The mathäser, the Monopol, the Gloria-Theater: Munich has no shortage of cinemas. Whether mainstream or arthouse, original sound with subtitles or German dubbing, IMAX or regular technology, our city’s cinemas are versatile and leave nothing to be desired. Many of Munich’s cinemas also impress with their interiors, so that cineastes and architecture lovers alike get their money’s worth. One such gem has always been the Filmtheater am Sendlinger Tor. It had to close its doors temporarily at the beginning of 2025, but is now to be given a new lease of life.
A cinema like an opera house, including an orchestra pit
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The Filmtheater am Sendlinger Tor was founded in 1913 by none other than Carl Gabriel. He gave us other cinemas such as the Museum Lichtspiele, where you can see the Rocky Horror Picture Show every week, and brought the legendary Teufelsrad to the Wiesn. Like the Museum Lichtspiele, the Filmtheater is a special cinema that resembles an opera house inside. For a long time, there was even an orchestra pit in which the events on the screen were accompanied by live music.
There used to be room for 750 spectators here, later there were still an impressive 400. They sat down in the stalls or in the separately accessible boxes and watched the 50 square meter screen spellbound. Even King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his Rupprecht were guests here. It was in operation for 112 years and brought arthouse films, independent cinema and sophisticated mainstream films to Munich’s city center. The movie theater has received numerous awards for this, including the Bavarian Film Award of Honor and the “München leuchtet” medal.
It was one of the top 20% of cinemas with the highest turnover in Germany, so it was not due to a lack of visitors. Instead, a long-running legal dispute between the operators of the cinema and the owners of the building was the main reason for its demise. The two parties were at loggerheads for over 15 years until finally an eviction suit was filed. The Filmtheater am Sendlinger Tor was thus history for the time being.
A new future for the movie theater?
The bright lettering and the huge, hand-painted poster presenting the current flagship of the program dominated the cityscape around Sendlinger Tor for decades. For many, it was an absolute favorite cinema, not least because of its architecture and design. Now it is to experience a renaissance, at least for a short time, albeit in a different way than before.
From January, an interim use is to bring new life to the Filmtheater am Sendlinger Tor for three months. Matthias Schlick, together with the artist collective Broke. Today and the independent streaming service behind the tree to turn the cinema into a place for culture. The listed movie theater will remain as it is, but the illuminated sign at the entrance will only show the letters D, I, N & G and an S will be added at the end. “Ding’s” is the name of the project that will bring art, video installations and film screenings to the old movie theater. How things will continue after the three months remains to be seen. The initiators are hoping for an extension, but that depends above all on the response from guests.