Cathay Cineplexes

Last updated

Cathay Cineplexes
Company type Private
IndustryMedia distribution
Founded3 October 1939;85 years ago (1939-10-03)
Defunct1 September 2025;1 day ago (2025-09-01)
Headquarters
ProductsMovie theaters
Parent mm2 Entertainment
Website cathaycineplexes.com.sg   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Cathay Cineplexes Pte Ltd was a Singaporean cinema chain. Established in 1939 at the Cathay Building, it was Singapore's first air-conditioned cinema and the first to screen Western films. The company was owned and operated by Singapore-listed media conglomerate mm2 Entertainment. [1] [2] The cinema chain ceased operations in 2025 due to financial issues. [3]

Contents

History

The first Cathay Cinema was at the Cathay Building on 2 Handy Road, Singapore. It was Singapore's first air-conditioned cinema building, opening on 3 October 1939 with the film The Four Feathers . [4] The cinema had a seating capacity of 1,321 and ancillary spaces such as a women's lounge and a spacious lounge bar. [5] The theatre was leased to and operated by Associated Theatres Ltd, but was later seconded by the colonial government and Malayan Broadcasting Corporation during WWII. The cinema was reopened in September 1945 when the Cathay Organisation regained complete control.

Cathay became a household name in Singapore and Malaysia by the 1970s, where the chain owned and operated 75 cinemas at its peak. [6] This included Singapore's only open-air drive-in cinema, the Jurong Drive-in, which opened on 14 July 1971. [7] The drive-in cinema could accommodate around 900 cars and 300 people in its walk-in gallery. [7] It was located on Yuan Ching Road, Jurong, next to the Japanese Garden. [7] Citing poor attendance with only 200 customers daily for its two screening due to video piracy, the Jurong Drive-in Cinema was closed on 30 September 1985. [7]

On 1 September 1999, Cathay took over the 10 screens cineplex at Causeway Point which was formerly owned by Studio Cinema after it was evicted by the mall management. [8]

In 2007, Cathay collaborated with Emaar Malls Group to run two cineplexes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and possibly up to 150 cineplexes across malls in the Middle East. [9]

Acquisition by mm2 Asia

On 24 November 2017, mm2 Asia Ltd acquired the Singapore business operations operated by Cathay Cineplexes. [10] [11] [12] MM2 Asia had earlier acquired Cathay's Malaysian cinema operations in September 2015. [13] The two cinemas acquired were Cathay Cineplex Damansara at e@Curve in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and Cathay Cineplex City Square at Johor Bahru City Square. The cinema chain added 3 more cineplexes in 2015, acquiring Mega Cinemas Management Sdn Bhd's sites in Prai, Langkawi and Bertam. [14] In 2016, mm2 Asia further acquired 13 cinemas in Malaysia from Lotus Fivestar Cinemas. [15]

In June 2017, mm2 Asia agreed to acquire the 50% stake of Golden Village Multiplex cinema business in Singapore, held by Australia's Village Cinemas. [16] However, the deal was rejected by Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment (Holdings), the owner of the other half-share of the Singapore business. [17] In November of that same year (2017), mm2 Asia announced its intentions to acquire all Cathay Cineplexes' Singapore cinema operations. [18] In December 2020, mm2 Asia announced that it was in talks with Golden Village Singapore for a possible merger of its cinema businesses. The deal would be subject to approval from the mm2 Asia and Orange Sky Golden Harvest shareholders, the Singapore Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore. [19]

MM2 Asia is the only cinema operator with operations in Singapore and Malaysia, trading under the Cathay Cineplexes and mmCineplexes brands, respectively. [20]

Post COVID-19 and closures in Singapore

The cinema foyer of the former Cathay Cineplex Jem in Singapore Cathay Cineplexes Singapore cinema lobby.jpg
The cinema foyer of the former Cathay Cineplex Jem in Singapore

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the movie production and cinema businesses, and Cathay Cineplexes was ordered to close for several months in 2020, before reopening at reduced capacities.

In August 2021, mm2 Asia entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Kingsmead Properties to sell its cinema business. [21] The sale did not go through due to the "uncertainty around the Omicron variant dampening investors' appetites," as announced by Kingsmead in January 2022. [22]

In June 2022, Cathay Cineplexes announced that it would be shutting down its eponymous location at Handy Road by the end of that month after 83 years. [23] The cinema space was taken over by independent cinema operator The Projector as Projector X: Picturehouse until June 2023, when the mall shuttered for a 2-year revamp. [24] Cathay Cineplexes closed its Cineleisure Orchard outlet in June 2023, [25] followed by its Parkway Parade cineplex two months later, as both locations were deemed to be no longer profitable. [26] However, the company stated that the closures were part of its efforts to "right-size" its cinema operations, as it was also opening a new cinema in Century Square at Tampines in the fourth quarter of 2023. [27]

The cineplex at AMK Hub was shuttered in June 2024 as the space was earmarked for civic and community uses following the expiry of its lease. [28] [29] As part of their rightsizing operations, they acquired the only WE Cinemas location at 321 Clementi in October that same year. [30]

In January 2025, Cathay Cineplexes received letters of demand for approximately S$2.7 million (US$2 million) in unpaid rent and other related costs for its operations at Century Square and Causeway Point. [31]

In February 2025, Cathay Cineplexes closed its outlet at West Mall due to lease expiry. [32] It also shuttered its outlet at Jem shortly after in March 2025 as the landlord had seized its premises over rent due in arrears. [33]

In September 2025, the remaining four locations at Causeway Point, Century Square, Clementi 321 and Downtown East were shuttered, as it prepares to undergo voluntary liquidation after months of failed negotiations with its creditors. [3]

Former locations

Prior to closing down, Cathay Cineplexes last operated 29 screens in four locations in Singapore. [34]

CinemaLocationScreens/HallsSeatsTenureNotesRef
321 Clementi Clementi 107282024–2025Formerly Empress theatre from 1981 to 2006, and distributed Eng Wah from 2015 to 1 November 2024. [3] [30] [35] [36]
AMK Hub Ang Mo Kio 817842007–2024 [37]
Causeway Point Woodlands 713071999–202510-hall cineplex previously operated by Studio Cinemas until 1999. Reduced to seven halls in 2001. [3] [8]
Century Square Tampines 67202023–2025Previously operated by Century Cineplex which was managed by Shaw Theatres from 1995 to 2017. [38] It was then operated by Filmgarde from June 2018 until 24 April 2022. [39] [40] [3] [41]
Cathay Orchard Road 818121939–2022Temporarily closed for refurbishment from 2000 to 2006. [42]
Galaxy/Gala Bukit Timah 18501978–1990s
Jem Jurong East 1016002013–2025 [33]
Jurong Drive-In Jurong East 19001971–1985Largest drive-in in Asia when opened in 1971 until closure on 30 September 1985. [7]
Majestic Outram 111941928–1998
NTUC Downtown East Pasir Ris 612002008–2025 [3] [43]
Odeon Downtown Core 115461953–1984
Odeon–Katong Geylang 1unknown1950s–1993
Parkway Parade Marine Parade 78982017–2023 [44] [45]
Regal Bukit Merah 1unknown1979–1998
Ruby Novena 1unknown1958–1983 [46] [47]
West Mall Bukit Batok 610062013–2025Formerly operated by Eng Wah Organisation. [48]

Cathay CineHome

Cathay CineHome is a direct-to-consumer rental streaming service for video on demand (VOD) offered by Cathay Cineplexes and mm2 Entertainment. [49] The service was terminated in 2024.

References

  1. "mm2 Asia". mm2 Asia. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  2. "Movie tickets and cinemas in Singapore | Cathay Cineplexes". www.cathaycineplexes.com.sg. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ong, Chelsea (1 September 2025). "Cathay Cineplexes to go into voluntary liquidation amid financial woes". CNA. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  4. Soh, Gek Han. "Key Milestones in the History of Cathay Cinema". BiblioAsia. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. "NewspaperSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  6. "CORPORATE HISTORY". cathay-corporate. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Gutierrez, Lito (29 September 1985). "It's curtains for Jurong Drive-in tomorrow". The Straits Times . p. 10. Retrieved 2 September 2025 via NewspaperSG.
  8. 1 2 "Cathay to take over Woodlands cineplex". The Straits Times . 31 August 1999. p. 40. Retrieved 1 September 2025 via NewspaperSG.
  9. "Coming soon: cineplexes run by Cathay in Dubai". The Business Times . 30 October 2007. p. 2.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Yi, Wong Kai (2 November 2017). "mm2 Asia to acquire Cathay Cineplexes for $230m after failed bid for Golden Village". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  12. Tang, See Kit (10 February 2025). "Cathay Cineplexes operator says it won't give up despite financial struggles". CNA . Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  13. Williams, Ann (17 August 2015). "mm2 Asia to acquire two Cathay cineplex businesses in Malaysia". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  14. "mm2 Asia acquires 3 more cinemas". Yahoo News. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  15. "mm2 Asia acquires 13 cinemas in Malaysia for RM118 mil". The Edge Malaysia. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  16. "mm2 Asia to acquire Golden Village Cinema business in Singapore for S$184 mil". The Edge Malaysia. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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  22. Sue, Ann Tan (3 January 2022). "Sale of Cathay cinema business in Singapore falls through on Omicron concerns". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  23. "That's a wrap: Iconic Cathay Cineplex at Handy Road to close on June 26". AsiaOne. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  24. "Golden Village x The Projector at Cineleisure launching in December, will feature blockbusters, indie films, live music". CNA Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  25. "Commentary: Natural to feel nostalgic about the end of Cathay Cineplex at Cineleisure - but a refresh is due". CNA. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  26. "Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to shut down, last day of operations on Aug 27". TODAY. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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  28. "Cathay Cineplexes at AMK Hub to close after Jun 30". CNA. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  29. "Ang Mo Kio Public Library relocating to AMK Hub in 2026". MothershipSG. 1 July 2025.
  30. 1 2 "Cathay Cineplexes acquires WE Cinemas' 321 Clementi outlet". CNA. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  31. "Cathay Cineplexes gets letters of demand for around S$2.7 million in rent, other costs owed". CNA. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  32. Andres, Gabrielle (18 February 2025). "Cathay cinema at West Mall to close on Feb 20". The Straits Times . Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  33. 1 2 Cheong, Poh Kwan (27 March 2025). "Cathay cinema at Jem to close as landlord seeks $4.3 million in rental arrears". The Straits Times . Retrieved 27 March 2025.
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  35. Lui, John (21 November 2018). "New independent cinema to open in King Albert Park area". The Straits Times . Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  36. "WE Cinemas by ENG WAH". WE Cinemas by ENG WAH.
  37. Kuek, Renee (20 June 2024). "Cathay Cineplexes at AMK Hub to close after Jun 30". CNA. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  38. Tan, Sandi (2 November 1995). "Three cineplexes, 18 screens for Tampines by next February". The Straits Times . p. 6.
  39. Lui, John (21 June 2018). "New outlets in the east". The Straits Times . pp. D1.
  40. Lui, John (11 January 2022). "Filmgarde to close two of its three cinemas". The Straits Times . ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  41. Lui, John (9 November 2023). "Cathay Cineplexes to open new outlet at Century Square on Nov 21". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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  44. Yip, Wai Yee (19 August 2017). "Cathay cinema to open in Parkway Parade". The Straits Times .
  45. Cheow, Sue-Ann (21 August 2023). "Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to cease operations after Aug 27". The Straits Times .
  46. Wee, Agnes (27 November 1980). "A Balestier landmark". The Business Times . Singapore. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  47. "Developer gets option to buy Ruby". New Nation. Singapore. 18 January 1980. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  48. "Cathay cinema at West Mall to close on Feb 20". The Straits Times. 18 February 2025. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  49. "Cathay CineHome | Your favourite movies, delivered". cathaycinehome.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.