Latest news with #SterKinekor
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Can South African cinemas survive in a streaming-dominated world?
Can the cinema industry in South Africa survive in an age of streaming? In an age where streaming services offer an endless number of films at our fingertips, the global cinema industry faces challenges, grappling with declining audiences and escalating operational costs. Despite the closure of several cinemas nationwide, Ster Kinekor is confident that this year will be a good year, as it recorded its biggest 'out of season' weekend admissions of 2025 last weekend. 'This once again is proof that cinema is alive and well, and that audiences still prefer watching the new release of a blockbuster title on the big screen. It also proves that movie magic is not regulated by the calendar,' said Mark Sardi, chief executive officer of Ster-Kinekor. The strong showing was fuelled by two major releases: the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and the latest Mission: Impossible film, Final Reckoning. Across South Africa, several theatres have closed their doors over the past year, including long-running venues at Bedford Square in Johannesburg, Gateway in Umhlanga, and most recently, Cavendish Square in Cape Town. These closures follow years of pressure from streaming services, shifting consumer habits, and the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cinema chain Nu Metro recently took over the Bedford Square site previously occupied by Ster-Kinekor. It is expected to take over the Ster Kinekor cinema complex at Gateway.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The future of cinema: Can South African theatres thrive in a streaming world?
Can the cinema industry in South Africa survive in an age of streaming? In an age where streaming services offer an endless number of films at our fingertips, the global cinema industry faces challenges, grappling with declining audiences and escalating operational costs. Despite the closure of several cinemas nationwide, Ster Kinekor is confident that this year will be a good year, as it recorded its biggest 'out of season' weekend admissions of 2025 last weekend. 'This once again is proof that cinema is alive and well, and that audiences still prefer watching the new release of a blockbuster title on the big screen. It also proves that movie magic is not regulated by the calendar,' said Mark Sardi, chief executive officer of Ster-Kinekor. The strong showing was fuelled by two major releases: the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and the latest Mission: Impossible film, Final Reckoning. Across South Africa, several theatres have closed their doors over the past year, including long-running venues at Bedford Square in Johannesburg, Gateway in Umhlanga, and most recently, Cavendish Square in Cape Town. These closures follow years of pressure from streaming services, shifting consumer habits, and the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cinema chain Nu Metro recently took over the Bedford Square site previously occupied by Ster-Kinekor. It is expected to take over the Ster Kinekor cinema complex at Gateway.
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
End of an era as Cavendish cinemas close
It was, perhaps, inevitable that this day would come. But the news this week that Ster-Kinekor will close its cinemas in the Claremont shopping centre, Cavendish Square, marks the end of an era. From high school dates to family outings, the cineplex at Cavendish Square has long been part of the fabric of the city's southern suburbs. Once famous for its plush seats, a choice of Cinema Nouveau downstairs and more commercially-minded 'flicks' up top, and the luxurious seating of the Cine Prestige, it seems Ster Kinekor did pretty much everything they could to keep us coming back to the silver screen. And it didn't work. Not even the prospect of 3D screens could pry us off the couch and into the cinema again. In the face of rising costs, Covid, and all-pervasive streaming services, the writing has been on the wall for some time and it was perhaps only a matter of when, not if, the price (ever-increasing) of selling movie tickets and popcorn could cover hefty rents in Cavendish Square. It turns out the 'when' is Monday, 2 June: this will be the last day of trade for Ster-Kinekor at Cavendish Square, and the screens will go dark. The lights will go up, the popcorn swept from the floor, and movie-goers will file out into the light one last time. I'll miss the after-credits chats about whether the movie was any good. I'll miss the lingering taste of sour cream and chives (always, the sour cream and chives) popcorn salt. I won't miss the outrageous cost of said popcorn, or the people who check their phones and take calls (who does that?) in the middle of the movie. 'While this chapter closes, we're firmly focused on the future and are actively investing in our current cinema complexes,' Ster-Kinekor said in a statement released this week. '[This will] ensure that every visit to watch a movie at one of our Ster-Kinekor theatres delivers a truly exceptional movie-going experience, every time.' The question is: do we still want that kind of movie-going experience? Or are we happier on our own couch? Given that the Cavendish closure follows in the wake of cinemas shuttering in Johannesburg and Durban, that remains to be seen. Perhaps we'll be jolted into a wave of nostalgia that has us rushing back to the cinema? Or perhaps we'll just fire up the flat-screen at home and make our own microwave popcorn instead. Sadly, it'll never be as good as that sour cream and chives. Whether you'll miss it or not, come the end of Monday, the days of the silver screen at Cavendish come to an end. As Porky Pig (and later Bugs Bunny) would famously remind us at the end of each Looney Tunes cartoon: 'That's all folks!'
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Last scene plays for popular Durban cinema
STER Kinekor Gateway closed its doors this morning (May 9), and staff took to social media to express their sadness while movie-goers reminisced about their experiences at the cinema. Also read: Umhlanga woman makes family feel at 'home' with hearty donation Ashveer Singh said: 'A sad day for the cinema experience as a whole. I've watched dozens of movies at Ster-Kinekor Theatres Gateway Theatre of Shopping VIP and created so many memories over the past 20 odd years. But let's face it, for a middle income family of four, a night out at the movies including snacks averages at least R1000 at a time – who has that disposable income these days? Perhaps mall management has another vendor available, fingers crossed their prices are affordable, because everyone should experience cinema on the big screen.' Ryan Austin Basdew commented on Singh's thread: 'Man, this is heartbreaking. Especially with the line-up this year. Mission Impossible, Final Destination, Ballerina, Superman and Fantastic Four. Not getting to see them in the Imax takes away so much. Navin Ramsamuj added: 'That was the main one in Durban after Musgrave closed.' Renaldo Kell said: 'It's sad to see Ster Kinekor close down at Gateway. Thank you for helping release my film last year. I wish you weren't closing.' The only Ster Kinekor that's left in Durban is now at Watercrest Mall in Waterfall. Comment from Ster Kinekor could not be obtained at the time of publishing. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
