Movie Park Germany is a film and television-themed amusement park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, North Rhine-Westphalia, about 50 kilometers north of Düsseldorf. The site began life in 1967 as the fairytale-themed Kirchhellener Märchenwald before being redeveloped and reopened on June 30, 1996 as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany. It was renamed Movie Park Germany in 2005 and has been owned by the Spanish leisure group Parques Reunidos since 2010.
Spread across roughly 40 hectares (100 acres), the park is organized into themed zones inspired by Hollywood productions, including Hollywood Street Set, Streets of New York, Nickland, The Old West, and Santa Monica Pier. It combines movie-studio-style sets and stunt shows with a lineup of roller coasters and family rides, making it one of the larger theme park destinations in western Germany.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Bottrop-Kirchhellen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Originally opened: 1967 (as Kirchhellener Märchenwald)
- Reopened as movie park: June 30, 1996 (Warner Bros. Movie World Germany)
- Renamed: March 19, 2005 (Movie Park Germany)
- Owner: Parques Reunidos (since 2010)
- Size: About 40 hectares (100 acres)
- Roller coasters: About 8
- Notable coasters: Bandit (wood, RCCA) and Star Trek: Operation Enterprise (Mack Rides launch coaster)
The Ride Lineup
The park’s signature thrill ride is Star Trek: Operation Enterprise, a Mack Rides launch coaster that opened in 2017, reaching about 90 km/h (56 mph) across roughly 720 meters of track with three inversions and a triple-launch layout. The wooden coaster Bandit, built by the Roller Coaster Corporation of America, is one of the park’s longest-running attractions, standing about 91 feet tall with a top speed near 50 mph. Other coasters include the inverted Iron Claw and the suspended family coaster Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Flyer, alongside Gerstlauer’s Van Helsing’s Factory.
From Fairytale Forest to Movie Studio
Before it became a movie-themed park, the site operated for decades as Kirchhellener Märchenwald, a small fairytale forest attraction dating to 1967. Warner Bros. acquired and redeveloped the property in the mid-1990s, opening it as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany in 1996 with sets and characters tied to the studio’s film library. After Warner Bros. sold the park, it was rebranded Movie Park Germany in 2005, broadening its theming beyond Warner properties to a wider mix of film and TV franchises.
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Movie Park Germany FAQs
Is Movie Park Germany the same as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany?
Yes. The park opened in 1996 as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany and was renamed Movie Park Germany in 2005 after ownership changed.
What is Movie Park Germany’s biggest roller coaster?
Star Trek: Operation Enterprise, a Mack Rides launch coaster opened in 2017, is the park’s most intense ride, reaching about 90 km/h (56 mph) with a triple launch and three inversions.
Where is Movie Park Germany located?
It’s in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, North Rhine-Westphalia, roughly 50 kilometers north of Düsseldorf in western Germany.
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Photo: Stefan Scheer / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.