Credit: Kinepolis
On Tuesday 4 November 2025, cinema operator Kinepolis Group announced it had signed an agreement to acquire the operations of the US cinema chain Emagine Entertainment
The Kinepolis Group said that following this agreement, it will add fourteen cinemas to its portfolio, representing 177 screens and 18,000 seats, located in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Emagine Entertainment welcomes approximately six million visitors per year, generating nearly $129 million in revenue. The cinemas are equipped with reclining seats and offer their own Premium Large Format (PLF) under the names EMX (14 cinemas) and Super EMX (3 cinemas). EMX features wall-to-wall screens with 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos sound, while Super EMX takes the experience further with even larger screens and 64-channel Dolby Atmos sound for a truly immersive cinema experience.
Emagine Entertainment also provides support services to a cinema chain in Minnesota and Colorado, as well as to Emagine Woodhaven and The Riviera in Michigan. These cinemas operate under the Emagine brand and are managed by third parties under a brand licence agreement.
Eddy Duquenne, CEO of Kinepolis Group, said: “Today’s announcement marks a key milestone in the expansion of our business – our first acquisition of this scale since the pandemic. We are doing this with a high-quality asset in a market where we have had positive experiences with our Kinepolis concepts. The location and size of these cinemas make them a valuable addition to the Group’s portfolio, allowing us to further strengthen our presence in the US market. We are delighted to welcome the new teams into the Kinepolis family.”
Paul Glantz, Chairman and CEO of Emagine Entertainment, said: “Kinepolis has a reputation for operating exceptionally well-managed cinemas, both in Europe and North America. Its commitment to providing customers with an unforgettable cinema experience makes it the ideal partner to continue managing Emagine in the future.”
According to the Kinepolis Group, the agreement represents a transaction value of $105 million (€91 million) for 100% of Emagine’s operations. An additional consideration of up to $15 million (€12.9 million) is linked to the growth of the US box office during 2025. Based on the results for 2024, Emagine Entertainment is expected to generate an EBITDAL of $19.6 million (€17 million). The LTM (Last Twelve Months) EBITDAL amounted to $20.3 million (€17.6 million) at the end of September. The transaction will be financed through an additional €100 million term facility (committed term loan) under Kinepolis’ existing credit facility. Kinepolis plans to finalise the acquisition by the end of 2025.
Kinepolis will continue to operate the Emagine cinemas under the existing brand and prioritises continuity for all Emagine customers while carefully attending to the needs of its employees and stakeholders.
