What Kinostar does

Kinostar is a privately held, family-owned German cinema exhibition and film distribution group founded in 1997 by brothers Matthias and Michael Roesch, headquartered in Stuttgart and organized through two related GmbH entities — Kinostar Theater GmbH (cinema operations, HRB Stuttgart 22 329) and Kinostar Filmverleih GmbH (film distribution). On the exhibition side, Kinostar Theater GmbH operates five cinema venues across Baden-Württemberg — Kinostar Filmwelt Bretten, Kinostar Filmwelt Mosbach, Kinostar Arthaus-Kinos Heilbronn, Scala Neckarsulm, and the dual-screen Kinostar Schwäbisch Hall (Gloria and Lichtspiele) — equipped with digital projection, 3D capability, modern sound systems and, at Bretten, a "Luxus-Loge" luxury box. Programming spans arthouse, original-version (OmU) screenings, Seniorenkino, Frühstückskino, Kindergeburtstage, school screenings and private cinema rentals, with consumer-facing infrastructure including a native iOS/Android app, the KINOSTAR+ Abo subscription, the MovieCard reloadable loyalty card and gift vouchers, all transacted through an iframe-integrated kinoheld online shop.

Name

Kinostar

Legal name

Kinostar Theater GmbH

Website

https://kinostar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cinema ticket sales and reservations: Box-office revenue from regular programming, special screenings, original-version (OmU) screenings, senior and breakfast cinema (Seniorenkino/Frühstückskino), children's birthdays, school events and private cinema rentals (Kino Mieten). Tickets/reservations are processed via the online shop operated by kinoheld GmbH in the name of Kinostar.
2. MovieCard loyalty program: Customer loyalty card (MovieCard) with reload functionality purchased through the kinoheld online shop, providing ongoing reload and retention revenue.
3. Cinema gift cards (Kinogutscheine): Online sale of printable cinema gift vouchers (Kinogutscheine) via the kinoheld online shop; redeemable at all Kinostar locations.
4. Cinema advertising (Werben im Kino): In-cinema advertising offering marketed separately for Arthaus Heilbronn, Filmwelt Mosbach and Scala Neckarsulm, providing B2B marketing revenue from local advertisers.
5. Film distribution / sales (Kinostar Filmverleih): Pan-European theatrical film distribution business licensing titles to cinemas (e.g., Bonhoeffer, Rule Breakers, Spasmeni Fleva, Portekiz Aşkı, Miss Moxy, Die Schule des Mutes) and offering Apple TV+ distribution services. Hollywood Reporter describes a "production, distribution and sales outfit."
6. Home Entertainment (DVD, Blu-ray, VOD): Distribution of films through Video on Demand (turkonvideo on Amazon), DVD and Blu-ray globally (e.g., Bonhoeffer on Amazon DE Blu-ray/Prime Video). Listed as "Weltweit erhältlich" (available worldwide).
7. Live opera and ancillary productions: Hollywood Reporter notes expansion includes "everything from movies to live opera," indicating revenue from live-event screenings/performances distributed to cinemas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kinostar operates five physical cinema locations across Baden-Württemberg, Germany, offering mainstream, arthouse and original-version film screenings alongside loyalty and subscription programs. The group's sister entity Kinostar Filmverleih GmbH runs a pan-European film distribution arm that licenses theatrical, home entertainment (DVD/Blu-ray/VOD) and Apple TV+ titles to cinema chains and digital platforms across Germany, Austria and beyond.

Product overview

Kinostar is a vertically integrated German cinema-and-film-distribution group rather than a single SaaS product. Its operating entity Kinostar Theater GmbH runs five cinema locations — Kinostar Filmwelt Bretten, Kinostar Filmwelt Mosbach, Kinostar Arthaus-Kinos Heilbronn, Scala Neckarsulm, and the dual-screen Kinostar Schwäbisch Hall (Gloria and Lichtspiele) — supported by shared customer-facing services such as the KINOSTAR+ Abo subscription, the MovieCard loyalty card, the Kinostar Mobile App for iOS and Android, gift vouchers ("Kinogutscheine"), school and corporate cinema rental, and a youth-protection / "Erziehungsbeauftragung" service. Alongside the exhibition business, the sister company Kinostar Filmverleih GmbH acts as the group's pan-European film acquisition, distribution, and sales arm, releasing theatrical titles (e.g., Die Schule des Mutes – Rule Breakers, Spasmeni Fleva, Miss Moxy, Portekiz Aşkı, Bonhoeffer, Der König der Könige) into German-speaking cinemas and into Home Entertainment (Video on Demand and DVD/Blu-ray) primarily via Amazon. Online ticket, coupon, and MovieCard transactions are technically fulfilled through an iframe integration with kinoheld GmbH's online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kinostar Filmwelt Bretten: Multiplex cinema operated by Kinostar Theater GmbH in Bretten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Am Gottesackertor 1, 75015 Bretten).
• Kinostar Filmwelt Mosbach
• Kinostar Arthaus-Kinos Heilbronn (Universum Arthaus Heilbronn)
• Scala Neckarsulm
• Kinostar Schwäbisch Hall

Products and services

• Kinostar Filmwelt Bretten Multiplex cinema operated by Kinostar Theater GmbH in Bretten, offering regular program, original-version screenings, arthouse programming, a Luxus-Loge (luxury box), children's birthday events, school screenings, and event rentals. Open to the general public in the Bretten catchment area.
• Kinostar Filmwelt Mosbach Cinema operated by Kinostar in Mosbach-Neckarelz (Bahnhofstraße 1), featuring a regular program, original-version (OmU) screenings, an arthouse/senior cinema program (Programmkino / Seniorenkino) and standard cinema services such as gift vouchers, school screenings and children's events. Open to the general public in the Mosbach catchment area.
• Kinostar Arthaus-Kinos Heilbronn Arthouse cinema in Heilbronn (Kirchbrunnenstraße 3, 74072) operated by Kinostar, showing original-language films, senior matinees, breakfast cinema (Frühstückskino), Film & Genuss (film-and-menu) events and standard cinema services. Open to the general public in the Heilbronn catchment area.
• Scala Neckarsulm Cinema located in Neckarsulm (Benefizgasse 5, 74172) operated by Kinostar, offering regular programming, gift vouchers (Kinogutscheine), school screenings (Kino & Schule), children's birthday parties (Kindergeburtstage), and cinema advertising (Werben im Kino) and rental services. Open to the general public in the Neckarsulm catchment area.
• Kinostar Schwäbisch Hall Two-screen cinema operation in Schwäbisch Hall run by Kinostar — Gloria (Im Lindach 8, 74523) and Lichtspiele (Zollhüttengasse 6, 74523) — with original-version screenings, arthouse programming in the Convino hall, Frühstückskino (breakfast cinema), and standard cinema services. Open to the general public in the Schwäbisch Hall catchment area.
• Kinostar Filmverleih Film distribution arm of the Kinostar group (Kinostar Filmverleih GmbH, headquartered at Olgastraße 57A, Stuttgart) that distributes German-dubbed/subtitled theatrical and home entertainment titles (Turkish, Greek, German, and international productions) across German-speaking Europe. Provides cinema operators with marketing materials, press kits, DCP trailers, and artwork downloads. Serves cinema exhibitor B2B partners.
• Kinostar Home Entertainment Home entertainment division distributing Kinostar Filmverleih titles via Video on Demand (turkonvideo on Amazon, Amazon Prime Video) and physical DVD/Blu-ray, primarily through Amazon worldwide. Available globally ('Weltweit erhältlich'). Targeted at consumer audiences including Turkish/Greek diaspora for foreign-language catalogue titles.
• Kinostar Mobile App (iOS / Android) Official Kinostar mobile app available on Apple's App Store and Google Play Store (de.kinoheld.kinostar), enabling mobile ticket reservation and purchase across the Kinostar cinema network. Targeted at cinema-going consumers in Baden-Württemberg.
• MovieCard Rechargeable Kinostar cinema customer loyalty card, reloadable via the online shop operated by kinoheld GmbH and usable at all five Kinostar cinema locations. Targeted at repeat cinema-going consumers in Baden-Württemberg.
• KINOSTAR+ Abo Recurring cinema subscription ('Abo') program offered at all five Kinostar cinema locations, allowing members to attend regular screenings on a subscription basis. Targeted at frequent cinema-goers in Baden-Württemberg.
• Die Schule des Mutes – Rule Breakers (theatrical release) Drama film (120 min) based on the true story of Afghan tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob, directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag and starring Amber Afzali. Released theatrically across Germany from 29 January 2026 via Kinostar Filmverleih. Available to cinema exhibitor B2B partners and to consumers through cinema ticket purchase.
• Miss Moxy (theatrical release) Animated family film (88 min, Netherlands/Belgium 2025) directed by Vincent Bal and Wip Vernooij, released in German theatres on 21 May 2026 via Kinostar Filmverleih and rolled out across Germany and Austria. Available to cinema exhibitor B2B partners and to consumers through cinema ticket purchase.
• Spasmeni Fleva (theatrical release) Greek drama/thriller (127 min) directed by Yannis Economides, shown in Greek original with German subtitles and released in German cinemas from 14 May 2026. Distributed by Kinostar Filmverleih across 30+ German cities and Austria. Available to cinema exhibitor B2B partners and to consumers through cinema ticket purchase.
• Portekiz Aşkı (theatrical release) Romantic comedy (104 min) directed by Ismail Sahin, listed as 'Jetzt im Kino' (Now in theatres) in the Kinostar Filmverleih catalogue and presented in Turkish with German subtitles. Available to cinema exhibitor B2B partners and to Turkish-language consumers through cinema ticket purchase.
• Bonhoeffer (home entertainment release) Biography/drama (Ireland/Belgium 2024) directed by Todd Komarnicki, featuring Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, Moritz Bleibtreu, Nadine Heidenreich and Patrick Mölleken. Released by Kinostar Filmverleih as a Home Entertainment title on Amazon Blu-ray and Video on Demand worldwide. Available globally ('Weltweit erhältlich') to consumers via Amazon Prime Video and physical disc.
• Der König der Könige (home entertainment release) Animated feature (USA 2025) directed by Seong-Ho Jang, released in Home Entertainment (Amazon Blu-ray/Video on Demand worldwide) via Kinostar Filmverleih and also re-released theatrically. Available globally to consumers via Amazon Prime Video and physical disc.

Quantifiable outcome

• "seit über 29 Jahren erfolgreich" (over 29 years of successful cinema operation)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core / flagship, moderate and minor.

• kinoheld GmbHcore / flagshipTechnology or Integrationkinoheld GmbH (Prinzregentenplatz 15, 81675 München; CEO Konrad Hinkelmann; HRB 200845) operates the entire online-shop stack for Kinostar: ticket purchases, ticket reservations, gift cards (Kinogutscheine), MovieCard recharges, and online-shop orders. The shop is integrated via iframe so the URL does not change. Contractual relationship is between the customer and kinoheld; Kinostar receives the data needed to fulfil the contract (name, reservation number, seat number).
• Apple (iTunes / Apple TV+)core / flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApple is a global distribution partner for Kinostar's Home Entertainment titles (VOD via iTunes). Additionally Kinostar advertises dedicated "Kinostar Apple TV+ distribution services" on its Filmverleih website (DE/EN/TR) — making Apple a digital distribution and licensing channel for Kinostar's portfolio of titles.
• Amazon (Prime Video / Amazon.de)core / flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon distributes Kinostar titles worldwide ("Weltweit erhältlich") on its Prime Video service and sells DVDs/Blu-rays (e.g., Bonhoeffer listed on Amazon.de). Amazon-linked turkonvideo is the primary VOD storefront used for Kinostar Home Entertainment releases.
• Google (Google Play Store)core / flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoogle Play Store is listed alongside Apple iTunes and Amazon Video as a third-party destination for Kinostar's Home Entertainment links (per the Datenschutzerklärung) and is the Android-app distribution channel for the Kinostar mobile app (de.kinoheld.kinostar on Google Play).
• CineStar (Kulturbrauerei Berlin)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCineStar hosted the world premiere of Kinostar-distributed "Die Schule des Mutes – Rule Breakers" at the Kulturbrauerei in Berlin on 26 January 2026 with director Bill Guttentag (two-time Oscar winner) and actress Amber Afzali. Multiple CineStar locations also book Kinostar's theatrical titles such as Spasmeni Fleva and Miss Moxy.
• Kinopolis GroupmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKinopolis cinemas in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Darmstadt, Hamburg HafenCity, Karlsruhe (Universum-City-Kinos), Munich (Mathäser), Sulzbach and Viernheim list Kinostar-distributed titles (Spasmeni Fleva, Miss Moxy) on their ticketing sites.
• Hollywood Megaplex (Austria)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustrian cinema chain (Pasching, St. Pölten, Wien Gasometer, Wien SCN) listed as partner venues showing Kinostar-distributed title Miss Moxy.
• Dieselkino (Austria)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustrian cinema chain (Braunau, Bruck, Fohnsdorf, Gleisdorf, Kapfenberg, Leibnitz, Lieboch, Oberwart, St. Johann) listed as partner venues showing Kinostar-distributed title Miss Moxy.
• Village Cinemas WienminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVillage Cinemas Wien 3 listed as an Austrian partner venue showing Kinostar-distributed title Miss Moxy.
• Cineplex (Germany)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCineplex locations in 17 German cities (Aachen, Biberach, Bruchsal, Dettelbach, Erding, Goslar, Leipzig, Mannheim, Memmingen, Neufahrn, Neustadt, Penzing, Reutlingen, Troisdorf, Ulm, Vilsbiburg, Waldkraiburg) listed as partner venues for Kinostar-distributed titles.
• Cinemaxx (Germany)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCinemaxx locations across Germany (Berlin, Bielefeld, Bremen, Essen, Hamburg, Hannover, Krefeld, Wuppertal) listed as partner venues for Kinostar-distributed titles Spasmeni Fleva and Miss Moxy.
• UCI KinoweltmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUCI Kinowelt locations (Bad Oeynhausen, Berlin East Side Gallery, Bochum Ruhr Park, Düsseldorf, Hamburg Mundsburg, Hamburg Wandsbek, Hürth) listed as partner venues showing Kinostar-distributed titles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Constantin Film: Germany's largest independent film producer, distributor and licensor with theatrical, home entertainment and TV operations. Comparable in film distribution and home entertainment monetization, but operates at a much larger scale with broad theatrical slates.

Direct peers

• Cineplex Deutschland: Independent German cinema chain with locations across 17 cities including Aachen, Mannheim, Leipzig and Reutlingen. Similar multi-location German exhibition footprint; listed as a Kinostar distribution partner.
• Kinopolis Group: Family-operated German cinema group with multi-screen venues in cities including Bonn, Darmstadt, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Munich, Sulzbach and Viernheim. Closely comparable in operating model and regional/mid-city footprint; also a Kinostar Filmverleih distribution partner.
• UCI Kinowelt: Major multi-screen cinema chain present in 7 German cities including Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Hürth. Comparable exhibition model and listed as a Kinostar Filmverleih distribution partner for niche foreign-language titles.
• CineStar: Germany's largest independent cinema chain with ~50 cinemas. Directly comparable as a multi-location German cinema operator; also one of Kinostar's largest B2B distribution customers (hosted the Berlin Rule Breakers premiere, lists Kinostar-distributed titles).
• Cinemaxx: Major German cinema chain operating multi-screen venues in Berlin, Bielefeld, Bremen, Essen, Hamburg, Hannover, Krefeld and Wuppertal. Comparable multi-location exhibition model and overlapping distribution partnerships with Kinostar.
• Yorck Kinos: Berlin-based arthouse cinema group operating multiple screens in the German capital. Comparable in arthouse/OmU programming focus and curated programming strategy, though geographically concentrated in Berlin rather than Baden-Württemberg.

Emerging players

• Wild Bunch Germany: German distribution arm of the former Wild Bunch/StudioCanal group, focused on independent and arthouse theatrical and home entertainment releases. Comparable in curating and distributing specialty/arthouse titles to German-speaking cinemas.
• Salzgeber & Co. Medien: Berlin-based independent German distributor specializing in arthouse, documentary and queer cinema. Comparable niche-distribution focus on curated foreign-language and specialty titles, though smaller in scale and theatrical reach.
• Pandora Film: German independent film distributor handling arthouse and international titles in German theatrical and home entertainment markets. Comparable in niche specialty distribution to Kinostar Filmverleih, with overlap on foreign-language arthouse programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kinostar-Filmverleih-GmbH-201493326547401
• Instagraminstagram.com/kinostar_filmverleih

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kinostar