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Village Cinemas

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Village Cinemas
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryCinema exhibition
Founded1954
FounderRoc Kirby
Headquarters
Australia
Area served
Australia, international locations (via partnerships and licensing)
Key people
Robert Kirby, John Kirby, Graham Burke
ProductsFilm exhibition, multiplex cinemas, Gold Class auditoriums, Cinema Europa concept
ParentVillage Roadshow (joint venture with Amalgamated Holdings Limited as Australian Theatres)

Village Cinemas is a multinational cinema exhibition brand originating from Australia, focusing on a diverse range of films including blockbusters, mainstream titles, children’s and family movies, arthouse productions, foreign language films, and documentaries.

Since 2003, its Australian operations have been managed through a joint venture called Australian Theatres, formed by Village Roadshow and Amalgamated Holdings (Event Cinemas). Village Cinemas was the original foundation of Village Roadshow, established in 1954 with the launch of some of Australia's earliest drive-in cinemas. Starting in 1988, Warner Bros. acquired a one-third ownership stake in the chain. On the international stage, Village Cinemas functions via partnerships or licensing deals within Event Cinemas/Greater Union/Birch Carroll & Coyle networks and other cinema chains worldwide. The brand secures output agreements with leading film distributors while also curating select independent film screenings.

Origins

Village Roadshow and Village Cinemas commenced operations in 1954 when Roc Kirby opened one of Australia's pioneering drive-in theatres in Croydon, Melbourne. The venue took its name from the neighboring Croydon Village shopping center and initially accommodated 454 vehicles. Additional features such as a swimming pool and go-kart track were later introduced. Through the late 1950s, Kirby aggressively expanded across Melbourne’s suburbs as well as regional Victoria and Tasmania, collaborating with Greater Union to open a drive-in in Geelong. By the early 1960s, Village operated 27 drive-in locations throughout Victoria and Tasmania.

During the 1960s, the company shifted its emphasis toward enclosed "hard-top" cinemas aimed at inner-city audiences who were less reliant on automobiles. This period saw the involvement of Kirby’s sons, Robert and John, alongside Graham Burke—who joined in 1960 and played a key role in broadening the business scope. In 1967, Village ventured into film distribution by founding Roadshow Distributors, which evolved into Australia’s largest distributor and later expanded into film production during the 1970s.

The late 1970s witnessed a decline in drive-in attendance due to the emergence of home video technology. While some drive-ins continued operating into the 1990s—the original Croydon site closed in 1990—only the Coburg North drive-in remains under Village’s management today. In response to changing consumer habits, Village introduced video distribution and rental services in 1985.

Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Village Roadshow was at the forefront of multiplex cinema innovation in Australia by transforming single-screen theatres into multiplexes featuring up to 20 screens. They incorporated stadium seating alongside cutting-edge sound and projection systems. This approach successfully recaptured audiences lost to home video and laid the groundwork for contemporary multiplex cinema experiences.

Mergers and Partnerships

In 1988, Village Roadshow divested two-thirds of Village Cinemas and formed an equal joint venture with Warner Brothers and Greater Union to develop multiplex cinemas across Australia. This Australian Multiplex Joint Venture experienced rapid growth during the 1990s, establishing nearly 30 venues comprising approximately 320 screens. The inaugural multiplex under this partnership opened in Melbourne’s Westfield Airport West shopping center as 'Village Greater Union 8' in 1989.

In 1995, Village Roadshow initiated a retail partnership named Village Nine Leisure alongside Publishing & Broadcasting Limited and Westfield Group to launch Intencity virtual entertainment centers. These video arcades expanded nationwide, frequently situated near Village Cinemas and Greater Union locations. By 1999, Village Roadshow had acquired full ownership of Intencity and subsequently streamlined the chain to nine sites by 2005.

International expansion

Under the leadership of John and Robert Kirby alongside managing director Graham Burke, Village Roadshow embarked on its international growth journey during the 1990s. The company’s initial overseas venture was into New Zealand in 1991. The following year, it collaborated with Golden Harvest from Hong Kong to establish Singapore’s Golden Village chain, setting the stage for further entries into Thailand in 1994 and Malaysia in 1995. By 1996, Village Roadshow had extended its presence to 20 markets, including locations such as Hong Kong, various European countries through Warner International Theatres, Fiji, Hungary, and Argentina. In 1997, the company expanded into Greece, Italy, and India via a joint venture that created PVR Cinemas. By 1998, operations had grown to encompass Taiwan, South Korea, and France.

In February 1997, Village Cinemas partnered with Warner Bros. to launch Australia’s inaugural 24-hour cinema at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, featuring four premium Gold Class auditoriums. By mid-1999, the Gold Class concept had been introduced at several venues, including Birch Carroll & Coyle sites in Brisbane.

October 1998 saw the introduction of the Cinema Europa concept with new auditoriums opening at The Jam Factory and Southland cinemas in Melbourne before it expanded internationally.

In August 1999, Village Force and Village Rialto cinemas in New Zealand sold half of their shares to Hoyts, creating a joint ownership arrangement for their New Zealand operations. However, concerns from regulatory authorities led to the dissolution of this partnership by 2000. Subsequently, Skycity Entertainment Group acquired Force Corporation’s interests in March 2001 and rebranded the chain as Village Skycity.

Although the domestic market was becoming increasingly saturated, international expansion remained a strategic focus. By 2000, Village Cinemas had entered Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

By early 2001, amid declining profits and share values linked to rapid overseas growth, Village Roadshow narrowed its focus to ten profitable markets while concentrating on its core film production and distribution activities.

Between late 2001 and 2002, the company sold off cinema operations in Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, France, Malaysia, India, and Thailand but simultaneously expanded its theatre presence in the Czech Republic, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

In 2003, recognizing saturation in exhibition markets, Village Roadshow pivoted towards film production. Warner Bros. divested its stake in the Australian Multiplex Joint Venture back to Village Roadshow and Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL), resulting in the formation of Australian Theatres—owners of Village Cinemas and Greater Union/Birch Carroll & Coyle (later rebranded as Event Cinemas outside Victoria and Tasmania).

In November 2005, Village Roadshow together with Skycity Entertainment sold their joint venture interest in Argentina’s six-theatre Village Cines chain to US investment funds but retained licensing rights for brand use.

By 2007, Village Roadshow exited its Warner Village cinemas in Italy and Austria as well as its stake in Palace Cinemas Australia. It also divested cinema assets in New Zealand and Fiji to Skycity Entertainment Group while investing in upgrading Greek cinemas under the 'Village World' brand featuring Vmax and Gold Class screens alongside entertainment facilities.

October 2008 marked Village Roadshow’s entry into the US market through luxury Gold Class cinemas aimed at affluent patrons willing to pay premiums for enhanced experiences. Joint ventures included venues in South Barrington near Chicago and Redmond in Washington state with plans for further expansion into upscale American markets.

In October 2009, Demco Group acquired full ownership of Village Roadshow’s licensed Greek operations—including multiplexes plus film production and distribution divisions—and later launched a Pay TV movie channel under the Village brand. Demco also planned a multiplex opening within Romania’s Iași mall slated for 2012.

September 2010 saw Village Roadshow sell majority control of its US Gold Class cinemas to iPic Entertainment while retaining a minority share; iPic subsequently rebranded and expanded the chain following restructuring.

In February 2013 all Tasmanian Village Cinemas were incorporated into Australian Theatres after WIN Corporation exited its longstanding joint venture stake.

In June 2017 Singapore-based MM2 Asia attempted to purchase Village Roadshow’s half share in Golden Village Singapore but failed due to lack of consent from joint venture partner Orange Sky Golden Harvest; Orange Sky Golden Harvest then acquired full ownership by buying out Village Roadshow’s stake in October that year.

Early in 2020 all Australian cinemas temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed operations on November 12th of that year.

Australia

Within its domestic territory, Village Cinemas operates exclusively in Victoria and Tasmania. Since 2003, the brand has functioned as a joint venture between Village Roadshow and Amalgamated Holdings Limited, collectively known as Australian Theatres.[1][2] Certain multiplexes located at Jam Factory, Werribee Plaza, Geelong, and Morwell involve different joint venture partners alongside Village Roadshow.[3]

Victoria:

Tasmania:

Affiliate cinemas

Village Cinemas maintains film distribution and product agreements with independently owned affiliate cinemas at various regional locations. Apart from the venues in Warrnambool and Bendigo—which are joint ventures between Village Roadshow and other entities.[3] The Peninsula Cinemas Group is fully owned by Village Roadshow Executive Chairman Robert Kirby and his family. Although these sites operate under independent branding, Bendigo Cinemas presents interiors and staff attire reminiscent of Village Cinemas.[5]

  • Albury (Regent Cinemas 9) (features an Intencity)
  • Bendigo (Bendigo 7 Cinemas) (commonly referred to locally as Bendigo Cinemas)
  • Warragul (Warragul Cinema Centre 3) (part of Peninsula Cinemas Group)
  • Sorrento (Sorrento Athenaeum Cinemas 3) (Peninsula Cinemas Group)
  • Rosebud (Rosebud Cinemas 5) (Peninsula Cinemas Group)
  • Warrnambool (Capitol Cinema Centre 3)

Argentina

From 2005 until 2018, Village Cines in Argentina was operated through a partnership between Southern Screens Entertainment II and the U.S.-based Blue Ridge. Beginning in 2018, management shifted to a joint venture with Mexico's Cinépolis. Prominent locations under this brand include:

  • Recoleta (Village Recoleta)
  • Caballito (Village 9 Caballito)
  • Pilar (Village 8 Pilar)
  • Avellaneda (Village 16 Avellaneda)
  • Rosario (Village 13 Rosario)
  • Mendoza Plaza (Village 10 Mendoza Plaza)
  • Neuquén (Village 6 Neuquén)
  • Maipú (Village Arena Maipú)
  • Merlo (Village Cines Merlo)
  • Luján (Village Cines Luján)

Greece

Since 2022, all cinemas carrying the Village brand in Greece have been owned and managed by ANT1 Group, an investment holding company, under licence. Key cinema sites include:

  • Agios Ioannis Renti (Village 20 Renti)
  • The Mall Athens (Village World 14 The Mall)
  • Mediterranean Cosmos (Village World 11 Mediterranean Cosmos)
  • Athens Metro Mall, Aghios Dimitrios (Village 5 Aghios Dimitrios)
  • Pangrati (Village 5 Pangrati)
  • Volos (Village 4 Volos)

Fiji

Damodar Village Cinemas operates in Fiji as a licensed joint venture between Australian Amalgamated Holdings Limited and the Fijian Damodar Brothers since 2010. The collaboration intends to launch Vmax and Gold Class formats with the scheduled opening of Damodar Event Cinema multiplex in Suva’s Damodar City by late 2013. Current venues are:

  • Suva (Damodar Village 6 Suva)
  • Lautoka (Damodar Village 4 Lautoka)

Gold Class

Gold Class represents a premium cinema experience available at select Village sites situated in upscale neighborhoods across Australia, Singapore, Argentina, and Greece. Additionally, this format operates under licence within former Village cinemas in the Czech Republic (CineStar) and India (PVR Cinemas). Features of Gold Class include cloakroom facilities, personalized butler service for refreshments, à la carte dining options, and reclining seating.

Within Village Cinema complexes, Gold Class auditoriums are designated separate sections; historically in the United States, they existed as independent complexes from 2008 to 2010. This luxury format is also present at numerous Event Cinemas locations and a regional Australian affiliate. Noteworthy Village-branded Gold Class venues comprise:

Australia:

  • Century City Walk, Glen Waverley (2 auditoriums)
  • Crown Melbourne (6 auditoriums)
  • Westfield Doncaster (3 auditoriums)
  • Westfield Fountain Gate (3 auditoriums)
  • Geelong (2 auditoriums)
  • Hobart CBD (3 auditoriums)
  • Albury (Regent Cinemas) (1 auditorium)
  • Jam Factory (4 auditoriums)
  • Karingal Hub Shopping Centre (3 auditoriums)
  • Westfield Knox (2 auditoriums)
  • Westfield Southland (3 auditoriums)
  • Sunshine Marketplace (3 auditoriums)
  • Camberwell (Rivoli Cinemas) (2 auditoriums)

Singapore:

  • VivoCity (3 auditoriums)
  • Katong (2 auditoriums)
  • Grand World City (1 auditorium)
  • Suntec City (3 auditoriums)

Argentina:

  • Arena Maipú, Mendoza (2 auditoriums)

Greece:

  • The Mall Athens (2 auditoriums)
  • Palaio Faliro (2 auditoriums)

Czech Republic:

  • Anděl (CineStar Gold Class) (2 auditoriums)

India:

  • Select Citywalk (Gold Class Saket)
  • Ambience Mall (Gold Class Gurgaon)
  • The Forum Mall (Gold Class Koramangala)
  • Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Kurla (Gold Class Kurla)

Cinema Europa

Cinema Europa venues are situated within Village Cinema complexes across Melbourne, Singapore, Athens, and one location under PVR Cinema in India. These auditoriums specialize in arthouse, international, and documentary cinema, often showcasing select Australian films at Australian sites that are generally not featured on standard Village screens. Each Cinema Europa facility includes dedicated restrooms along with a licensed lounge bar and café. The auditoriums frequently feature blue seating upholstery, providing a distinct contrast to the red seats found in conventional cinemas. Village's affiliate in Albury, Regent Cinemas, operates Showcase Cinema, which also uses blue upholstery. Since 2010, Village has reduced Cinema Europa branding and staffing at locations such as Jam Factory, Doncaster, and Karingal, although some venues continue to present films typical of the Europa program. In Melbourne, Rivoli Cinemas functions as a key venue for limited-release titles including Frances Ha and The Turning. In Hobart, the Village Cinema at Eastlands occasionally screens select limited releases like Spring Breakers and Thanks for Sharing. Active Cinema Europa locations comprise:

Vmax

Vmax cinemas provide an upgraded viewing experience with superior image quality and advanced digital audio. Screens measure at least 22 metres wide, with the largest being 28 metres at Westfield Knox, housed within spacious auditoriums featuring larger seating, stadium-style arrangements, and wider armrests. Certain locations are equipped with Dolby Atmos. This premium format is also offered by numerous Event Cinemas sites. Village Vmax venues include:

Coburg Drive-In

Established in 1965, the Coburg Drive-In stands as one of the last two operational drive-in cinemas in Victoria. Its inaugural screening showcased Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie alongside McHale's Navy. Today, it presents major film releases across three expansive screens, each measuring 33 metres in width, complemented by FM stereo audio. Patrons can also enjoy a nostalgic 1950s-themed diner on the premises, which offers an SMS-based ordering system that delivers refreshments directly to vehicles.

Digital 3D

In early 2011, Village Cinemas Australia transitioned all their auditoriums to Digital Projection technology, discontinuing the use of traditional film reels. This advancement allowed every location to provide RealD Cinema 3D experiences. Initially, 3D glasses were included within the ticket price; however, a nominal $1 fee was later introduced to encourage customers to retain and reuse their glasses, thereby minimizing expenses.

Vjunior

Vjunior represents a Village Cinemas initiative aimed at younger audiences, featuring an integrated play area with slides inside the cinema.

VPremium

VPremium auditoriums can be found at the following sites:

  • Hobart (2 auditoriums)
  • Jam Factory
  • Westfield Southland (Cheltenham)
  • M-City (Clayton)
  • Westfield Plenty Valley (Mill Park)
  • Geelong

4DX

Village introduced its first 4DX auditorium on 27 October 2017, offering an immersive cinema experience with motion-enabled seating and environmental effects such as wind, rain, fog, lighting, and scents. These theatres necessitate specialized architectural design and equipment installations.

Current venues featuring 4DX include:

  • Century City

Partnerships

In April 2015, BMW Australia entered into a co-branding partnership with Village Gold Class Cinemas and AHL, becoming the exclusive presenting partner across all Village Gold Class properties.

Loyalty program

Village Cinemas operates the Vrewards loyalty scheme, which has amassed over 1.4 million members, positioning it among Australia's largest retail rewards programs.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ketupa Village
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ketupa AHL/GU
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Village 2012 Report
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