The LED cinema screen market has seen a surge in activity this year, especially in China. Driven by policy initiatives, companies such as China Film Technology, Huaxia Leyard, Qingsong Optoelectronics, Unilumin Technology, and Nanjing Lopu have actively promoted their LED cinema screen businesses. According to incomplete statistics, as of the end of October, more than 50 LED cinemas have been opened nationwide, with 30 new cinemas added in 2024 alone.
Today, Chinese companies are not only focusing on the Chinese LED cinema market, but are also actively bringing domestically produced LED cinema screens to a larger global market.
Image source: China Film Technology
Recently, China Film Group revealed that its new cinema in Dinkelsbühler, Germany, has purchased 10 sets of China Film CINITY LED projection systems to establish a fully CINITY LED cinema.
According to the information, CINITY LED is an LED cinema screen product jointly developed by AOTO Electronics and China Film Technology, a brand under China Film Group. It supports 4K 120fps high-format projection, the system complies with the DCI-P3 color gamut standard, and the maximum brightness of 2D can reach 87fL, while the maximum brightness of 3D single-eye projection can reach 17fL.
China's LED cinema screens are being exported overseas . In the film industry, Europe, North America, Japan, and South Korea have mature film technology industries, thus foreign companies often hold a significant position. In the LED cinema screen sector, Samsung and LG currently dominate the global market. However, with the proactive strategies of Chinese LED companies, domestically produced LED cinema screens are poised for reverse export, accelerating their expansion into the global market and competing with overseas companies.
For example, Leyard, a well-known LED display company, has long focused its attention on the overseas cinema market for its LED cinema screen business. Its LED cinema screen products have been installed and used in more than 20 internationally renowned cinemas, including Alcazar Cinema in France, CGV Buena Park in the United States, and Odeon Multicines in Spain.
Image source: Leyard
In July of this year, Ruihao Technology, in partnership with Times Film, announced that Europe's first HeyLED cinema screen had officially landed at the Inspire Cinema in Romania. The HeyLED 2K 10-meter LED cinema screen used in the theater has passed Hollywood DCI certification and boasts technological advantages such as high brightness, high contrast, high dynamic range, and the elimination of the need for projectors and a dedicated equipment room. Furthermore, it is reported that since its launch, the HeyLED cinema screen has been used in the European, American, and Middle Eastern markets.
Europe's first HeyLED cinema screen (Image source: Ruihao Technology)
Lopp previously unveiled its fully acoustically transparent LED cinema screen, and has already received letters of intent from overseas clients. Lopp has observed that a new generation of young overseas investors are experimenting with various cinema business models, and they are showing great interest in LED screens. Lopp believes its fully acoustically transparent LED cinema screen will soon be deployed overseas.
At the International Film Industry Conference held in the United States this April, China Film Optics showcased its VLED cinema screen products. At the exhibition, China Film Optics observed that overseas cinema operators showed great interest in LED cinema screens and anticipated that they would bring revolutionary changes to the cinema projection industry.
According to TrendForce, global installations are expected to reach 160 units this year. In the long term, the global market stock of high-end cinema screens is estimated at around 30,000 units, but the current penetration rate of LED cinema screens is only 0.5%. This indicates that LED display technology still has significant room for growth in the high-end cinema screen market.
