Film & Cinema in Hamburg

Independent & arthouse films, cinema program with documentaries, open air cinema in summer in Hamburg

Cinema in Hamburg is more than just an evening with popcorn and a movie that you could just as easily have watched at home on the sofa. There is a dense, vibrant cinema culture in this city, ranging from small arthouse cinemas with regulars to elegant movie lounges, always conveying the feeling that movies are something to be experienced together. Anyone who still believes that the classic movie theater is an outdated model should simply go to the Abaton in Eimsbüttel on a Tuesday evening: The arthouse cinema has existed in a former parking garage since 1970, has over 220,000 visitors a year and offers a cleverly curated film program as well as an in-house bar where you can sit and relax before or after the screening. This is how a movie night works. The Metropolis in Dammtorstraße is another Hamburg institution and specializes in film history, retrospectives and thematic series that show how much cinema still has to say if you give it the right space. The 3001 Kino on Schanzenstraße is the first address for anyone who prefers arthouse, independent and international productions and also wants to sit in one of Hamburg's liveliest districts. The Lichtmess Kino in Altona is also an address for sophisticated arthouse cinema and is a permanent fixture on the Hamburg film scene. For those who prefer something a little more opulent, the ASTOR Film Lounge in HafenCity offers a cinema with real armchairs, service right at the seat and an experience factor that turns blockbusters into something that actually feels like cinema. And in summer? Hamburg becomes an open-air screen. The SchanzenKino in Sternschanzenpark has been taking place every year for over 25 years and has long since become an integral part of Hamburg's summer. The film nights at Millerntor also regularly show films in the open air and combine the cinema experience with one of the city's most iconic locations. Finally, the annual Filmfest Hamburg in the fall is the highlight for anyone who wants to see new international productions, documentaries, European premieres and world premieres on the big screen before the rest of the world has heard of them . Hamburg has the right movie theater for every film mood: for a thoughtful arthouse evening as well as a relaxed summer evening in the open air. Take a look at our calendar of events, see what's on and go to the movies. The couch isn't going anywhere.