Texas-based Santikos Entertainment, North America’s eighth largest cinema circuit, has agreed with Christie to acquire its latest RGB pure laser and RBe digital cinema projectors with Series 4 electronics along with the new DCI-compliant Series 4-IMB.
Since its acquisition of Southern Theaters (AmStar Cinemas and The Grand Theatres), Santikos Entertainment, one of the largest cinema chains in the U.S., has more than 380 screens in 27 locations. The agreement will have Christie deploy and install projectors through Christie Professional Services, extending a partnership that was established in 2011. Christie Professional Services provides 24/7 NOC support, onsite services (preventative and emergency maintenance), extended warranty coverage, critical inventory management, and remote monitoring with Cinergy, a cloud-based theatre management platform.
“By upgrading our Santikos projectors at the 17 Grand Theatre and AmStar Cinemas locations to Christie projectors, we are not just enhancing the technical quality of those theaters; we are elevating the whole moviegoing experience. With Christie’s state-of-the-art technology, we’re ensuring that every film is presented with stunning clarity, vibrant colors, and incredible audio,
allowing our communities to truly lose themselves in the magic of cinema,” stated Tim Handren, Chief Executive Officer of Santikos Entertainment. “This investment underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering excellence and exceeding the expectations of our
patrons, providing them with nothing short of cinematic perfection.”
“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with Santikos,” said Brian Claypool, executive vice president of Cinema, Christie. “Their reputation for excellence and innovation is only outshone by their contribution to their local communities. This agreement not only underlines the dedication by both parties to future-proof and enhance the moviegoing experience for Santikos properties but also signifies a shared vision to drive industry growth.”
Christie’s 65-year cinema heritage and commitment to innovation is exemplified by its wide range of solutions. From its DCI-compliant CineLife+ Series projectors with Real|Laser illumination that offer stunning visuals, color, and contrast for unmatched cinematic
performance and energy efficiency to Xenon-illuminated projectors for long-term brightness and excellent image performance, Christie has projection solutions for screens of every size.
About Santikos Entertainment
Santikos was established in 1915 by Louis Santikos, a visionary Greek entrepreneur who left an indelible mark on the motion picture industry. Continuing his father’s legacy of innovation, John Santikos entered the movie theater business after graduating from St. Mary’s University and leading the company passionately until his passing on December 30, 2014. Today, our founder’s original vision remains the cornerstone of our operations.
At Santikos, delivering an exceptional guest experience at all 27 locations across the southeast is paramount, driving us to evolve into a distinctive and successful entertainment destination. Beyond our renowned theaters we now manage over 680,000 square feet of retail, office, and industrial properties. Additionally, Santikos holds multiple parcels of land earmarked for future commercial development, reflecting our commitment to perpetuating Mr. Santikos’ legacy of entertainment growth and real estate expansion.
Following Mr. Santikos’ passing, he ensured the continuity of our operations, directing 100% of the company’s net profits to various local charities through the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation. Managed by the San Antonio Area Foundation, these funds are distributed through a rigorous grant process, solidifying Santikos as a 100% Social Enterprise.
About Christie
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (J.P.: 6925). Christie revolutionized the movie industry with the launch of digital cinema projection, and since 1929 has embraced innovation and broken many technology barriers. Our technology, paired with the support of professional services to design, deploy, and
maintain installations, inspires exceptional experiences. Christie solutions are used worldwide, from the largest mega-events to the smallest boardrooms, and include advanced RGB pure laser projection, SDVoE technology, content management, image processing, and LED and LCDs.