A shifting screen culture
GOING to the movies has long been a part of Singapore’s entertainment culture. But in recent years, the cinema industry has seen a gradual shift, shaped by changing viewer habits, digital disruption and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here’s a look back at the expansion and contraction of major cinema operators in Singapore with 10 or more screens, zooming in on when they entered, when they peaked, and which have since shuttered.
The rise and fall of cinema operators
Cinema operators in Singapore today
Operator Status CINEMAS
Golden Village Active 16
Shaw Theatres Active 7
Cathay Cineplexes Active (but right sizing) 4
Just this year, Filmgarde Cineplexes exited Singapore’s cinema business entirely with the closure of its last remaining outlet at Leisure Park Kallang. This followed the exit of Eng Wah Global’s WE Cinemas in 2024, after its Clementi 321 outlet shuttered.
Recent exits from the big screen
Though streaming services had been growing steadily before 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic fast-tracked their rise. When cinemas closed in 2020, platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ became the default option for movie-watching. Singapore’s box office plunged by over 80 per cent, even after screenings were allowed to resume in July that year.
Studios also pivoted, opting to release films directly to streaming, eroding cinemas’ exclusive release windows. Viewers got used to the convenience, lower cost and flexibility of watching from home.
Even after cinemas reopened, their recovery was uneven. Blockbusters made a comeback, but smaller films struggled to regain their footing.
The streaming disruption
Streaming service subscription numbers in Singapore
STREAMING
SERVICE
LAUNCHED in S'pore
SUBSCRIBERS
Netflix
2016
1,809,780 as at Dec 2024
Disney+
2021
579,600 as at Mar 2025
Viui
2016
536,000 as at Jun 2024
QIYI
2019
505,500 as at Mar 2024
Amazon
Prime
2016
500,000* as at Mar 2024
HBO Max
2015
113,000* as at Mar 2025
Apple TV+
2019
51,000* as at Jun 2024
Despite rising ticket prices and the ease of watching shows online, cinemas in Singapore continue to draw in audiences.
Major chains such as Golden Village and Shaw still attract crowds with premium formats such as Imax, Dolby Atmos and Gold Class. Meanwhile, boutique cinemas such as EagleWings Cinematics offer a more personalised touch, focusing on comfort, exclusivity and service. There's also something to be said for the cinema itself, as a physical space that – at least for an hour and a half, maybe two – feels entirely separate from the rest of the world. That rare chance to disconnect can hardly be recreated by just drawing the curtains shut at home while Netflix plays.
What still draws viewers?
People queueing outside Cathay Theatre on Feb 16, 1953, to buy tickets for the Chinese New Year blockbuster, Million Dollar Mermaid.
PHOTO: BT FILE
Cathay Cinema's booking counter in 1957.
PHOTO: BT FILE
Lido Theatre before its demolition in 1990. The then 31-year-old cinema, together with the old Shaw House, made way for the $400 million commercial, shopping and cinema complex we have today.
PHOTO: BT FILE
Lido Theatre on Orchard Road in 1960.
PHOTO: BT FILE
In 2012, Golden Village became the first in Singapore to issue QR code tickets, so moviegoers could enter cinemas using their mobile phones. This paved the way for other operators to go paperless.
PHOTO: BT FILE
*Estimate
SOURCE: FLIXPATROL
5
10
15
20
Rex Cinema on MacKenzie Road in 1983.
PHOTO: BT FILE
The Eng Wah-owned Jubilee Cinema in Ang Mo Kio in 1996.
PHOTO: BT FILE
Dipping cinema attendence
21.9
21.93
19.4
18.46
4.73
7.63
9.48
10
8.4
19.58
SOURCE: SINGAPORE FILM COMMISSION
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: CHARMAINE MARTIN
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Viewers (Millions)
SOURCES: IMDA, SINGAPORE FILM COMMISSION, NLB, FLIXPATROL, Compiled by BT with the assistance of AI
PHOTOS: BT FILE
GRAPHICS: CHARMAINE MARTIN, BT
Operator Status Screens
Operator Status Screens
In addition to the major cinema chains, a handful of smaller operators continue to serve niche audiences in Singapore. These include The Projector, known for indie and arthouse films; EagleWings Cinematics, with its boutique experience at KAP Mall; as well as independent screening venues that occasionally host film festivals and community events.
Golden Village
Active
15
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