Sad ending as yet another theater set to close

Phoebe Poon

Newport Theatre, a long-standing staple of the local cinema scene in Mong Kok, has announced that it will cease operations on April 1, the 10th cinema to shut down over the past year.

In a social media post, Newport Circuit confirmed that the cinema will continue screening until March 31, citing shifts in market conditions and operational adjustments as the reasons for the decision.

The company also thanked the audience for their 20 years of support. Current screenings at the Newport Theatre ahead of its closure are Ne Zha 2, Mickey 17, and Dark Nuns.

The Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers spokesperson, Tin Kai-man, said that the closing of another theater was unsurprising given the challenging market conditions since the end of the pandemic.

Tin pointed out that Hong Kong cinemas are facing stiff competition from those in Shenzhen, where movie tickets for the same film can cost as little as HK$30 or HK$40.

Founded in 1988, the Newport Circuit operated five cinemas at its peak, but has experienced several closures in recent year. With Newport Theatre closing, Hyland Theatre in Tuen Mun will become the only operating cinema under the Newport Circuit.

A total of nine cinemas shut down last year, including Golden Harvest in Kai Tak, Vwalk, the Metroplex in Kowloon Bay, Cine-Art House in Kowloon City, ACX Cinemas in North Point, MCL Cinemas Plus+ at Plaza Hollywood, Resident Cinema in Causeway Bay, Cinema City in Langham Place, The Metroplex in Kowloon Bay and MCL's South Horizons.