Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgian cinema group Kinepolis buys 14-cinema Emagine chain in the U.S.; CEO Eddy Duquenne calls it a key milestone, boosting revenue, adding 177 screens, 18,000 seats, and 6 million annual visitors.
As VRT News reported, Belgian cinema group Kinepolis is buying American chain Emagine Entertainment to expand in the U.S. The acquisition price could rise by $15 million, or about €13 million, depending on ticket sales.
What is Kinepolis’ plan in the U.S. with the 14-cinema Emagine deal?
Company officials said Emagine’s operations will benefit from Kinepolis’ experience in cinema management, marketing, and technology. CEO Eddy Duquenne calls it “an important milestone” and “a valuable addition to the portfolio” for Kinepolis. “This is the first acquisition of this magnitude since the coronavirus pandemic.”
Based on 2024 results, Kinepolis estimates that Emagine will contribute just under $20 million to the group’s gross operating profit. The acquisition is expected to be finalised by the end of this year, and Kinepolis confirmed the Emagine brand will be retained.
Kinepolis, the Belgian cinema group, currently operates in 7 European countries, Canada, and the United States, where it already owns 10 cinemas. The acquisition of Emagine significantly strengthens Kinepolis’ presence in the American Midwest.
Kinepolis was founded in 1997 in Belgium. Kinepolis first entered the United States in 2019 by buying MIR Digital Cinemas for €137 million. Emagine Entertainment, founded years earlier, now operates 14 cinemas with 177 screens and 18,000 seats in the American Midwest. The chain welcomes around 6 million visitors a year and earns roughly $129 million in revenue. Kinepolis announced in 2025 that it would acquire Emagine, keeping the brand name.
