Filmtheater Sendlinger Tor

The Filmtheater Sendlinger Tor was a landmark cinema in Munich, Germany, located at Sendlinger-Tor-Platz. Founded by the entrepreneur Carl Gabriel and opened on 17 October 1913 as the Sendlingertor-Lichtspiele, it was the oldest surviving large cinema in Munich and was regarded as the flagship among the city's movie theaters. The opulent auditorium, designed in a reform style with columns, boxes, and separate entrances, was appreciated by members of the Bavarian royal house, including King Ludwig III and Crown Prince Rupprecht. The building, constructed by the firm Heilmann & Littmann, was the first reinforced concrete building in Munich and is listed in the Bavarian monument register. From 1928 to 1944 the cinema was taken over by UFA. Over its long history it hosted significant premieres, was a popular venue for the Munich Film Festival, and regularly received cinema programming awards. The single-screen house, which originally had 750 seats and later 400, was designed like a small opera house and even had an orchestra pit. A café was attached to the cinema, and its facade traditionally featured a large hand-painted film poster advertising the current main film. The cinema was among the top 20 percent of highest-grossing cinema auditoriums in Germany. It projected films with an HFR-capable digital cinema projector and 6-channel Dolby Digital sound onto a 50 m² screen. Its programming focused on arthouse films, literary adaptations, upscale mainstream films, and long-standing film series such as James Bond. In 2023 and 2024, the Babylon Orchester Berlin made three guest appearances at the cinema, recalling its silent film tradition by accompanying Metropolis, Nosferatu, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. A large Metropolis poster on the facade in 2024 commemorated the film's premiere there in 1927. On 11 August 2023, the Munich Regional Court granted an eviction claim by the landlords, requiring the cinema to be vacated by 31 January 2025. The last screening day was 15 January 2025. Since January 2026, the cinema has been used intermittently by an artists' collective for various events.

The Filmtheater Sendlinger Tor was founded by the entrepreneur Carl Gabriel and opened on 17 October 1913 as the Sendlingertor-Lichtspiele with a screening of the historical drama 'Die Herrin des Nils'. It was the first representative theater building and the first reinforced concrete building in Munich, constructed by the firm Heilmann & Littmann at Sendlinger-Tor-Platz. The opening was attended by a glittering society, and the 700-seat theater featured an amphitheatrical parquet, a balcony and gallery, separate entrances, a staircase, splendid lighting, and warm water heating. In 1915, King Ludwig III visited the cinema. From 1928 to 1944, the UFA took over the cinema. The building suffered damage during World War II, which was repaired in 1946/47. Over the decades, the cinema hosted significant premieres and was a popular venue for the Munich Film Festival. It received regular cinema programming awards. In 2023 and 2024, the Babylon Orchester Berlin made three guest appearances, accompanying silent films Metropolis, Nosferatu, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. On 11 August 2023, the Munich Regional Court granted an eviction claim by the landlords, requiring the cinema to be vacated by 31 January 2025. The last screening day was 15 January 2025. Since January 2026, the cinema has been used intermittently by an artists' collective for various events.

• 2026

  Since January, used intermittently by an artists' collective for events.

• 2025

  Closed on 15 January after 112 years.

• 2024

  Large Metropolis poster on facade commemorated the 1927 premiere; Babylon Orchester Berlin returned.

• 2023

  On 11 August, Munich Regional Court granted eviction; Babylon Orchester Berlin guest performances began.

• 1946

  World War II damage repaired (1946/47).

• 1928

  UFA took over the cinema (until 1944).

• 1915

  King Ludwig III visited the cinema.

• 1913

  Opened on 17 October as Sendlingertor-Lichtspiele with the film 'Die Herrin des Nils'.

Flagship arthouse cinema in Munich, combining historic architecture with modern projection technology.

• Cinema screenings

• Arthouse films

• Literary adaptations

• Upscale mainstream films

• Film series (e.g., James Bond)

• Café

1. 1Dr. Oliver Preßmar – Homefilmtheatersendlingertor.de
2. 2Dr. Oliver Preßmar – Geschichtefilmtheatersendlingertor.de
3. 3Filmtheater Sendlinger Torwikidata.org
4. 4Filmtheater Sendlinger Torde.wikipedia.org