Irish Multiplex Cinemas

Irish Multiplex Cinemas, commonly referred to as IMC Cinema Group or IMC Cinemas, is a cinema exhibition brand serving audiences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its business is centered on operating multiplex cinemas that screen mainstream theatrical releases, while individual venues may also provide concession offers, discounted ticketing, and special programming. The chain's cinemas generally contain between five and ten screens, giving it a regional multiplex format rather than the scale of a large multinational cinema operator. The business was historically associated with Ward Anderson, an Irish entertainment company that operated cinema interests as well as other leisure businesses. In 2013, Ward Anderson's cinema operations were divided between IMC and Omniplex Cinema Group. This separation created the modern IMC network as a distinct cinema group and left the Irish exhibition market with two important home-grown operators. The available reference material does not establish a single original founding year or identify an individual founder for the IMC brand. IMC operates 18 cinemas in total according to the cited reference material: 15 in the Republic of Ireland and three in Northern Ireland. Its venues are distributed across local and regional communities rather than concentrated solely in Dublin. The chain's operating model combines admissions revenue from film screenings with food and beverage sales and venue-specific promotions. Offers can differ by cinema and by day, including reduced ticket prices and concession deals, so the customer proposition is locally tailored rather than completely uniform across the estate. The best-known IMC venue is the Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street in Dublin. The Savoy is described as Dublin's oldest operational cinema and has a prominent role in Irish film culture. It is also identified as a preferred Irish venue for film premieres, giving IMC an association with high-profile theatrical launches in addition to routine multiplex exhibition. The group previously owned the Screen Cinema on D'Olier Street in Dublin, a venue associated with alternative and specialist films; that cinema closed in 2015. IMC expanded its Northern Irish presence through the acquisition of MovieLAND in Newtownards, County Down, following the death of that cinema's owner. The venue continued to trade under the MovieLAND name for a period after the acquisition and was rebranded as IMC in 2023. This transition illustrates the group's use of local cinema assets and subsequent integration into the IMC network. The brand's current identity is therefore built around regional accessibility, multiplex convenience, local promotions, and selected landmark venues. It is an Irish-focused cinema operator rather than a film studio or film production company. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes its current legal parent, ownership structure, named executives, financial performance, listing status, or official corporate website.

Irish Multiplex Cinemas is an Irish cinema chain also known as IMC Cinema Group. The business operates multiplex venues in both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, with cinemas in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its venues typically contain between five and ten screens and serve as local or regional outlets for theatrical film releases. In addition to standard admissions, the chain's cinemas offer food and beverage concessions and may run venue-specific discounts or promotional packages. The brand's corporate history is linked to Ward Anderson, an Irish company that previously held cinema interests. In 2013, Ward Anderson's cinema operations were separated between IMC and Omniplex Cinema Group. This division marked the formation of the modern IMC network as an independent cinema group and reshaped the ownership landscape of Irish cinema exhibition. The supplied reference material does not provide a definitive original founding year or identify an individual founder. IMC's reported estate comprises 18 cinemas, including 15 in the Republic of Ireland and three in Northern Ireland. The chain has maintained a geographically distributed model, operating venues beyond the capital while also retaining a significant Dublin presence. Its most prominent venue is the Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street in Dublin. The Savoy is described as Dublin's oldest operational cinema and as a preferred venue in Ireland for film premieres, giving it cultural and promotional importance beyond ordinary multiplex operations. The group also previously operated the Screen Cinema on D'Olier Street in Dublin. That venue had a reputation for showing alternative films, complementing the more mainstream role generally associated with multiplex chains, but closed in 2015. The closure reduced IMC's Dublin footprint and ended the operation of a venue with a more specialist programming identity. In Northern Ireland, IMC acquired MovieLAND in Newtownards, County Down, after the death of the cinema's owner. The venue continued under its established MovieLAND branding for a period after the transaction, before being rebranded as IMC in 2023. The change brought the cinema into the chain's common identity while preserving IMC's presence in the Northern Irish market. The company's history reflects the development of a locally rooted cinema operator through corporate separation, regional expansion, venue integration, and selective consolidation. Its present proposition is based on operating multiplex cinemas, selling admission and concession products, and using prominent venues such as the Savoy for major premieres. The available reference material does not establish current ownership, headquarters, financial results, named executives, or an official website.

• 2023

  MovieLAND is rebranded as IMC

  [1]Irish Multiplex Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The Newtownards, County Down venue acquired by IMC and previously operated as MovieLAND adopted the IMC brand.

• 2015

  Screen Cinema closes

  [1]Irish Multiplex Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The Screen Cinema on D'Olier Street in Dublin, which had specialized in alternative films, ceased operations.

• 2013

  Cinema operations separated from Ward Anderson

  [1]Irish Multiplex Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  Ward Anderson's cinema interests were divided between IMC and Omniplex Cinema Group, creating the modern IMC cinema group as a distinct operator.

An Ireland-focused multiplex cinema operator combining mainstream film exhibition with locally varied ticket and concession offers, supported by landmark venues such as Dublin's Savoy Cinema.

• Cinema exhibition

  Multiplex cinema screenings

  IMC's core service is the exhibition of theatrical films across a network of multiplex cinemas. Individual venues generally have between five and ten screens, allowing the chain to present several releases and showtimes at the same location. The programming is primarily designed for mainstream cinema audiences, while the former Screen Cinema demonstrated that selected IMC venues could also support alternative film programming.

• Food and beverage

  Cinema concessions

  Food and beverage sales are a standard part of the IMC cinema experience. Concession offerings vary by venue and may be linked to promotional deals or reduced-price packages. The available material does not specify a standardized national menu or named concession sub-brand.

• Pricing and promotions

  Ticket and concession promotions

  IMC cinemas use venue-specific and day-specific offers that can include reduced admission prices and concession discounts. The precise terms differ between locations, making local cinema information important for customers seeking current promotions.

• Special screenings

  Film premiere screenings

  The Savoy Cinema in Dublin is associated with film premieres and is described as a preferred Irish venue for such events. These screenings give IMC a role in promotional and cultural moments surrounding major theatrical releases.

• 2023

  Rebranding of MovieLAND in NewtownardsStrategy

  Background

  IMC had acquired the Newtownards cinema after the death of its owner, but the venue continued to use the MovieLAND name for a period.

  Action taken

  The cinema was brought under the IMC brand in 2023.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand aligned the Newtownards venue with IMC's wider identity while maintaining the group's Northern Irish presence.

  Source

• 2013

  Establishment of IMC as a separate cinema groupStrategy

  Background

  Ward Anderson had previously been associated with cinema operations that were later divided between IMC and Omniplex Cinema Group.

  Action taken

  The cinema interests were split between the two groups, allowing IMC to operate as a distinct cinema chain.

  Aftermath

  The division established the modern competitive structure of IMC and Omniplex within Irish cinema exhibition.

  Source

1. 1Irish Multiplex Cinemasen.wikipedia.org