Rex am Ring

Rex am Ring, commonly known as Rex, is a historic cinema located on the Hohenzollernring in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the oldest cinemas in Germany, having opened on 20 May 1928 at Friesenplatz under the name Lichtspiele des Westens. It was the last major cinema built during the silent film era in Cologne and was unique in the city for having a cinema organ that could produce sound effects such as ocean waves, horse hooves, and bells to accompany films. The first screening was an operetta film, and in 1929 the cinema showed its first sound films. After World War II, it reopened on 1 August 1951. Herbert Strate took over the cinema in 1953 and from 1974 converted it into a multiplex. On 29 December 1955, the premiere of the film Ich denke oft an Piroschka took place there. In August 2000, Catherine Laakmann, operator of the Metropolis cinema at Ebertplatz in Cologne, bought the building including the cinema, which then had 833 seats. She installed new seats, laid new carpets, and renovated the ventilation system. The Rex became Germany's most successful so-called one-dollar cinema with more than 1.77 million visitors. Since September 2008, under the motto "Lichtspiele", the cinema has shown demanding films with a focus on arthouse and German film. After a three-year renovation break, delayed by water damage and building regulations, Rex am Ring reopened on 17 August 2017. In early 2025, Mustafa El Mesaoudi took over both Rex am Ring and Metropolis cinema from Laakmann and operates them as part of the Lichtblick Cinema Gruppe. Today, Rex am Ring has seven auditoriums with between 34 and 236 seats. It is no longer run as a one-dollar house; its program includes new releases, sometimes with long runs, as well as film series with re-releases and events such as the Afrika Film Festival Köln and SchulKinoWochen NRW. The cinema's website features daily showtimes, trailers, competitions, and special events.

Rex am Ring, commonly known as Rex, is a historic cinema located on the Hohenzollernring in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the oldest cinemas in Germany, having opened on 20 May 1928 at Friesenplatz under the name Lichtspiele des Westens. It was the last major cinema built during the silent film era in Cologne and was unique in the city for having a cinema organ that could produce sound effects such as ocean waves, horse hooves, and bells to accompany films. The first screening was an operetta film, and in 1929 the cinema showed its first sound films. After World War II, it reopened on 1 August 1951. Herbert Strate took over the cinema in 1953 and from 1974 converted it into a multiplex. On 29 December 1955, the premiere of the film Ich denke oft an Piroschka took place there. In August 2000, Catherine Laakmann, operator of the Metropolis cinema at Ebertplatz in Cologne, bought the building including the cinema, which then had 833 seats. She installed new seats, laid new carpets, and renovated the ventilation system. The Rex became Germany's most successful so-called one-dollar cinema with more than 1.77 million visitors. Since September 2008, under the motto "Lichtspiele", the cinema has shown demanding films with a focus on arthouse and German film. After a three-year renovation break, delayed by water damage and building regulations, Rex am Ring reopened on 17 August 2017. In early 2025, Mustafa El Mesaoudi took over both Rex am Ring and Metropolis cinema from Laakmann and operates them as part of the Lichtblick Cinema Gruppe. Today, Rex am Ring has seven auditoriums with between 34 and 236 seats. It is no longer run as a one-dollar house; its program includes new releases, sometimes with long runs, as well as film series with re-releases and events such as the Afrika Film Festival Köln and SchulKinoWochen NRW. The cinema's website features daily showtimes, trailers, competitions, and special events.

• 2025

  Mustafa El Mesaoudi took over Rex am Ring and Metropolis, operating them as part of Lichtblick Cinema Gruppe.

• 2017

  Reopened on 17 August after a three-year renovation break.

• 2008

  Since September, under the motto "Lichtspiele", arthouse and German films have been shown.

• 2000

  Catherine Laakmann bought the building and cinema in August.

• 1974

  Herbert Strate began converting the cinema into a multiplex.

• 1955

  Premiere of Ich denke oft an Piroschka on 29 December.

• 1953

  Herbert Strate took over the cinema.

• 1951

  Reopened on 1 August after World War II.

• 1929

  First sound films shown.

• 1928

  Opened on 20 May at Friesenplatz as Lichtspiele des Westens, the last major silent-era cinema built in Cologne.

Historic arthouse cinema with a focus on quality films and cultural events.

• Cinema screenings

  Daily showings of new releases, arthouse films, and German films.

• Film series

  Curated series with re-releases and thematic programs.

• Special events

  Events such as Afrika Film Festival Köln and SchulKinoWochen NRW.

1. 1Rex am Ring official websiterex-koeln.de
2. 2Rex am Ring - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Rex am Ring - Wikidatawikidata.org