B-Movie

B-Movie is a non-profit repertory cinema located at Brigittenstraße 5 in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg, Germany. It is run voluntarily and on a non-profit basis by the association B-Movie Kulturinitiative auf St. Pauli e.V. With approximately 58 seats, it is the second-smallest repertory cinema in Hamburg. The cinema was founded in 1987 and has since established itself as a distinctive venue for alternative and cult film culture in the city. The programming focuses on genre films, older blockbusters, exploitation, trash, underground and experimental films, often by little-known auteurs, as well as controversially discussed productions and themes. Beyond its regular screenings, B-Movie serves as a venue for various film festivals, including the Hamburg Short Film Festival, music film festivals, Filmfest Hamburg, the Hamburg Lesbian and Gay Film Days, and the Nippon Connection / Japan Film Festival Hamburg. The cinema's technical equipment is extensive for its size. It includes video projectors for VHS, S-VHS and digital media such as DVD, Blu-ray and DCP, as well as analog film projectors in 35 mm, 16 mm and Super 8 formats, allowing films to be shown in their original formats. The projection room also features a stage for theater performances. The auditorium has a 30 m² screen. B-Movie operates without advertising and offers warm drinks, maintaining a cozy, backyard atmosphere typical of St. Pauli's independent cultural scene. In 2023, the cinema received an award at the Kinopreise des Kinematheksverbundes (Association of German Cinematheques' cinema awards). The cinema continues to present monthly programs, often curated around specific filmmakers or themes, such as a September 2026 retrospective on cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Gisela Tuchtenhagen, presented in cooperation with Metropolis Kino.

B-Movie was founded in 1987 as a repertory cinema in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg. From its early years, it distinguished itself from mainstream multiplexes by focusing on genre films, exploitation, trash, underground and experimental cinema, often screening works by unknown or marginalised filmmakers. The cinema is operated by the non-profit association B-Movie Kulturinitiative auf St. Pauli e.V., which runs the venue on a voluntary basis. This community-oriented structure has allowed B-Movie to maintain its independent programming and its characteristic backyard location at Brigittenstraße 5, without advertising and with a cozy atmosphere offering warm drinks. Over the decades, B-Movie has become an integral part of Hamburg's alternative film scene. It has hosted numerous film festivals, including the Hamburg Short Film Festival, music film festivals, Filmfest Hamburg, the Hamburg Lesbian and Gay Film Days, and the Japan Film Festival Hamburg. Its technical infrastructure has evolved to include both analog and digital projection formats, enabling the presentation of films in their original formats. The auditorium, with 58 seats and a 30 m² screen, also features a stage for theater performances. In 2023, the cinema received recognition at the Kinopreise des Kinematheksverbundes, awarded in Berlin on 28 October 2023. This award highlighted B-Movie's contribution to film culture. The cinema continues to curate monthly programs, often in cooperation with other institutions such as Metropolis Kino, as seen in its September 2026 retrospective on cinematographer Gisela Tuchtenhagen. As of 2026, B-Movie remains active and dedicated to its mission of showing unconventional and underrepresented films.

• 2026

  September program features a retrospective on cinematographer Gisela Tuchtenhagen, in cooperation with Metropolis Kino.

• 2023

  B-Movie receives an award at the Kinopreise des Kinematheksverbundes in Berlin on 28 October.

• 1987

  B-Movie is founded as a repertory cinema in Hamburg-St. Pauli.

Non-profit, volunteer-run repertory cinema specializing in alternative, cult and experimental film culture in Hamburg.

• Repertory film screenings

  Regular screenings of genre films, older blockbusters, exploitation, trash, underground and experimental films.

• Festival hosting

  Venue for Hamburg Short Film Festival, music film festivals, Filmfest Hamburg, Lesbian and Gay Film Days, Japan Film Festival Hamburg.

• Theater performances

  The projection room includes a stage for theater performances.

1. 1B-Movie - Das Programm-Kino in Hamburg, St. Paulib-movie.de
2. 2B-Movie (Kino) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3B-Movie - Wikidatawikidata.org