[2025.05.27] THE CLOSURE OF GRAND OCENA CINEAM LEAVES TIN KAI MAN WITH A MOVIE RELEASE HEADACHE

Tin Kai Man speaks to Poon Siu Chung and expresses reluctance and regret about the closing of Grand Ocean cinema

A line appears at the Grand Ocean box office

Mr. Ho laments the loss of a landmark as Grand Ocean closes

Ms. Leung and Ms. Tsang visit Grand Ocean together
courtesy of on.cc

Tsim Sha Tsui's Grand Ocean Cinema has been open for 56 years but announced that it will close on June 2nd due to the expiration of its lease, becoming the fifth cinema to announce its closure this year after Sunbeam Cinema in North Point, New Port Cinema in Mong Kok, Golden Harvest Whampoa and Tai Koo Kornhill Cinema. Senior filmmaker Tin Kai Man recently spoke with Poon Siu Chung on his online program and mentioned the closure of the Grand Ocean Cinema. He expressed reluctance and pity, with many memories professionally and personally there. He revealed that a new film would be released in Golden Harvest Cinemas. Grand Ocean was the Golden Harvest's dragon head cinema. Now with the dragon head, he had quite a headache.

Tin Kai Man said that he worked at Golden Harvest for a long time, filmed in the Grand Ocean Cinema, had many premieres at this cinema and many memories. Regarding the closure of the theater one after another, Tin Kai Man said, "I can tell everyone, it's almost over; maybe a few more. The decline should be settled this year! There are also new additions, Sunbeam has taken over Whampoa, and Plaza Hollywood has both taken over Sil-Metropole, so everyone should be so negative."

The Grand Ocean Cinema released the Hollywood film MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING yesterday, and different screenings throughout the day had the support of many people. A line appeared at the box office. Mr. Ho said that he learned of the closure of the Grand Ocean Cinema and came to the theater to show his support. "This cinema has a very big screen, when I was younger I often came to watch movies. I remember watching ROCKY the most, and I think it is a pity to see its closing. This is a landmark. When I was little I don't have money for tickets to watch movies. After graduation and I started working I had money and often came to watch movies, I would come on dates many times." He said that as a movie fan, it was a pity to see so many theater closings in Hong Kong. Now he admired the Broadway Cinematheque in Yau Ma Tei the most, as it often showed movies that were too mainstream. "Actually there are a lot less good movies now, but in recent years many Hong Kong movies are very good; especially young directors'. I would watch every one. Instead the Marvel movies in the United States have been ruined, I haven't been watching many of them."

Ms. Leung and her friend Ms. Tsang were going to the Grand Ocean Cinema together. Originally they planned to see BALLERINA at the Grand Ocean once it would be released, but they did not expect it to close before the release. Ms. Leung said, "I still have a glimmer of hope, it's truly a pity. I really think that only these big screen theaters would be worthy of this kind of blockbuster." Both of them said that they used to go to the Grand Ocean to watch movies all the time. They were shocked to hear the news of the closure, and felt that they had lost something in an era. They agreed that the film market was very poor, but last year they supported several Hong Kong films at the theaters. They watched THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK) and TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) and indicated that they would not mind watching good movies again and again.

Married for more than 20 years, Mr. and Mrs Choi specifically bought tickets to reminisce about the feelings from when they were dating. Mrs. Choi said, "When I learned that the cinema would be closing, I felt that it is a bit of a pity. Hong Kong has already lost many of its big theaters." Mr. and Mrs. Cheng live on Hong Kong Island district but after learning the closing of the Grand Ocean they crossed the harbor to show their support. Mrs. Cheng said, "There are very few cinemas with such a big screen nowadays. Although this cinema is closed, it is not a pity because there are still many cinemas to choose from."