Malaysia has about 150[1] cinemas operating throughout the country. The only states without cinemas are
Perlis and
Kelantan. The largest cinema operator is
Golden Screen Cinemas. There are other large operators such as
TGV Cinemas,
MBO Cinemas,
Lotus Five Star, DADI Cinema and mmCineplexes. Other than these operators, some smaller operators do screening on a small scale such as 10star Cinemas which operates five cinemas in Sabah.[2]
History
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.
Overview
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. In contrast, the cinema with the most digital halls is in
Era Square Mall,
Seremban and GSC CityONE Megamall,
Kuching with all ten screens being digital. The largest digital hall in Malaysia was the GSC MAXX at Berjaya Times Square which had 555 seats.
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 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. In 2013, TGV Cinemas fully converted all of their screens across the nation into digital, followed by MBO Cinemas and GSC Cinemas.[citation needed]
Features the Biggest FlexOund Seat in Asia, 5 Deluxe+ with Premium Glide, Auto Glide Seat and Indulge Seat, Infinity Atmos Hall, Prestige Hall, and Family Friendly Hall.
Largest cinema in Johor and southern region. Features AURUM THEATRE with Getha Lux Suites (3 halls), 4DX Hall, IMAX Hall, GSC Maxx DBOX Hall, Play+ Hall, SKYBOX and 11 standard halls.[3]
GSC Aurum Theatre. Opened in 2024 and is the largest luxury cinema in Southeast Asia. Features Getha Lux Suites, Comfort Cabin, Escape Studio, IMAX and Screen X.[25]
Located on Level 2, Previously occupied by
Golden Screen Cinemas and
Lotus Five Star. Upgraded from 4 to 10 halls in 2015, including Digital Halls and Dolby ATMOS.
Opened on 23 December 2017. Second non-TGV cinema at AEON shopping mall. Located on Level 2. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021.[36]
Located on Level 2. The largest cinema in
Putrajaya, opened on 12 February 2015. Has two GSC Maxx halls (Hall 10 and Hall 11) which are equipped with THX, Dolby Atmos, and D-Box (Hall 11 with D-Box motion seat) and one 4DX hall (Hall 3).[37]
The first 3D cinema on Borneo island, the largest hall can accommodate 426 patrons at once. Officially opened on 9 September 2009. Located on Level 2. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021.[49]
Largest cinema in Borneo. Largest cinema in Sarawak. Previously occupied by
Lotus Five Star. It houses the first Dolby Atmos hall and the largest screen in East Malaysia. Other features include Lotus Hall, a Premier Screen concept with the best seats and the ‘Love Nest’ – a double-seat for couples or friends. Summer Mall also boasts the ‘Five Star Hall'.
Located on Level 2. Originally a single-screen theatre, it was renovated in the 2000s to become Sibu's first cinema with three halls. In 2011, the cinema was updated again to become Sibu's first 3D cinema.
Selangor
GSC Cinema in The Starling, Damansara Uptown
Number of cinemas: 37
Largest cinema: mmCineplexes
e@Curve (18 screens and 2,836 seats)
Largest cinema operator:
TGV Cinemas – 12 outlets (104 screens and 16,695 seats)
Located on Level 3 (Old Wing). Has 1 IMAX Hall, TGV Luxe, Beanieplex and 7 standard halls. In 2014, TGV introduced TGV Indulge (2 Hall), a boutique concept hall with a cafe.
Located on Level 5. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021. Has a GSC BiG, MX4D, Play+Dolby Atmos and Premiere Class.[66]
Opened on 4 February 2020. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021. Features GSC BIG, DOLBY ATMOS, ONYX, MX4D, PREMIERE and PLAY+ Halls.[69]
Located on Level 7 and 8 of the mall. Largest cinema in
LFS in Malaysia. Largest cinema in Terengganu and the east coast region. Opened on 18 March 2017. Has a 1 Atmos Hall, 2 twin halls and 8 standard halls.
Malaysia has about 150[1] cinemas operating throughout the country. The only states without cinemas are
Perlis and
Kelantan. The largest cinema operator is
Golden Screen Cinemas. There are other large operators such as
TGV Cinemas,
MBO Cinemas,
Lotus Five Star, DADI Cinema and mmCineplexes. Other than these operators, some smaller operators do screening on a small scale such as 10star Cinemas which operates five cinemas in Sabah.[2]
History
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.
Overview
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. In contrast, the cinema with the most digital halls is in
Era Square Mall,
Seremban and GSC CityONE Megamall,
Kuching with all ten screens being digital. The largest digital hall in Malaysia was the GSC MAXX at Berjaya Times Square which had 555 seats.
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 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. In 2013, TGV Cinemas fully converted all of their screens across the nation into digital, followed by MBO Cinemas and GSC Cinemas.[citation needed]
Features the Biggest FlexOund Seat in Asia, 5 Deluxe+ with Premium Glide, Auto Glide Seat and Indulge Seat, Infinity Atmos Hall, Prestige Hall, and Family Friendly Hall.
Largest cinema in Johor and southern region. Features AURUM THEATRE with Getha Lux Suites (3 halls), 4DX Hall, IMAX Hall, GSC Maxx DBOX Hall, Play+ Hall, SKYBOX and 11 standard halls.[3]
GSC Aurum Theatre. Opened in 2024 and is the largest luxury cinema in Southeast Asia. Features Getha Lux Suites, Comfort Cabin, Escape Studio, IMAX and Screen X.[25]
Located on Level 2, Previously occupied by
Golden Screen Cinemas and
Lotus Five Star. Upgraded from 4 to 10 halls in 2015, including Digital Halls and Dolby ATMOS.
Opened on 23 December 2017. Second non-TGV cinema at AEON shopping mall. Located on Level 2. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021.[36]
Located on Level 2. The largest cinema in
Putrajaya, opened on 12 February 2015. Has two GSC Maxx halls (Hall 10 and Hall 11) which are equipped with THX, Dolby Atmos, and D-Box (Hall 11 with D-Box motion seat) and one 4DX hall (Hall 3).[37]
The first 3D cinema on Borneo island, the largest hall can accommodate 426 patrons at once. Officially opened on 9 September 2009. Located on Level 2. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021.[49]
Largest cinema in Borneo. Largest cinema in Sarawak. Previously occupied by
Lotus Five Star. It houses the first Dolby Atmos hall and the largest screen in East Malaysia. Other features include Lotus Hall, a Premier Screen concept with the best seats and the ‘Love Nest’ – a double-seat for couples or friends. Summer Mall also boasts the ‘Five Star Hall'.
Located on Level 2. Originally a single-screen theatre, it was renovated in the 2000s to become Sibu's first cinema with three halls. In 2011, the cinema was updated again to become Sibu's first 3D cinema.
Selangor
GSC Cinema in The Starling, Damansara Uptown
Number of cinemas: 37
Largest cinema: mmCineplexes
e@Curve (18 screens and 2,836 seats)
Largest cinema operator:
TGV Cinemas – 12 outlets (104 screens and 16,695 seats)
Located on Level 3 (Old Wing). Has 1 IMAX Hall, TGV Luxe, Beanieplex and 7 standard halls. In 2014, TGV introduced TGV Indulge (2 Hall), a boutique concept hall with a cafe.
Located on Level 5. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021. Has a GSC BiG, MX4D, Play+Dolby Atmos and Premiere Class.[66]
Opened on 4 February 2020. Originally operated by
MBO Cinemas before GSC acquired the assets in 2021. Features GSC BIG, DOLBY ATMOS, ONYX, MX4D, PREMIERE and PLAY+ Halls.[69]
Located on Level 7 and 8 of the mall. Largest cinema in
LFS in Malaysia. Largest cinema in Terengganu and the east coast region. Opened on 18 March 2017. Has a 1 Atmos Hall, 2 twin halls and 8 standard halls.