Barco, the global leader in laser-powered cinema, today announced the expansion of its premium HDR by Barco format in Germany, launching this November with installations at select Cineplex Germany locations, and in Cinedom Cologne. This expansion marks a major footprint in European moviegoing, as Cineplex is a leading German exhibitor, and Cinedom Cologne is one of the country’s largest cinemas.
As part of the international expansion, HDR by Barco is launching at three Cineplex Germany venues - Cineplex Münster, Cineplex Paderborn Pollux, and Cineplex Goslar - available as “ULTIMATE. in HDR by Barco” at these locations. The initiative will bring premium large format cinema to Cineplex Goslar for the first time and build on the current premium offerings at Cineplex Paderborn and Cineplex Münster to take the moviegoer experience to the next level of technological innovation. Cineplex Münster, also celebrating 25 years of operation this month, will be the first theater in the world with two HDR by Barco enabled auditoriums.
At Cinedom Cologne, the new HDR theater will launch the circuit’s new “CinedomX” experience, a freshly conceived premium cinema concept from the brand. Installations are now underway so moviegoers in Germany can enjoy major holiday tentpoles opening in HDR by Barco this holiday season.
“We’re proud to bring HDR by Barco to German audiences through our partnerships with Cineplex and Cinedom—two of the country’s most respected cinema brands,” said Gerwin Damberg, EVP of Barco Cinema. “As someone who grew up in Germany, this milestone is personally meaningful. It’s exciting to see our vision and technology come full circle, enhancing the cinematic experience in the very theaters that once inspired my love of film.”
Based on the company’s patented Lightsteering technology, Barco’s approach to HDR works by strategically redistributing light on screen to produce highlights that are over 6x brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich details in the darks for greater depth, clarity, and range. HDR by Barco delivers expansive creative possibilities for filmmakers, producing a wide color gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences.
This announcement follows the launch of the fully redesigned website for moviegoers,
www.HDRbyBarco.com, and the expansion of its 2025 HDR by Barco film slate. Both updates make it easier for audiences to experience the brand’s premium HDR Lightsteering technology ahead of the busy holiday season. Visit the website for the latest information on HDR by Barco locations, upcoming releases, and to find showtimes and purchase tickets.
About CineplexCineplex is a union of economically independent, family-owned cinema companies that cooperate strategically in the important fields of the exhibition business but are locally managed and deeply rooted in their respective markets. In 2016, the group became the German market leader in number of admissions, cinema sites and screens.
Cineplex Goslar opened in December 1999. With 115-year tradition of owning and operating cinemas in Goslar, the Wildmann family also ran a traditional cinema center in the midtown of the city until it was forced to shutdown during the pandemic, closing permanently in 2023. Now, the Wildmanns are focused on developing the 8-screen Goslar multiplex center with the equipment and technology to deliver the best cinema experience for audiences today and for many years in the future.
Cineplex Münster opened in 2000 and is run by the Esch family which has a 90-year tradition of operating cinemas in the city. It has since been the flagship of the Cineplex group with the highest number of yearly admissions and the ambition to provide technical and programmatic excellence.
Pollux by Cineplex opened in 1999 as Cineplex Paderborn and reopened under its current name in 2016 after extensive remodeling and renovation work. With seating capacity reduced by almost half, but equipped with comfortable recliner seats and state-of-the-art technology, the cinema not only added a ninth auditorium in 2018, but also became the second cinema in Germany to feature the PLF format, which is now widely used in Germany, with the conversion of the largest auditorium 8 into an Ultimate auditorium in 2019.
About Cinedom Cologne
The Cologne multiplex cinema CINEDOM in the MediaPark has been one of the most visited cinemas in Germany since its opening in 1991. The 14 cinema screens, featuring the unique CINEDOM seating comfort, offer space for more than 3,350 moviegoers. The building's architecture and state-of-the-art projection technology ensure a unique cinema experience that has made the Cinedom famous far beyond Cologne's borders. A wide range of dining options completes the cinema experience.
