOS (Portugal)
Screens: 214 | Locations: 30
European brands: In cinema
25. Mk2 (France)
Screens: 202 | Locations: 22
European brands: Mk2, CineSur
European markets: France, Spain
26. Pink cinema (Turkey)
Screens: 182 | Locations: 26
European brands: CinemaPink
27. Multiplex (Ukraine)
Screens: 176 | Locations: 30
European brands: multiplex
28. Russian cinema chain
29. Blitz CineStar (Serbia)
Screens: 167 | Locations: 27
European brands: CineStar Cinemas, VCin
European markets: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia
30. Russian cinema chain
31. Russian cinema chain
32. IMC Cinemas (Ireland)
Screens: 146 | Locations: 19
European brands: IMC Cinemas
European markets: Ireland, UK
33. Kinopolis (Germany)
Screens: 142 | Locations: 17
European brands: Kinopolis
34. Odeon Multiplex (Spain)
Screens: 133 | Locations: 13
European brands: Odeon multiplexes
35. Everyman Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 128 | Locations: 38
European brands: Everyman Cinemas
36. Empire Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 126 | Locations: 14
European brands: Empire Cinemas
37. Cineville (France)
Screens: 124 | Locations: 16
European brands: Cineville
38. Union Cinema City (Spain)
Screens: 113 | Locations: 12
European brands: Union Cinema City
39. CineStar (Czech Republic)
Screens: 99 | Locations: 13
European brands: CineStar
40. Cinema (Turkey)
Screens: 98 | Locations: 10
European brands: CINEMA
European markets: Turkey, Kosovo
41. Film Palace (Germany)
Screens: 96 | Locations: 14
European brands: the movie palace
42. Cinemax (Slovakia)
Screens: 91 | Locations: 16
European brands: Cinemax
European markets: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania.
42. Films with light (United Kingdom)
Screens: 91 | Locations: 12
European brands: Light cinema
42. Refers to the cinema (Turkey)
Screens: 91 | Locations: 10
European brands: Cinema Avsar
45. Prestige (Turkey)
Screens: 87 | Locations: 10
European brands: prestige
46. Crafts (Spain)
Screens: 85 | Locations: 12
European brands: Artesia
46. Large screen (France)
Screens: 85 | Locations: 11
European brands: Big screen
48. Giometti Cinema (Italy)
Screens: 84 | Locations: 13
European brands: Cinema Giometti
49. Blue cinema (Switzerland)
Screens: 83 | Locations: 7
European brands: Blue cinema
50. Apollo Cinema (Estonia)
Screens: 81 | Locations: 16
European brands: Apollo Cinema
European markets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
50. Cineplace (Portugal)
Corporate parent: Orient Cinema (Brazil)
Screens: 81 | Locations: 13
European brands: Cineplace
