Background: Virgin Cinemas was founded in 1995 when Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group acquired MGM Cinemas, the largest movie theatre operator in the United Kingdom. Virgin Group bought the cinemas for £195m, and subsequently sold 90 of the chain's smallest cinemas to Cinven and ABC for £70m to concentrate on multiplexes. In late 1999 Virgin announced that it would sell its cinema interests in Britain and Ireland to UGC, in which French entertainment and utilities giant Vivendi has a 38% controlling share. Virgin sold the chain for £215m, making them a profit of £90m, and all the cinemas were to be rebranded to UGC. The company did strike a long term deal, however, for UGC to continue to sell Virgin Cola. The group continued to operate a Virgin Cinemas Japan unit, and announced, also in late 1999, that it would spend up to US$200 million to develop 20 multiplexes in Japan by the early 21st century; a number of Virgin multiplexes in the United States were also under consideration. Despite this, the company closed down in late 2002.
(1995-2002)[]
Nickname: "Welcome To The World Of... Virgin Cinemas!"
Logo: On a black background with blue clouds, we see a red planet (possibly Mars). The camera zooms in as the bright light comes in. The red planet becomes the red sphere, causing the lights to appear below the "Virgin" text. The camera zooms to the white dot, as we now see a lot more images of characters and scenes from various movies, then the last image (E.T.) moves away. We fade in to the different images of characters and scenes from various movies, followed by a spotlight. The camera zooms to the tunnel made from a rock, following a spotlight. The camera zooms back to the second dot of the "Virgin" text. The camera moves to left and down as we can see the Virgin Cinemas logo. The camera zooms out and stops as the lights disappear.
Variants:
- Policy Variant: Against a blue background, the words "Welcome To" flash across the screen before flying out to reveal the Virgin Cinemas logo. The logo then flies out in turn-dissolving as it does so-and a countdown clock briefly flies out before the words "It's almost time for" flash into view. A blue-tinted Virgin Cinemas logo flies out behind the words, then another flash changes the text to read "the main feature". The countdown clock briefly reappears at the top left corner and disappears again just as quickly, then another flash changes the text to read "Please Don't Add Your Own Sound Effects" with a film soundtrack displayed to the left and various blue "crunch"'s appearing behind it. A video screen reading "Switch Off" then flies across the screen with a pair of telephones resting underneath. The words "Please Don't Add Your Own Special Effects" then wipe in, with a "No Smoking" sign visible behind the text, which stays in place as the text irises out. The sign dissolves to reveal the words "sit back" as the countdown clock again reappears. The text then flashes and changes to "relax" after which the blue background dissolves to the inside of a cinema auditorium. The text again flashes to become "see it your way" with the countdown clock now appearing underneath the text. Everything then dissolves as a brief light pattern flies through the screen until the Virgin Cinemas logo reappears, as does the blue background and clock. A white light circles around the logo as the clock completes its countdown, then the logo fades out.
- Coming Attractions Variant: The same as the main logo from the second "I" onward, except the logo shifts up after centering itself to reveal the words "Coming Soon" in smaller text underneath the logo.
FX/SFX: Very impressive CGI animation.
Music/Sounds: An orchestral theme with bells followed by the announcer saying "Welcome to the world of adventure, the world of fantasy, and magic" and the whoosh is heard as the camera zooms to the white dot. Another orchestral fanfare is heard accompanies with a lot of sound effects. A horror movie-sounding bombastic theme is heard as we fade to the different images of characters and scenes from various movies. Another whoosh is heard as the camera zooms back to the second dot of the Virgin text. A happy-sounding bombastic orchestral fanfare is heard, followed by the announcer saying "Welcome to the world of... Virgin Cinemas!" ending with a tympani hit.
Music/Sounds Variant: There's a music variant that features no announcer.
Availability: Extinct. Most likely seen between the mid 90s and the early 2000s.
Scare Factor: Minimal to medium.