Hong Kong cinema operator Golden Harvest has exited the local theatrical market, ending its long legacy as its few remaining outlets were shut down over the weekend. A yet-to-be-named new operator will enter the market to take over a trio of their outlets.
Golden Harvest was established as a production company in 1970 by co-founder Raymond Chow, who would become a legendary film producer and introduce Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and many more Hong Kong stars and directors such as Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, John Woo and Tsui Hark to the international markets.
The company opened its first cinema in Hong Kong in 1977 and launched the city’s first fully digital multiplex in 2009. It became publicly listed in 1994 and the company name was changed to Orange Sky Golden Harvest in 2009, after Chinese businessman Wu Kebo became the largest shareholder.
Earlier this year, the cinema chain closed down three outlets: GH Megabox, GH Whampoa and the iconic Grand Ocean Cinema located in Tsim Sha Tsui that had been in operation for 56 years.
Its last four outlets were shut down on Sunday June 29 – the sky in Olympian City 2, StagE in Tuen Mun Town Plaza, GH Taipo and GH Galaxy in Shau Kei Wan.
“As our leases at these locations come to a close on June 29, 2025, we will be concluding our cinema operations in Hong Kong thereafter,” the company said in a statement, adding that a new operator will take over the first three cinemas under new ownership.
As the Hong Kong box office is still struggling to regain its footing post-Covid, this year has seen nine cinema closures by the halfway mark, including those from Golden Harvest and two from MCL (Newport Theatre and Grand Kornhill Cinema). Last year, nine cinemas were shuttered while the overall Hong Kong box office fell to its lowest in 13 years, down to $172.7m (HK$1.34bn).
In Singapore, Orange Sky Golden Harvest continues to operate 15 multiplexes and 119 screens through its subsidiary Golden Village, the nation’s largest theatrical exhibitor.