What Apollo Films Distribution does

Apollo Films Distribution is a French theatrical film distribution company headquartered in Paris, Île-de-France, founded in 2017 and operating with a lean team of approximately 21 employees. The company acquires distribution rights for both international franchise films and domestic French productions, then manages the full theatrical release lifecycle — including release scheduling, marketing, and coordination with cinema networks — for the French market. Its current and upcoming catalog spans high-profile international titles (notably the Godzilla franchise, with Godzilla Minus Zero slated for November 2026 IMAX and theatrical release following the global success of Godzilla Minus One) and French productions including Compostelle (which surpassed 1.2 million admissions), the Golo & Ritchie sequel, Nirvana, La Maison de Nos Rêves, and Adoption.

The business operates as a single unified distribution service rather than a platform. Revenue is generated through one-time licensing arrangements with cinema exhibitors, with Apollo Films earning through ticket-sale revenue shares or flat distribution fees. Distribution is executed via partnerships with French cinema chains — most prominently CGR Cinemas, evidenced by co-branded promotional materials — and the broader French cinema network, including IMAX venues for major releases. The company employs a multi-channel marketing approach across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn to drive theatrical awareness.

Apollo Films is a privately held entity with no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, and no subsidiaries. Its operating geography is concentrated on France, and its growth trajectory is anchored on the strength of its content acquisition pipeline rather than technology infrastructure or geographic expansion.

Name

Apollo Films Distribution

Legal name

Apollo Films

Website

https://materiel.apollo-films.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apollo Films Distribution is a privately held French theatrical film distributor headquartered in Paris, acquiring distribution rights to international blockbusters (e.g., Godzilla franchise) and French productions for cinema exhibition across France via partnerships with chains like CGR Cinemas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Film distribution
• Theatrical distribution
• Cinema exhibition
• French film market
• International film licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

France

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Film Distribution Revenue: Revenue is generated through theatrical film distribution in France, licensing films to cinema chains and theater networks for public exhibition. The company acquires distribution rights for films and earns revenue through cinema ticket sales revenue shares or flat licensing fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Apollo Films Distribution is a French film distribution company that acquires theatrical distribution rights for international blockbusters (such as the Godzilla franchise) and local French productions, then releases them through cinema chains and theater networks across France, including IMAX-format screenings. The company manages the full release lifecycle — rights acquisition, release scheduling, marketing support, and cinema network coordination — and earns revenue through licensing fees and revenue shares from cinema ticket sales.

Product overview

Apollo Films is a French film distribution company operating as a single unified distribution service rather than a platform architecture. The company acquires international and local feature films for theatrical distribution in France, managing the complete release lifecycle from acquisition through theatrical release. Their portfolio includes major international titles (such as the Godzilla franchise) alongside French productions (Compostelle, Golo & Ritchie), all distributed through their core distribution service with marketing support and a downloadable LINE-UP catalog. Films in their catalog range from currently showing releases to productions in various stages of development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Godzilla Minus Zero Feature film by Takashi Yamazaki, sequel to Godzilla Minus One, scheduled for theatrical and IMAX release in France on November 4, 2026.
• Compostelle French theatrical film directed by Yann Samuell starring Alexandra Lamy and Julien Le Berre; surpassed 1.2 million admissions in French cinemas and was still playing at the time of the source.
• Les Vacances de Golo Ritchie Sequel to the Golo & Ritchie bicycle road-trip film, scheduled for theatrical release on July 22, 2026.
• Deviens Génial Feature film distributed by Apollo Films Distribution that was currently showing in French theaters at the time of the source.
• Nirvana Feature film in production / post-production scheduled for August 19, 2026 theatrical release.
• La Maison de Nos Rêves Feature film in production / post-production scheduled for October 7, 2026 theatrical release.
• Adoption Feature film in production / post-production scheduled for January 13, 2027 theatrical release.
• LINE-UP Catalog Annual downloadable film catalog PDF presenting the complete lineup of films being distributed by Apollo Films Distribution, used to inform exhibitors, press, and rights holders.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CGR CinemascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApollo Films Distribution has a partnership with CGR Cinemas, one of the major cinema chains in France. The partnership is evidenced by co-branded promotional materials and logo displays on the Apollo Films website. CGR Cinemas provides the theatrical exhibition platform for Apollo's film releases in France.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• SND Films: SND (Société Nouvelle de Distribution) is a long-standing French film distributor handling both French productions and international titles. It is a direct comparable to Apollo Films Distribution in the French theatrical distribution market.
• Metropolitan Filmexport: Metropolitan Filmexport is a French independent distributor specializing in quality theatrical releases including foreign-language and event cinema titles. It is closely comparable to Apollo's positioning around curated theatrical content in France.
• Gaumont: Gaumont is one of France's oldest and largest film studios, distributing a broad theatrical slate domestically and internationally. It competes head-to-head with Apollo for major French releases and exhibition slots across the French cinema network.
• Wild Bunch Distribution: Wild Bunch is a French independent sales and distribution company active across theatrical, festival, and international sales. It directly competes with Apollo for indie French productions and mid-budget international titles.
• Pathé Films: Pathé is a leading French film producer and theatrical distributor with a deep local and international slate. It directly competes with Apollo Films Distribution for French theatrical rights to French productions and international titles.
• EuropaCorp Distribution: EuropaCorp is a French production and distribution company with a French theatrical slate and historical relationship with major cinema chains. It competes with Apollo for theatrical release windows and rights to French-language productions.
• Diaphana Distribution: Diaphana is a French independent distributor with a curated theatrical slate and strong relationships with French exhibitors. Comparable to Apollo as a mid-sized French theatrical distributor competing for indie and foreign-language titles.
• Studiocanal: Studiocanal (Canal+ group) is a major French-based distribution company handling theatrical, home entertainment, and TV rights. Comparable to Apollo in acquiring distribution rights for French territories, though with significantly broader downstream monetization.
• UGC Distribution: UGC is one of France's largest cinema operators and also distributes films theatrically in France. The integrated exhibitor-distributor model competes with Apollo for screen allocation on shared release dates and for distribution rights to titles.

Broad incumbents

• Sony Pictures Releasing France: Sony Pictures operates a major French theatrical distribution arm releasing Hollywood tentpoles, including potential Godzilla franchise partners. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps with Apollo on IMAX theatrical distribution and major international releases in France.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Apollo_Distrib
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ApolloFilms
• Facebookfacebook.com/ApolloDistrib
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apollofilms
• Instagraminstagram.com/apollo_distrib
• TikToktiktok.com/@apollo_distrib

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Apollo Films Distribution