Imaging powerhouse Barco—a dominant force driving 60 percent of the global digital cinema market—has announced that its proprietary HDR by Barco technology is officially rolling out across five new CinemaxX venues throughout Germany. Cinema-goers can already experience the upgraded locations in Stuttgart, Berlin, and Magdeburg, while upcoming sites in Freiburg and Bielefeld are slated to open shortly.

Operated under the CinemaxX banner, the cinema chain is a subsidiary of Vue International. This German expansion follows Vue's launch of its inaugural HDR by Barco auditorium in Nottingham, United Kingdom, back in mid-2025.

“With EPIC, we are setting new standards in picture quality, sound, and immersion,” explained Frank Thomsen, managing director for CinemaxX Germany alongside Vue Netherlands and Vue Denmark. “We are laying the foundation for the cinema experience of the future, redefining the way audiences experience films and taking cinema to a whole new dimension. In short, we are making the cinema of tomorrow a reality today.”

Initially unveiled in September 2024, HDR by Barco remains the exclusive theatrical projection system boasting fully DCI-compliant high dynamic range specifications. By leveraging innovative Lightsteering technology paired with single or dual laser projection setups, the system achieves up to 300 nits of brightness. Furthermore, it supports the complete BT.2020 color spectrum, generating a staggering 40 percent broader color palette than the standard P3 gamut utilized in conventional digital theaters.

Challenging the Dolby Cinema Monopoly

Official tracking data for HDR by Barco now indicates a global footprint of 60 operational theaters. Germany accounts for nine of these locations, positioning the country second in Europe behind the UK, which leads with 15 installations. Despite rapid growth, the technology continues its climb to rival major competitors like Dolby Cinema, which currently maintains roughly 350 locations internationally. Meanwhile, both corporations remain embroiled in an ongoing patent infringement legal dispute, though standard audiences remain unaffected as they choose their preferred premium formats.

In addition to these premium upgrades, the newly outfitted CinemaxX theaters—alongside several recent high-end laser deployments by Barco—will fully satisfy Disney's Infinity Vision standards introduced in April 2026.

Beyond premium screens, Barco has confirmed an extensive modernization partnership with Vue International. The ambitious initiative will transition the exhibitor's standard auditorium network to advanced laser projection, targeting the installation of over 1,000 Barco laser projectors and media servers by the conclusion of 2029.