Virgin Cinemas was founded in 1995 when Richard Branson's Virgin Group acquired MGM Cinemas,^[1] the largest movie theatre operator in the United Kingdom.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[2]

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.^[2] Despite this, the company closed down in late 2002 as it was sold to Toho, forming Toho Cinemas.