Is cinema dead? Since the explosive rise of streaming platforms and the Covid-19 pandemic, this question has haunted the industry. With living room TVs getting bigger and ticket prices climbing higher, theater owners have been forced into a radical transformation. Their survival strategy is now clear: transform a simple movie screening into a premium, collective experience that no home setup can replicate.
The Rise of the Premium Auditorium
Luxury theaters are booming in France. Between 2018 and 2025, the number of premium screens more than doubled, with 6% of all French cinemas now equipped with at least one high-end auditorium. The concept is uniform across brands like ICE, Dolby Cinema, Sphera, or Horizon: a fusion of extreme comfort and cutting-edge technology.
Beyond reclining seats, the real draw is an audiovisual quality that is impossible to achieve at home. To differentiate from “home cinemas,” operators are deploying laser 4K projectors, Onyx LED screens, and Dolby Atmos sound systems. The arms race in immersion continues with panoramic ScreenX projections covering 270 degrees, while 4DX theaters cater to thrill-seekers with motion seats, water sprays, and wind machines. At CGR, the ICE technology extends the screen onto lateral light panels for total immersion.
The iMax Odyssey and the Disney Counter-Attack
iMax is also making a slow but steady entry into the French market. With gigantic screens, these halls promise an exceptionally detailed image. For Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, the Pathé Odysseum in Montpellier installed France’s first 70mm IMAX projector, the only format that presents the film exactly as the director envisioned. Not to be outdone, Disney has announced its own rival label, Infinity Vision, which will certify theaters meeting strict technical criteria.
Despite costing roughly five euros more than a standard ticket—or significantly more for iMax—these high-tech seats are filling up. According to the CNC, admissions for premium screens jumped by 6.2% in absolute value between 2024 and 2025. The format is particularly magnetic for younger crowds: over half of Pathé’s premium tickets are purchased by people under 35.
Cinema Is No Longer Just for Movies
The data supports the pivot. Over a third of spectators surveyed by the CNC attended a special event hosted by a cinema in 2025, a 10% increase compared to pre-Covid 2019 levels.
A Promising Horizon
The strategy appears to be paying off. In 2024, France recorded 181.3 million admissions, marking the strongest post-pandemic recovery among comparable countries. After a slight dip in 2025 2026 is racing out of the gate with a slate of highly anticipated blockbusters perfectly suited for premium screens, including major new installments of beloved sci-fi and superhero franchises.
The verdict is in: cinema is not dead. It has simply evolved, mirroring the changing habits of French audiences.
