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Cinema closures in Singapore, such as The Projector and Cathay Cineplexes, highlight a decline in local theatre attendance, which fell 16% in 2024 to 8.4 million tickets—far below the 22.13 million peak in 2011. Globally, cinema attendance dropped 8.8% last year, influenced by streaming platforms, pandemic habits, Hollywood strikes, and China’s domestic slump. Singapore faces unique challenges: small population, multi-racial diversity, high production and operating costs, and strong competition from international films. Local filmmakers often produce niche or arthouse films, limiting broad appeal.
By contrast, countries like France, Vietnam, and Indonesia maintain or grow attendance through structural and cultural advantages. France’s cinema culture is embedded in its education system, supported by government subsidies, film funding, protectionist release windows, and strong local film production, creating a sense of national identity around movies. Vietnam and Indonesia benefit from low ticket prices, a young population, rapid mall development, and locally produced films dominating box offices, often unavailable online. Similarly, Thailand saw domestic films outperform foreign releases in 2024, though overall attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Experts suggest Singapore cinemas can rebound, but not by directly copying foreign models. Strategies include enhancing the theatre experience with premium or novel offerings—luxurious seating, immersive formats, themed screenings, or post-show discussions—to provide value beyond streaming. Strengthening the local film industry is also key: increasing exposure for local productions, offering government support, and encouraging filmmakers to produce accessible, relatable stories rather than exclusively arthouse films. Small-budget, high-impact films, like Thailand’s 2024 hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, show that storytelling resonance can drive success without massive budgets.
Despite challenges, industry leaders remain optimistic: cinemas worldwide, including Singapore, have historically weathered competition from new media, adapted, and regained momentum, suggesting that with strategic innovation, the big-screen experience can thrive once more.
Opinion:
Some films are just meant to be experienced on the big screen. Yet, with cinema ticket prices in Singapore being so steep, My family would save the full cinematic experience for trips abroad.
Malaysia and Indonesia have become my go-to destinations for movies; affordable tickets, global blockbuster films, and acceptable theatre qualities make it worth it every time π
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