List of cinemas in Thailand

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The Scala theater in Siam Square.
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The Scala theater in Siam Square.
An assortment of ticket stubs from Bangkok cinemas, circa 2006.
Enlarge
An assortment of ticket stubs from Bangkok cinemas, circa 2006.

Cinemas in Thailand are dominated by the Major Cineplex company, which owns the Major Cineplex chain as well as the EGV chain and operates the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon as well as Thailand's only IMAX theater. Behind the combined Major Cineplex-EGV, SF Cinema City is the No 2 operator of movie theaters. Smaller chains include Apex in Bangkok's Siam Square, Thana Cineplex, Major Hollywood and UMG. In Chiang Mai, there are the Vista cinemas. In Southern Thailand, there is the Coliseum Multiplex chain.

Contents

[edit] Ticketing, seating and customs

  • Ticket prices range from around 70 baht to 160 baht, depending on the time of day, the day of the week, the location of the theater and the movie being screened. In a Bangkok cinema, the price for a new-release film will generally be 140 baht.
  • Seating is assigned by ticket number; audience members make their choice of seating on a computer screen at the box office.
  • Before the movie, the audience must stand for the "Royal Anthem", which is accompanied by a montage of images of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
  • Most theaters in Thailand keep the air conditioning very cold; patrons often bring a light sweater or jacket.
  • The EGV chain has "Gold Class" cinemas, which have smaller screening rooms fitted with reclining seats. Prices for a Gold Class show range from 300 baht to 500 baht. The Major Cineplex chain offers comparable "Emperor" class seating, while SF Cinema has "First Class" and "VIP" screenings and Major Hollywood has "Star" seats. Some theaters, including Major Cineplex, EGV and Major Hollywood, have sofa-style seating at the back of the auditoriums, intended for couples. [1]

[edit] Language and subtitling issues

  • In central Bangkok and such tourism centers as Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket, foreign films (such as Hollywood releases) will have the original soundtrack (called "soundtrack") with Thai subtitles.
  • Often, films that feature foreign languages other than English, such as The Da Vinci Code, will have only Thai subtitles.
  • Some cinemas playing Thai films will have English subtitles.
  • Outside of tourism centers and in some suburban Bangkok cinemas, all the foreign films, including Hollywood films, will generally be dubbed into Thai language.
  • Films from other Asian countries, including Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, often play in Thailand theaters, but the soundtracks will usually be dubbed into Thai. Exceptions to this will be found at the Apex chain theaters in Siam Square and at House cinema on Royal City Avenue.

[edit] List of cinemas in Thailand

[edit] Apex

The Apex Group of cinemas comprise the Lido, Scala and Siam theaters in Siam Square in Bangkok. The company is owned by the Tansacha family and is headed by Nanta Tansacha.[2] The theaters were built in the late 1960s and have changed little since, making possible a retro movie-going experience that can't be found at the shopping-mall multiplexes. The theaters tend to not be as crowded as the other cinemas in central Bangkok, and it's usually possible to obtain the most-desired seating just minutes before showtime. The Apex cinemas not only show first-run Hollywood films, but also many art films, which is unique in Thailand, other than the House theater on Royal City Avenue. Among the events exclusive to the Apex is the annual Little Big Film Project, in which a series of foreign independent films are shown over the course of several weeks.

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Lido 3 675 Siam Square, Pathum Wan, opposite Siam Center The Lido cinemas are an older multiplex dating back to the late 1960s. They often screen Japanese, Korean and other foreign films and offer both Thai and English subtitles. All seats are 100 baht.
Scala 1 900 Siam Square, Pathum Wan, opposite Siam Discovery Center The Scala Theatre was built in 1967. The screen is 21 meters wide and 8.7 meters tall. Ticket buyers point out what seats they desire on a paper chart in the ticket booth. Also in the lobby are hand-painted movie advertisements, which were commonplace in Thailand until the 1990s, when large-scale screen printing became available. First-run Hollywood features are usually featured at the Scala, with the films moving to the Lido cinemas in subsequent weeks. The Scala is occasionally booked for live shows and private functions. Tickets are 100 baht for normal seats and 120 baht for stadium-style seating at the rear of the auditorium.
Siam 1 832 Siam Square, Pathum Wan, opposite Siam Paragon Tickets are 100 baht for normal seats and 120 baht for stadium-style seating at the rear of the auditorium.

[edit] Coliseum Multiplex

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Coliseum Multiplex Lee Garden, Hat Yai Coliseum Multiplex is a chain of movie theaters in Southern Thailand.
Coliseum Multiplex 3 Downtown Phuket City
Coliseum Multiplex 5 Diana Department Store, Hat Yai, Songkhla Province
Coliseum Multiplex 5 BigC Nakhon Si Thammarat
Coliseum Multiplex Tesco Lotus Surat Thani

[edit] EGV

Main article: Major Cineplex#EGV
Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
EGV Bang Khae 10 10 2926 Future Park, Petchkasem Road, Bang Khae The first multiplex theater in Thailand, built in 1994. Also has Gold Class cinema.
EGV Korat 6 2178 The Mall Korat, Mitraphap Road, Nakhon Ratchasima
EGV Lad Phrao 7 7 1826 Imperial World, Lad Phrao Road Also has Gold Class.
EGV Metropolis 10 10 BigC Rajadamri, Pathum Wan Opposite CentralWorld, EGV Metropolis is an anchor for the BigC shopping center, which has shops, restaurants and a fitness center. Bangkok Theater@Metropolis is used for theatrical performances. There's also a Gold Class theater. It's near the Skytrain's Chidlom station.
EGV Oomyai 3 Oomyai, Nakhon Pathom
EGV Pinklao 14 14 2093 Central Pinklao, Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisri Road Also has Gold Class.
EGV Rangsit 10 10 Future Park, Rangsit Also has Gold Class.
EGV Samrong 5 Imperial World Samrong, Sukhumvit Road, Samut Prakan
EGV Si Racha 4 1350 Pacific Park, Si Racha, Chonburi Province
Grand EGV 7 1688 Siam Discovery Center, Pathum Wan Also has Gold Class cinema; near Skytrain's Siam station.
Grand EGV Seacon 14 14 3593 Seacon Square, Srinakarin Road, Prawet Also has Gold Class cinema.

[edit] Major Cineplex

Main article: Major Cineplex
Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Major Cineplex Bang Kapi 5 Lotus Bang Kapi, Lad Phrao Road
Major Cineplex Bang Na 10 Central City Bang Na On sixth floor of a Central Group shopping mall, adjacent to Major Hit bowling alley, karaoke booths, restaurants, shops and the Leo Land water amusement park.
Major Cineplex CentralWorld 6 CentralWorld, Rajadamri Road Shopping center is undergoing extensive renovations but movie theater was still open as of October 2006.
Major Cineplex Chachoengsao 5 1572 Chachoengsao Center Part of complex anchored by BigC, has 12-lane bowling alley.
Major Cineplex Chiang Mai 7 Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport
Major Cineplex Fashion Island 10 Fashion Island, Ramindra Road, Min Buri Formerly an EGV Cinema but was rebranded after the Major Cineplex and EGV chains merged.
Major Cineplex Hua Hin 4 Hua Hin Market Village Opened in February 2006, large-scale shopping mall has a Tesco Lotus, bowling alley and many stores.
Major Cineplex Nonthaburi Nonthaburi
Major Cineplex Petchakasem Petchakasem, Bangkok
Major Cineplex Pinklao Nakhon Chaisri Road, Bang Phlat The first Major Cineplex complex, it opened in 1996. Opposite Central Plaza Pinklao, Bangkok Noi.
Major Cineplex Rachayothin 14 4014 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak The current flagship branch of the Major Cineplex chain, this was Thailand's largest theater until the Paragon Cineplex opened. This suburban shopping complex is anchored by the movie theater with shops, restaurants, a bowling alley, karaoke and a fitness center. It was the former location of Thailand's IMAX cinema.
Major Cineplex Rama II Central Plaza Rama II, Thon Buri-Pak Thor Road
Major Cineplex Rama III 10 Central Plaza Rama III A former United Artists multiplex, Major Cineplex took it over and remodeled it in 2003.
Major Cineplex Ramkhamhaeng Ramkhamhaeng Road, Bang Kapi Major Cineplex's second complex.
Major Cineplex Rangsit Vipavadee Road, Rangsit, Pathum Thani
The Esplanade Cineplex 13 Esplanade Complex, Ratchadapisek Road, Din Daeng The new flagship branch for the chain will open in November 2006. It will include a 26-lane bowling alley. It is near the Bangkok Metro's Ratchadapisek station.
Major Cineplex Seri Center Seri Center, Srinakarin Road, Prawet
Major Cineplex Sukhumvit 8 Sukhumvit Soi 61, Watthana A shopping center anchored by the movie theater with restaurants, shops, bowling alley and karaoke, the Sukhumvit branch sometimes has late shows. It is near the Skytrain's Ekamai station, opposite the Eastern Bus Terminal.
Major Cineplex Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Sawan
Major Cineplex Samui 4 Tesco Lotus, Ko Samui Opened in May 2006, includes 12-lane bowling alley.
Major Cineplex Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani
Major Cineplex Udon Thani Udon Thani

[edit] Major Hollywood

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Major Hollywood Chaeng Wattana 8 1713 Chaeng Wattana Road, Pakkred, Nonthaburi Major Hollywood is a small suburban Bangkok chain of theaters.
Major Hollywood Chaeng Wattana (Sweet) 1 56 Chaeng Wattana Road, Pakkred, Nonthaburi Major Hollywood's "Sweet" cinemas are fitted with couches and are designed for couples.
Major Hollywood Chaeng Wattana (Star) 1 30 Chaeng Wattana Road, Pakkred, Nonthaburi Major Hollywood's "Star" cinemas are small screening rooms fitted with thickly padded reclining seats, with tableside food-and-beverage service.
Major Hollywood Ramkhamhang 10 Ramkhamhang Road, Bang Kapi, opposite Ramkhamhang University Three-story complex has a shopping arcade, snack shops, 18-lane bowling alley and karaoke facilities. Has "Sweet" and "Star" seating.
Major Hollywood Suksawat 7 Suksawat Road, Ratburana

[edit] Paragon Cineplex

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Krung Sri IMAX 1 600 Siam Paragon, Pathum Wan Opened June 2006; moved from former location at Major Ratchayothin.
Paragon Cineplex 14 5000 Siam Paragon, Pathum Wan Opened in early 2006, it's Thailand's biggest multiplex. Includes the Siam Pavalai, a 1,200-seat theater. There are three smaller, luxury "Nokia Ultra Screen" cinemas, with reclining seats, as well as Enigma, a members-only lounge.

[edit] SF Cinema City

Main article: SF Cinema City
Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
SF Cinema City Bang Khae 8 2088 The Mall Bang Khae, Phetkasem Road Opened August 2001 in suburban shopping center under the concept "The Movie Fantasy".
SF Cinema City Bang Kapi 14 3639 The Mall Bang Kapi, Lat Phrao Road Opened August 2001 in suburban shopping center under the concept of "Movie Pavilion". Includes one VIP auditorium.
SF Cinema City MBK 8 2120 MBK Center, Pathum Wan The company's first branch, opened in 1999. Also has "VIP" cinema, bowling alley, karaoke; at Skytrain's National Stadium station.
SF Cinema City Ngamwongwan 11 2922 The Mall Ngamwongwan Opened August 2001 in suburban shopping mall under the theme "Movie Ocean".
SF Cinema City Pattaya 8 Central Festival Centre, Pattaya Has English-soundtrack films; late shows until 1-2am daily.
SF NK Cinema City Rattanathibet 7 Central Town Rattanathibet, Nonthaburi Large shopping mall anchored by a Robinson department store, with bowling, karaoke, playland and restaurants.
SF NK Cinema City Tha Phra 12 The Mall Tha Phra, Bangkok Facility to be expanded to up to 12 screens.
SF World Cinemas 15 4800 CentralWorld Under construction and due to open by end of 2006; part of the renovated and expanded CentralWorld.
SFX Cinema Central Lat Phrao 9 3000 Central Plaza Lat Phrao, Phaholyothin Road Also has "First Class" cinema. SFX is the chain's "boutique" brand of cinemas.
SFX Coliseum Cinema 7 1890 Central Festival Phuket Opened September 1, 2005. Also has "First Class" cinema.
SFX Emporium 5 1200 The Emporium, Sukhumvit 24, Khlong Toei In major remodeling of the top floors of The Emporium shopping complex, the lobby was expanded in 2006 and is adjacent to the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC), an art and design museum with regular exhibitions. This branch was formerly a United Artists theater, which SF Cinema took over in 2003 when UA left the exhibition business in Thailand. At the Skytrain's Phrom Phong station.
SF Multiplex Bangsan 4 1200 Saveland Department Store, Chonburi
SF Multiplex Chalermthai 2 500 Pothong Road, Chonburi
SF Multiplex Chanthaburi 4 1000 Robinson Department Store, Chanthaburi
SF Multiplex Chonburi 5 1500 Forum Department Store, Chonburi
SF Multiplex Krang 2 Rayong
SF Multiplex Rayong 5 2000 Leam Thong Shopping Center, Rayong
SF Multiplex Royal Pattaya 2 500 Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya Has English soundtrack; late shows until 1-2am daily.

[edit] Thana

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Thana Cineplex Ayutthaya Tesco Lotus Ayutthaya Thana Cineplex is a chain of small theaters based in Central and Northern Thailand.
Thana Cineplex Chiang Kam 1 344 Chiang Kam, Phayao Province
Thana Cineplex Chiang Rai 2 701 BigC Chiang Rai
Thana Cineplex Kamphaeng Phet 1 175 Kamphaeng Phet
Thana Cineplex Kanchanaburi 2 1 Castle Mall, Kanchanaburi
Thana Cineplex Lampang 2 BigC, Lampang
Thana Cineplex Lopburi 2 BigC, Lopburi
Thana Cineplex Nakhon Pathom 4 BigC, Nakhon Pathom
Thana Cineplex Nakhon Sawan 1 360 Nakhon Sawan
Thana Cineplex Phetchaburi 2 Phetchaburi
Thana Cineplex Phijit 1 Phrae Province
Thana Cineplex Phitsanulok 4 BigC, Phitsanulok
Thana Cineplex Phayao 1 404 Phayao
Thana Cineplex Phrae 1 342 Phrae
Thana Cineplex Phrae (Mark Four) 1 Mark Four Department Store, Phrae
Thana Cineplex Ratchaburi 2 Royal Park Department Store, Ratchaburi
Thana Cineplex Samut Prakan 2 BigC Samut Prakan
Thana Cineplex Saraburi 2 Taweekij Department Store, Saraburi
Thana Cineplex Sing Buri 2 203 Sing Buri
Thana Cineplex Suphanburi 1 (O.K. Rama) 1 657 Suphanburi
Thana Cineplex Suphanburi 2 (Fah Siam) 1 602 Suphanburi
Thana Cineplex Uttaradit 1 500 Uttaradit

[edit] UMG

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
UMG BigC Bang Phli 3 663 Theparak Road, Samut Prakan Province
UMG Central Ram Indra 2 398 Central Ram Indra Road To be taken over by SF Cinema City and expanded to six screens in the end of 2006.
UMG RCA 3 1000 Royal City Avenue, Huai Khwang Used to have five screens; two cinemas were used to create the House boutique art film cinema.

[edit] Vista

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Vista Chareon Muang 2 Jareon Muang Road, Chiang Mai Vista is a movie-theater chain based in Chiang Mai.
Vista Kadsuankeaw 7 Central Kadsuankeaw, Chiang Mai Has English-soundtrack movies.
Vista 12 Huaykeaw 1 400 12 Huay Keaw Road, Chiang Mai Opposite Central Kadsuankeaw; has English-soundtrack movies.
Vista Thippanet 2 Thippanet Road, Chiang Mai

[edit] Others

Cinema Screens Seats Location Remarks
Century The Movie Plaza Phayathai Road Century The Movie Plaza is a multiplex theater that anchors a shopping center. It opened in 2005. It is located near the Skytrain's Victory Monument station.
Fairy Cineplex Fairy Plaza, Khon Kaen Sometimes has English-soundtrack films.
House 2 200 Royal City Avenue, Huai Khwang House is a boutique art film cinema on the third floor of the UMG RCA cinema in Bankgok. All films have English and Thai subtitles. The cinema has a cafe and a library lounge, where books and magazines about cinema can be browsed. The theater sometimes hosts special events and movie-preview parties. The ticket price for all seats is 100 baht.
Kosa Cineplex Khon Kaen
Prince IT City, Khon Kaen
Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre 1 66 Charoen Krung Road, Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon Sala Chalermkrung is Bangkok's oldest cinema and was the first air-conditioned theater in Thailand. Built on the order of King Prajadhipok and named by him, it was opened on July 2, 1933. It is the only theater from the first "golden age" of Thai cinema still standing. No longer regularly showing movies, the theater has recently been renovated and is principally used for Thai dance performances. [3]

[edit] See also

Portal:Thailand
 Thailand Portal

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Holland, Michael. Thai Culture: Movies (retrieved August 19, 2006)
  2. ^ Amnatcharoenrit, Bamrung (June 3, 2003), "Old-style glamour still sells", Bangkok Post via Siamfuture.com.
  3. ^ Chalermkrung Royal Theatre (Sala Chaloem Krung) in Bangkok, DiscoveryThailand.com (retrieved August 12, 2006).

[edit] External links

 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] Independent listings site

  • MovieSeer – Bilingual English and Thai has nationwide showtime listings, but is not always accurate. Confirm with the theater's individual website or telephone number to be sure.

[edit] Chain and theater sites

[edit] Other links

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