Cineworld Group

Overview

Cineworld Group is a London-based international cinema operator founded in 1995. The company operates one of the world's largest cinema networks across the UK, Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and the United States (through the Regal Cinemas brand). The group also operates the Picturehouse Cinemas chain in the UK, a network of arthouse and independent cinemas that serve a culturally engaged audience distinct from the mainstream multiplex market.

Cineworld's dual operation -- mainstream multiplex cinemas alongside the Picturehouse arthouse chain -- reflects the bifurcated theatrical market in the UK, where the commercial multiplex sector and the specialist arthouse sector serve different audiences with different programming needs. The Picturehouse brand provides the Cineworld Group with a presence in the arthouse market without compromising the mainstream Cineworld brand's commercial identity.

Picturehouse Cinemas

Picturehouse Cinemas is a chain of arthouse and independent cinemas across the UK, acquired by Cineworld in 2012. The chain operates venues in London (including the Picturehouse Central in the West End), Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Bristol, and other cities, programming quality international, arthouse, and independent films for cinema-literate audiences.

For independent filmmakers and distributors, Picturehouse is one of the most important arthouse exhibition networks in the UK. A booking at a Picturehouse venue -- particularly in London -- provides meaningful theatrical exposure for limited-release arthouse films. Distributors including Curzon, BFI Distribution, and MUBI regularly book Picturehouse venues for their arthouse releases.

Regal Cinemas (US)

Cineworld acquired Regal Entertainment Group in 2018, making Regal Cinemas part of the Cineworld Group. Regal is one of the largest cinema chains in the United States, operating over 500 theatres with approximately 6,500 screens. Regal's scale in the US market gives Cineworld Group significant presence in North American mainstream theatrical exhibition.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Cineworld and Regal do not acquire films directly -- they are exhibitors rather than distributors. Films screen at Cineworld, Picturehouse, and Regal venues through deals between distributors and the cinema chains' programming teams. Filmmakers seeking exhibition at these venues should approach through a distributor with existing booking relationships.

For arthouse filmmakers, Picturehouse is the most relevant part of the Cineworld Group for their releases. A distributor with Picturehouse booking relationships provides access to this arthouse venue network as part of a UK theatrical distribution deal.

See Also

For UK theatrical distributors that book Picturehouse venues, see Curzon and BFI Distribution in this directory. For how UK theatrical exhibition works for independent films, see Distribution Deals Explained.