As the industry gathers for CineEurope 2025 in Barcelona, the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) and Boxoffice Pro have released the fourth edition of Giants of Exhibition: Europe. The annual report charts the fifty largest cinema operators across the continent, covering more than 18,600 screens and 2,300 venues in 38 markets.It’s a report that not only measures scale, but also signals where the business is consolidating, where it’s evolving, and which players are starting to make their presence felt.
The upper tier of the rankings remains unchanged, reinforcing the dominance of UK- and Ireland-based operators with multinational reach.
The top five cinema groups in Europe for 2025 are:
- Odeon Cinemas Group (AMC Theatres) – over 2,300 screens across nine markets
- Cineworld Group – just over 2,100 screens in the UK, Ireland, and Eastern Europe
- Vue International – nearly 2,000 screens across eight territories
- Pathé Cinémas – 1,271 screens in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland
- CGR Cinémas – 710 screens, all concentrated in France, entering the top five for the first time
Together, these groups account for a significant share of Europe’s exhibition footprint. Their cross-border strategies make them indispensable partners for distributors looking to maximise reach across the continent.
Growth Stories to Watch
The report also shines a spotlight on operators reshaping the middle of the market.
- Cineville in France earned the “Fastest Moving Giant” title, expanding its screen base by more than 18 percent last year.
- Spain’s Artesiete and France’s CineWest joined the rankings for the first time, winning “Breakthrough Giant” status.
- In the UK and Ireland, Omniplex expanded its multiplex model by five percent, while Everyman Cinemas continued its steady rise with a boutique, premium approach.
These cases show how regional champions are creating space for growth alongside multinational operators.
National Perspectives
The UK remains Europe’s powerhouse, with six groups headquartered there representing almost 7,000 screens across more than 800 cinemas. France follows closely, with over 3,400 screens across multiple operators. Germany, Spain, and Turkey also anchor the rankings, each contributing more than 850 screens to the total.
At the same time, cross-border expansion is accelerating: eleven companies now operate in three or more countries, illustrating a trend toward European integration that would have seemed ambitious only a decade ago.
A Balancing Act
For UNIC President Phil Clapp, the rankings reflect “the resilience and dynamism of the sector,” with 22 operators climbing the table and 17 holding steady year on year. For Boxoffice Pro’s Malcolm MacMillan, the list is as much about “spotlighting the rising stars” as it is about celebrating scale.
The balance is clear: the largest operators provide stability at the top, while mid-tier and boutique groups drive innovation, experimenting with premiumisation, community-driven programming, and targeted expansion.
As delegates convene in Barcelona, one message resonates: size still matters, but innovation is what keeps European cinema moving forward.