The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the trade body representing cinema operators across 39 European territories, and Boxoffice Pro, the world’s leading trade publication covering the global theatrical exhibition industry, today published the fifth edition of the Giants of Exhibition: Europe listing, ranking the Top 50 European cinema groups by screen count.
All of those included on this year’s Giants of Exhibition: Europe list will be recognised at a ceremony taking place on Tuesday 23 June in Barcelona during CineEurope, the biggest and longest-running convention dedicated to cinema operators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
UNIC has renewed its partnership in 2026 with Boxoffice Pro for this fifth iteration of Giants of Exhibition: Europe, each company’s ranking being determined by its total screen count in Europe as of 31 December 2025.
In the lead in this year’s ranking is confirmed ODEON Cinemas Group, the UK-based European subsidiary of AMC Theatres, with over 2,300 screens across the UK and Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The top five is rounded out by Cineworld Group (UK), Vue International (UK), Pathé Cinémas (France) and CGR Cinémas (France).
Each of the top four circuits have a multi-national European presence of over 1,200 screens across the region, whereas CGR Cinémas is the only company in the top positions currently operating in only one territory, with over 700 screens.
For the second consecutive year, France’s Cineville becomes the winner of the “Fastest Moving Giant Award”, with a 18.4% increase in its screen number year on year, marking a staggering expansion from 129 screens in 2023 to 158 in 2024 and 187 in 2025. The “Breakthrough Giant Award” – given to circuits that broke into the Top 50 this year for the first time – goes to The Arc Cinema (Ireland, UK) which cruised into the 45th position after years of strong organic growth.
Welcoming today’s announcement, UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte said:
“On behalf of all UNIC members, I would like to congratulate every company featured in the fifth edition of our Giants of Exhibition: Europe ranking. Showcasing the largest cinema operators across the continent, this year’s Top 50 is a testament to the diversity and continued strength of the European exhibition sector.
Together, the companies featured represent more than 18,600 screens across over 2,300 cinema sites. Headquartered in 20 countries and operating in 38 European territories, they demonstrate the breadth and vitality of our industry. Eleven groups are active in three or more markets, underlining their importance as European players.”
“We’re proud to partner with UNIC once again to bring you the latest edition of Giants of Exhibition: Europe in 2026”, said Malcolm MacMillan, EVP Exhibitor Relations for The Boxoffice Company, parent company to Boxoffice Pro. “This list exists first and foremost to celebrate the scale, ambition, and resilience of the European cinema industry. It’s also an opportunity to spotlight the rising stars—the Breakthrough Giants (those that have made it into the list for the first time) and Fastest Moving Giants (those that are growing ahead of the market) —who are making bold moves and shaping the future of the market. Our sincere congratulations to everyone featured in this year’s Top 50 Giants. We look forward to honouring all members of the Top 50 European Giants at CineEurope in June.”
This year’s Giants of Exhibition: Europe sees France as the territory where most circuits are headquartered – a total of 9 – representing 3,501 screens in 383 locations, whereas the UK is the country where most screens operate: 3,430 in 382 sites. This is followed by Russia*, Germany (1,617 screens/217 locations), Spain (1,384 screens/142 locations) and Turkey (875 screens/112 locations).
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 (United States)
Screens: 2,319 – Locations: 263
European Brands: Cinesa, Filmstaden, Finnkino, ODEON, UCI
European Markets: Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK and Ireland
2. Cineworld Group (United Kingdom)
Screens: 2,068 – Locations: 217
European Brands: Cinema City, Cineworld, Picturehouse
European Markets: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK
3. Vue International (United Kingdom)
Screens: 1,969 [↑ 0.25%] – Locations: 224
European Brands: CinemaxX, CinemaxX VUE, MultiKino, The Space Cinemas, Vue
European Markets: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Ireland
4. Pathé Cinémas (France)
Screens: 1,267 – Locations: 123
European Brands: Pathé
European Markets: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland
5. CGR Cinémas (France)
Screens: 710 – Locations: 73
European Brands: CGR Cinémas
6. Kinepolis (Belgium)
Screens: 672 – Locations: 62
European Brands: Kinepolis
European Markets: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland
7. CGV Mars Cinema Group (Turkey)
Corporate Parent: CJ CGV (South Korea)
Screens: 625 – Locations: 77
European Brands: Paribu Cineverse
8. Cineplex (Germany)
Screens: 584 [↑ 1.2%] – Locations: 90
European Brands: Cineplex
9. UGC (France)
Screens: 582 – Locations: 55
European Brands: UGC
European Markets: Belgium, France
10. Russian Cinema Chain
11. Yelmo Cines (Spain)
Corporate Parent: Cinépolis (Mexico)
Screens: 481 – Locations: 51
European Brands: Yelmo Cines
12. Cineplexx (Austria)
Screens: 430 [↑ 1.2%] – Locations: 63
European Brands: Cineplexx
European Markets: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
13. Omniplex (Ireland)
Screens: 367 [↑ 1.9%] – Locations: 44
European Brands: Omniplex
European Markets: Ireland, UK
14. CineStar (Germany)
Corporate Parent: Event Cinemas (Australia)
Screens: 339 [↑ 3%] – Locations: 44
European Brands: CineStar
15. Helios (Poland)
Screens: 300 – Locations: 53
European Brands: Helios
16. Ocine (Spain)
Screens: 279 [↑ 0.7%] – Locations: 30
European Brands: Ocine, Monciné
European Markets: France, Spain
17. Megarama (France)
Screens: 278 [↑ 5.3%] – Locations: 35
European Brands: Megarama
European Markets: France, Spain
18. Nordisk Film Cinemas (Denmark)
Screens: 265 [↑ 1.5%] – Locations: 47
European Brands: Nordisk Film Cinemas
European Markets: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
19. Russian Cinema Chain
20. Svenska Bio (Sweden)
Screens: 243 [↑ 0.8%] – Locations: 58
European Brands: Biografkompaniet, BioRex, Svenska Bio European Markets: Denmark, Finland, Sweden
21. Russian Cinema Chain
22. National Amusements (UK)
Corporate Parent: National Amusements (US)
Screens: 214 – Locations: 16
European Brands: Showcase Cinemas
23. Cinemas NOS (Portugal)
Screens: 208 – Locations: 29
European Brands: Cinemas NOS
24. Mk2 (France)
Screens: 197 – Locations: 22
European Brands: Mk2, CineSur
European Markets: France, Spain
25. Cineville (France)
Screens: 187 [↑ 18.4%] – Locations: 24
European Brands: Cineville
26. Blitz CineStar (Croatia)
Screens: 181 [↑ 1.1%] – Locations: 29
European Brands: CineStar Cinemas
European Markets: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia
27. IMC (Ireland)
Screens: 177 [↑ 10.6%] – Locations: 22
European Brands: IMC Cinemas
European Markets: UK, Ireland
28. Multiplex (Ukraine)
Screens: 175 [↑ 10.8%] – Locations: 28
European Brands: Multiplex
29. Everyman Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 172 [↑ 4.9%] – Locations: 49
European Brands: Everyman Cinemas
30. CinemaPink (Turkey)
Screens: 165 [↑ 13.8%] – Locations: 25
European Brands: CinemaPink
31. Russian Cinema Chain
32. Russian Cinema Chain
33. Kinopolis (Germany)
Screens: 159 [↑ 6.7%] – Locations: 19
European Brands: Kinopolis
34. Odeon Multicines (Spain)
Screens: 151 – Locations: 16
European Brands: Odeon Multicines
35. Russian Cinema Chain
36. Grand Ecran (France)
Screens: 109 [↑ 4.8%] – Locations: 14
European brands: Grand Ecran
37. The Light Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 105 [↑ 6%] – Locations: 14
European Brands: The Light Cinemas
38. CineStar (Czech Republic)
Screens: 100 [↑ 1%] – Locations: 13
European Brands: CineStar
39. Filmpalast (Germany)
Screens: 96 – Locations: 14
European Brands: Filmpalast
40. Apollo Kino (Estonia) (TIE)
Screens: 93 – Locations: 19
European Brands: Apollo Kino
European Markets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
40. Union Cine Ciudad (Spain) (TIE)
Screens: 93 – Locations: 12
European Brands: Union Cine Ciudad
40. Cinemarine (Turkey) (TIE)
Screens: 93 [↑ 3.3%] – Locations: 11
European Markets: Turkey, Kosovo
43. Cinemax (Slovakia)
Screens: 91 – Locations: 16
European Brands: Cinemax
European Markets: Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia
44. Blue Cinema (Switzerland)
Screens: 88 [↑ 7.3%] – Locations: 13
European Brands: Blue Cinema
45. The Arc Cinema (Ireland)
Screens: 87 – Locations: 15
European brands: The Arc Cinema
European Markets: Ireland, UK
46. CineWest (France)
Screens: 86 – Locations: 13
European brands: CineWest
47. NOE Cinémas (France)
Screens: 85 – Locations: 24
European Brands: NOE Cinémas
48. Giometti Cinema (Italy) (TIE)
Screens: 84 – Locations: 11
European Brands: Giometti Cinema
48. Artesiete (Spain) (TIE)
Screens: 84 – Locations: 11
European Brands: Artesiete
50. Reel Cinemas (United Kingdom)
Screens: 81 – Locations: 15 European Brands: Reel Cinemas
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