Movie projection company Barco is expanding its premium HDR with Barco format in Germany.
Starting in November, the company will install the Barco HDR format in selected Cineplex Germany locations and Cinedam Cologne. Cineplex is Germany’s leading box office company, and the Cinedam Cologne is one of the country’s largest cinemas, so this expansion will leave a huge footprint on European moviegoing.
This initiative will bring premium large-format films to Cineplex Goslar for the first time, building on the current premium offerings at Cineplex Paderborn and Cineplex Münster, and taking the moviegoer experience to the next level of innovation. As part of our international expansion, Barco’s HDR is available in these locations as “ULTIMATE. in HDR by Barco”. Cineplex Münster, which also celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, will be the first theater in the world to feature two HDR-enabled auditoriums by Barco.
Cineplex Münster, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, will be the first theater in the world to feature two HDR-enabled auditoriums by Barco. At Cinedom Cologne, a new HDR theater will launch the circuit’s new ‘CinedomX’ experience, the brand’s reinvented premium cinema concept. With installation work currently underway, movie fans in Germany can enjoy the massive holiday tent pole opening in HDR by Barco this holiday season.
Gerwin Damberg, EVP of Barco Cinema, said: “As someone who grew up in Germany, this milestone is personally meaningful to me. I’m excited to see our vision and technology come full circle to enhance the cinematic experience in the very theaters that once inspired my love of film.”
“The acceleration in innovation and the advancement of the cinematic experience is transforming and reinvigorating the industry,” said Ann Stegen, CEO of Variety, in Variety’s 2025 Women’s Impact Report.
She added that the company is focused on expanding HDR with Barco using Lightsteering technology. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. We are constantly working on our portfolio roadmap to strengthen our pipeline of solutions that can power the entertainment world of today and tomorrow,” she said. “Whether that means more efficient technology, lower environmental impact, advanced image quality or cutting-edge experiences, we are on a mission to leverage innovation to drive outcomes for the industries we serve and the people who benefit from them. For film, this means taking care of our exhibition partners over the long term and giving moviegoers what they need to keep coming back week after week.”
Previous releases in this format include “Superman,” “F1,” and “28 Years Later.” The upcoming “Wicked: For Good” will also be released in HDR format this year.
In the US, Barco is also expanding its range of HDR formats through exhibitor partnerships and plans to have more than 30 HDR locations by the end of the year. Regal Cinemas has committed to installing 20 RPX screens in the U.S. by the end of this year, and Alamo Drafthouse will also add several HDR screens.
Barco’s approach to HDR is based on the company’s patented Lightsteering technology, which strategically redistributes light on the screen to produce highlights that are more than six times brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich detail in the dark and increasing depth, clarity and range. Barco’s HDR opens up creative possibilities for filmmakers and produces a wide color gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences.
