Cinemas in Malaysia play a vital role in the country’s entertainment landscape, offering a wide variety of films to cater to diverse audiences. The Malaysian cinema industry is a blend of local and international influences, with both international blockbusters and locally produced films thriving in the market.
First Time in Malaysia
The first cinema in Malaysia was the Coliseum Theatre in Kuala Lumpur in 1928. However, it ceased operations in 2010 and was transformed into a cultural centre but was later reopened with two digital halls by Lotus Five Star in 2012.
The first cinema with a computerised ticketing system in Malaysia was GSC in Cheras Leisure Mall. The first IMAX theatre in the country was the Digi Imax Theatre, located in Berjaya Times Square. It had one screen and had 555 seats. Operations were ceased in 2010, and GSC MAXX later occupied it until its closure. As of 2013, all screens were made digital regardless of the type of movies played.
Largest Cinema / Theatre
The largest cinema in Malaysia is at Mid Valley Megamall. This outlet has 21 screens and 2763 seats. The cinema with the most number of seats is located in City Square, with 2776 seats.
Most Screens
Cinema with the most digital halls is in Era Square Mall, Seremban and GSC CityONE Megamall, Kuching with all ten screens being digital.
Largest Hall
The largest digital hall in Malaysia was the GSC MAXX at Berjaya Times Square which had 555 seats.
IMAX in Malaysia
Sunway Pyramid, 1 Utama, AEON Tebrau City, Gurney Paragon Mall and VivaCity Megamall host five IMAX theatres in the country, and a new IMAX hall will be opened in Kota Kinabalu.
4D, 5D and 6D Cinemas
4D theatres are located in First World Plaza in Resort World Genting, A’ Famosa Resort in Malacca and Legoland Malaysia in Iskandar Puteri. There are 5D theatres in I-City, 1st Avenue Mall in Penang, and Plaza Merdeka, Kuching, whereas Sunway Lagoon hosts the world’s first 5D water-based ride, known as Waterplexx 5D. A 6D theatre in the country is located in KL Tower and Seremban Prima Mall, with a new one opening in Langkawi.
Cinemas by Cities
| Cinema Operators in Malaysia | Total No. Halls | Total No. Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Screen Cinemas | 575 | 76672 |
| TGV Cinemas | 405 | 57458 |
| mmCineplexes | 108 | 18676 |
| MBO Cinemas | 83 | 11108 |
| Lotus Five Star | 45 | 7756 |
| Paragon Cinemas | 31 | 4640 |
| 10Star Cinemas | 35 | 2818 |
| AE Cinemas | 10 | 2253 |
| Superstar Cinema | 18 | 2241 |
| Dadi Cinema | 21 | 1776 |
| Growball Cinemax | 9 | 1745 |
| Mega Cineplex | 6 | 1518 |
| Womei Cineplex | 9 | 1301 |
| Suara Screens | 4 | 1300 |
| Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC Lite) | 8 | 1287 |
| TSR Cinemax | 8 | 1259 |
| Amerin Cineplexes | 8 | 1076 |
| Golden Screen Cinemas Lite | 8 | 1010 |
| King’s Trioplex | 6 | 950 |
| City Cineplex | 6 | 833 |
| Eastern Cineplex | 6 | 784 |
| One Cinemas | 6 | 777 |
| AGC Cineplex | 6 | 723 |
| Bona Cinemas | 4 | 680 |
| Grand Cineplex | 4 | 680 |
| Megalong Cineplex | 4 | 615 |
| Blockbuster Cineplexes | 3 | 582 |
| Jitra Mall Cineplex | 4 | 546 |
| Iswaria | 2 | 400 |
| Max Cinema | 4 | 300 |
| Suara Screen | 2 | 260 |
| KPI Cinemas | 1 | 244 |
| Ocean Cinema | 2 | 200 |
| Perdana Cineplex | 2 | 180 |
| MBO | 6 | 0 |
| CGV Cinemas | 20 | 0 |
| TBA | 23 | 0 |
| Grand Total | 1502 | 204648 |
