Kinostart

Kinostart is a term used in the German-speaking film industry to denote the theatrical release date of a film—the first day on which it is shown to the general public in cinemas. It is used in press materials, trade coverage, and box office reporting to indicate when audiences can begin watching the film in theaters. The Kinostart represents the official opening of a film for traditional cinema audiences.

Premieres and festival screenings are related concepts but distinct from the Kinostart. A premiere is typically a special, often red-carpet event for invited guests and media that may occur before or around the Kinostart, while the Kinostart itself marks the broader public release in cinemas.

Release patterns for a Kinostart vary by market. It can be nationwide or limited to a subset of cinemas, depending on distributor strategy, expected audience demand, and local exhibition capacity. In some cases, several countries under the German-speaking region may share a common Kinostart date, whereas others stagger releases to maximize box office potential.

After the Kinostart, the film proceeds through additional distribution windows, including home video, digital platforms, and television or streaming rights. The timing of these windows is affected by licensing agreements, platform strategies, and regional market practices, and may differ from country to country.

The term derives from Kino (cinema) and Start (start) and is primarily used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to frame the moment a film becomes publicly available in theaters.