Cinema websites jammed as thousands queue for National Day half-price tickets

Cinema websites experienced massive traffic surges on Friday as thousands of Hong Kong residents rushed to secure half-price tickets for the “October 1 Movie Fiesta: Half-Price Spectacular”, with one major chain reporting nearly 10,000 users in its online queue.

The scheme, announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu as part of the 76th National Day celebrations, will see all 52 cinemas in Hong Kong offer half-price tickets for every screening on October 1, regardless of movie, seat class, or format—including IMAX and other premium experiences.

Digital rush

At noon on Friday, when tickets went on sale, the MCL cinema website showed approximately 10,000 users in line, with an estimated waiting time of 25 minutes.

The Broadway circuit website had over 1,600 queued users and a wait time of 99 minutes, while the Emperor Cinemas site remained relatively accessible.

Tickets are available both online and at box offices, with a limit of four tickets per purchase at physical counters. Online purchase limits vary by chain.

The event is organized by the Hong Kong Cinema Association with support from the government's CreateHK and Film Development Fund.

Eligibility and special provisions

The half-price discount also applies to existing concessions for seniors (including first-show discounts), children, and students.

All major film formats are included, such as 4DX, IMAX, Dolby Atmos, and MX4D. However, the offer cannot be combined with other promotions, membership discounts, or bank offers.

The only exception is the Lux Theatre, which will begin pre-selling tickets on September 30. Final ticket prices will be rounded up to the nearest dollar if the half-price calculation results in a decimal amount.