Letterboxd sale talks spark concern as German Gen Z drives cinema revival

A packed Berlin cinema hosted a “Classic Sneak” night, where audiences watch a surprise classic film and later log their impressions on the Letterboxd app. The app, founded in New Zealand, has grown from 3 million users in early 2021 to 28 million by April, with more than half under 35 years old.

Letterboxd is reportedly in talks with potential buyers such as Netflix and Sony, prompting unease among its largely youthful community. Industry observers note that Generation Z is becoming a key cinema demographic in Germany, with the average age of movie‑goers falling from 49 to 37 and attendance rising sharply for genre titles like “Backrooms” and “Obsession.”

HDF Kino, the German cinema association, highlighted Gen Z’s over‑average cinema usage, while a broader revival of theatre attendance is evident across several German cities.