The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the trade body representing the interests of cinema operators across 39 European territories, and Boxoffice Pro, the world’s leading trade publication covering the global theatrical exhibition industry, today published the third edition of the Giants of Exhibition: Europe listing, ranking the top 50 European cinema groups by screen count.
A ceremony honouring the circuits will take place on Tuesday 18 June in Barcelona during CineEurope, the biggest and longest-running convention dedicated to cinema operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
After two successful editions in 2022 and 2023, UNIC renewed its partnership with Boxoffice Pro for this third iteration of Giants of Exhibition: Europe, each group or company’s ranking being determined by its total screen count in Europe as of 31 December 2023.
Once again in the lead of this year’s ranking is ODEON Cinemas Group, the UK-based European subsidiary of AMC Theatres, with over 2,400 screens across the UK and Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The top four is rounded out by Cineworld Group (UK), Vue (UK), and Pathé Cinémas (France). Each of the top four circuits on this year’s list have a multi-national European presence of over 1,200 screens across the region.
UNIC and Boxoffice Pro would also like to highlight the winner of the “Fastest Moving Giant Award”, Ireland’s Omniplex, which jumped from 265 screens in last year’s ranking to 342 this year, and the three “Breakthrough Giant Award” winners, given to circuits that have broken into the Top 50 ranking this year for the first time: Cines ACEC (Spain), Reel Cinemas (UK), and NOE Cinémas (France).
Welcoming today’s announcement, UNIC President Phil Clapp said:
“On behalf of all UNIC members, I would like to congratulate each company featured in this third edition of Giants of Exhibition: Europe ranking, celebrating the biggest cinema operators in Europe.
This year’s Top 50 again celebrates the diversity of the European exhibition community, representing over 19,200 screens and 2,600 venues. With headquarters based in 21 countries and operating in 38 European territories, this ranking demonstrates the strength of the European cinema industry. Eleven groups are present in three or more countries, confirming their role as key regional or European players.”
“I am thrilled to present the third edition of the Giants of Exhibition: Europe listing.” added Julien Marcel, CEO of The Boxoffice Company. “This ranking vividly celebrates the diversity and dynamism of the European cinema landscape. Each year, we witness remarkable movement and changes within our industry, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of cinema groups across Europe. I extend a special shoutout to both the newcomers and the fastest-moving groups in this edition, whose achievements highlight the continuous growth and evolution of our vibrant sector. Congratulations to all the ranked cinema groups for their contributions to the theatrical experience.”
This year’s Giants of Exhibition: Europe list includes circuits operating in 38 different markets across the region. The breakdown by country sees France as the territory with the highest number of Top 50 circuits operating (10), followed by the UK and Spain, with nine circuits. Six of the top 50 companies operate in Germany, and four in Turkey, Ireland and Italy. The other territories featured in the list are: Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Kosovo and Romania with three circuits each; Croatia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia with two circuits; followed by Austria, Estonia, Ukraine, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Albania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Latvia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Greece and Montenegro, with one circuit in each country.
UNIC and Boxoffice Pro’s corporate parent, The Boxoffice Company, have jointly agreed not to include the names and screen counts of the Russian companies that would otherwise have featured in the Top 50.
This year’s full ranking of the Giants of Exhibition: Europe is included below.
Giants of Exhibition: Europe
Ranking the Top 50 Exhibition Circuits in Europe by Screen Count
1. ODEON Cinemas Group (United Kingdom)
Corporate Parent: AMC Theatres (US)
Screens: 2,409 – Locations: 274
European Brands: Cinesa, Filmstaden, Finnkino, ODEON, UCI
European Markets: Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK, Ireland
2. Cineworld Group (United Kingdom)
Screens: 2,232 – Locations: 233
European Brands: Cinema City, Cineworld, Picturehouse
European Markets: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK
3. Vue (United Kingdom)
Screens: 1,926 – Locations: 223
European Brands: CinemaxX, CinemaxX VUE, MultiKino, The Space Cinema, Vue
European Markets: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Ireland
4. Pathé Cinémas (France)
Screens: 1,259 – Locations: 122
European Brands: Pathé
European Markets: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland
5. Paribu Cineverse (Turkey)
Corporate Parent: CJ CGV (South Korea)
Screens: 717 – Locations: 85
European Brands: Paribu Cineverse (previously Cinemaximum)
6. CGR Cinémas (France)
Screens: 710 – Locations: 74
European Brands: CGR Cinémas
7. Kinepolis (Belgium)
Screens: 668 – Locations: 63
European Brands: Kinepolis
European Markets: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland
8. Russian Cinema Chain
9. UGC (France)
Screens: 595 – Locations: 57
European Brands: UGC
European Markets: Belgium, France
10. Cineplex (Germany)
Screens: 571 – Locations: 91
European Brands: Cineplex
11. Cine Yelmo (Spain)
Corporate Parent: Cinépolis (Mexico)
Screens: 518 – Locations: 51
European Brands: Cine Yelmo
12. Russian Cinema Chain
13. Cineplexx (Austria)
Screens: 440 – Locations: 64
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 Cinemas (Australia)
Screens: 356 – Locations: 45
European Brands: CineStar
15. Omniplex (Ireland)
Screens: 342 – Locations: 43
European Brands: Omniplex
European Markets: Ireland, UK
16. Helios (Poland)
Screens: 304 – Locations: 54
European Brands: Helios
17. Nordisk Film Cinemas (Denmark)
Screens: 261 – Locations: 46
European Brands: Nordisk Film Cinemas
European Markets: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
18. Ocine (Spain)
Screens: 260 – Locations: 29
European Brands: Ocine, Monciné
European Markets: France, Spain
19. Russian Cinema Chain
21. Svenska Bio (Sweden)
Screens: 240 – Locations: 57
European Brands: Biografkompaniet, BioRex, Svenska Bio
European Markets: Denmark, Finland, Sweden
21. Megarama (France)
Screens: 240 – Locations: 30
European Brands: Megarama
European Markets: France, Spain
23. National Amusements (UK)
Corporate Parent: National Amusements (US)
Screens: 215 – Locations: 16
European Brands: Showcase Cinemas
24. Cinemas NOS (Portugal)
Screens: 214 – Locations: 30
European Brands: Cinemas NOS
25. Mk2 (France)
Screens: 196 – Locations: 22
European Brands: Mk2, CineSur
European Markets: France, Spain
26. Blitz CineStar (Croatia)
Screens: 182 – Locations: 28
European Brands: CineStar Cinemas, VCin
European Markets: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia
27. Russian Cinema Chain
28. CinemaPink (Turkey)
Screens: 169 – Locations: 24
European Brands: CinemaPink
29. IMC (Ireland)
Screens: 160 – Locations: 21
European Brands: IMC Cinemas
European Markets: UK, Ireland
30. Everyman Cinemas (UK)
Screens: 155 – Locations: 46
European Brands: Everyman Cinemas
31. Russian Cinema Chain
32. Multiplex (Ukraine)
Screens: 150 – Locations: 26
European Brands: Multiplex
33. Kinopolis (Germany)
Screens: 149 – Locations: 18
European Brands: Kinopolis
34. Odeon Multicines (Spain)
Screens: 144 – Locations: 15
European Brands: Odeon Multicines
35. Russian Cinema Chain
36. Cineville (France)
Screens: 129 – Locations: 17
European Brands: Cineville
37. Union Cine Ciudad (Spain)
Screens: 99 – Locations: 11
European Brands: Union Cine Ciudad
37. CineStar (Czech Republic)
Screens: 99 – Locations: 13
European Brands: CineStar
39. The Light Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 97 – Locations: 13
European Brands: The Light Cinemas
40. Filmpalast (Germany)
Screens: 96 – Locations: 14
European Brands: Filmpalast
41. Cinemax (Slovakia)
Screens: 91 – Locations: 16
European Brands: Cinemax
European Markets: Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia
42. Apollo Cinemas (Estonia)
Screens: 87 – Locations: 17
European Brands: Apollo Cinemas
European Markets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
43. Cines ACEC (Spain)
Screens: 86 – Locations: 10
European brands: Cines ACEC
44. Grand Ecran (France)
Screens: 85 – Locations: 11
European brands: Grand Ecran
45. Blue Cinema (Switzerland)
Screens: 82 – Locations: 9
European Brands: Blue Cinema
46. Cinemarine (Turkey)
Screens: 81 – Locations: 10
European Brands: Cinemarine
European Markets: Turkey, Kosovo
46. Av?ar Sinema (Turkey)
Screens: 81 – Locations: 9
European Brands: Avsar Sinema
46. Giometti Cinema (Italy)
Screens: 81 – Locations: 11
European Brands: Giometti Cinema
46. Cineplace (Portugal)
Corporate Parent: Orient Cinemas (Brazil)
Screens: 81 – Locations: 13
European Brands: Cineplace
50. Reel Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 78 – Locations: 15
European Brands: Reel Cinemas
50. NOE Cinémas (France)
Screens: 78 – Locations: 23
European Brands: NOE Cinémas
About The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC)
The Union Internationale des Cinémas/International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) represents the interests of cinema trade associations and cinema operators covering 39 countries in Europe and neighbouring regions. More information at www.unic-cinemas.org.
About Boxoffice Pro and The Boxoffice Company
The Boxoffice Company is the world’s #1 provider of media, technology, and data for the global film industry. The company operates a global network of media brands (AlloCine, AdoroCinema, SensaCine, Espinof, Filmstarts, MoviePilot, and Beyazperde) reaching over 74M movie fans across Europe and Latin America. The Boxoffice Company partners with leading search and discovery platforms, studios, and exhibitors of all sizes to help them connect directly with moviegoers and fans, using the latest innovations in ticketing, business intelligence, and digital marketing. Part of the Paris-based Webedia Group, The Boxoffice Company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Mexico, Brazil, France, the UK, Spain, Germany and Turkey.
In publication since 1920, Boxoffice Pro is the reference publication of theatrical exhibition. Serving as the official publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners, Boxoffice Pro includes expert analysis of industry trends, executive profiles, and exclusive financial forecasts in print and online. Following its 2018 merger with Film Journal International, Boxoffice Pro is the only monthly magazine exclusively focused on the interests of theatrical exhibition worldwide.