While the curtain falls on five theaters in the city this year, a new chapter begins for cinema at Plaza Hollywood -- which ceased operations this January -- bringing fresh air to the struggling industry.
A moviegoer shared on Facebook last week that CineArt House is taking over MCL Cinemas Plus at Plaza Hollywood.
In the uploaded photo, renovation boards with the messages "Stay Tuned" and "Coming Soon" from CineArt Cinema at the original theater location revealed the arrival of a new cinema.
The post quickly captured the attention of movie enthusiasts, who expressed their excitement for CineArt Cinema's expansion amid the current market conditions.
Many praised the cinema chain as a great alternative, frequently offering discounted tickets. Noticing the slump in Hong Kong's cinema industry, several commenters were thrilled to see the operator opening up a new venue.
Meanwhile, some online users suggested improvements to the cramped seating in the screening rooms, stating that there would be no issues if the supporting facilities were well established.
The operator's other cinemas, CineArt House JP in Causeway Bay and CineArt House (Maritime Square) in Tsing Yi, are promoting all tickets available at HK$50 every Thursday, attracting numerous viewers.
According to records, the cinema at Plaza Hollywood has been operated by MCL since July 2022, covering approximately 38,000 square feet with six theaters.
However, due to market pressures, MCL announced a permanent closure in January, leaving the venue vacant for some time.
P to MCL, the cinema at Plaza Hollywood was operated by Golden Harvest and Broadway Circuits, respectively.
The opening of CineArt Cinema at Plaza Hollywood will mark the circuit's return to Kowloon East after a seven-year absence since the closure at Amoy Plaza.
