Kinepolis

Kinepolis (officially Kinepolis Group NV) is a Belgian multinational cinema chain and the third-largest cinema operator in Europe. The company is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and is listed on Euronext Brussels under the ticker symbol KIN (ISIN: BE0974274061).

History

The foundations of Kinepolis were laid in the late 1960s, when Albert Bert expanded a local cinema in Harelbeke, Belgium, into a two-screen venue. In 1988, Bert, together with his sister-in-law Marie-Rose Claeys-Vereecke, opened Kinepolis Brussels, which with 25 screens was the world's first megaplex. Kinepolis Group was formed in 1997 through the merger of two family-owned cinema groups (the Bert and Claeys families) and has been listed on the stock exchange since 1998. Since 2006, the Bert family has been the sole family shareholder.

Operations

Kinepolis operates 122 cinema complexes worldwide, totaling 1,314 screens and more than 220,000 seats, with approximately 4,000 employees. The company's operations span 9 countries:

In Europe, the cinemas operate under the Kinepolis brand, with an art-house sub-brand called KLUB in Metz, France. In Canada, the company operates as Landmark Cinemas (acquired in 2017), and in the United States as MJR Theatres (acquired in 2019). In February 2025, Kinepolis announced an agreement to acquire the U.S. chain Emagine Entertainment.

Core Activities

Kinepolis distinguishes seven core business activities:

• Box Office – Sale of cinema tickets, including active programming of blockbusters, local films, art-house films, and alternative content.
• In-Theatre Sales (ITS) – Sale of beverages and snacks through self-service shops and other concepts.
• Business-to-Business (B2B) – Organization of corporate events, conferences, avant-premieres, and sale of vouchers.
• Real Estate – Management and development of the group's property portfolio. Kinepolis owns 50 of its cinema complexes and leases more than 90,000 m² to third-party businesses.
• Film Distribution – Through Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD), the company distributes international and domestic films in Belgium and Luxembourg, with a specialization in Flemish cinema.
• Screen Advertising – Through Brightfish, the Belgian screen advertising sales house acquired in 2011.
• Event Cinema – Organization of concerts, opera, ballet, sports, and other alternative content screenings.

Business Strategy

Kinepolis's strategy is built on three pillars: being the best cinema operator, the best marketer, and the best real estate manager. The company emphasizes a "self-learning organization" model with decentralized entrepreneurship, where local managers (called "business owners") are given responsibility for specific aspects of operations. The company's "Entrepreneurship Plan," implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed to lower the break-even point so that the same EBITDA level could be achieved with 25% fewer visitors compared to 2019.

Financial Information

Kinepolis Group NV has been listed on Euronext Brussels since 9 April 1998 (compartment A, Large Caps). In 2023, the company reported record revenue of €605.5 million, EBITDAL of €151.4 million, and a net profit of €56.1 million, with 35.4 million visitors. In 2025, the company reported revenue of €564.9 million and approximately 30.7 million visitors.

Key People

• Eddy Duquenne – Chief Executive Officer (since 2008)
• Joost Bert – Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Jeroen Mouton – Chief Financial Officer (as of 2023)

Innovation and Technology

Kinepolis has invested in premium cinema technologies including IMAX (with laser projection), Laser ULTRA (its proprietary premium large format), ScreenX (270-degree multi-projection), 4DX (motion seats with environmental effects), and Dolby Atmos sound. The company also operates an internal Innovation Lab that allows employees to submit ideas for improving operations and customer experience.