More Trouble For The Box Office: Kedahan Cinemas Cease Operations Until Next Monday

IN mourning of the passing of Almarhumah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Hajah Raudzah binti Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah Darul Aman, cinemas in Kedah has been closed from the 22nd until the 28th September.

According to Cinema Online, Kedahan theatres that will not be operating during this period include GSC Amanjaya Mall, MBO Alor Star Mall, MBO Kulim Landmark Central and MBO Central Square. LFS City Plaza dan Grand Cineplex Village Mall are also expected to follow suit, but have not confirmed their participation.

However,  Jitra Mall Cineplex and Mega Cineplex Langkawi will continue its operation as usual.

Local cinemas have been struggling this year, with no film coming close to 2014’s The Journey in terms of box office takings, although the recent release of cop blockbuster Police Evo has resuscitated hope in the local film industry. This year’s top three box office winners are Mandarin-language family drama My Papa Rich, made-as-a-telefilm-but-sent-to-the-silver screen Suamiku, Encik Perfect 10! and Syafiq Yusof‘s Villa Nabila.

In a year filled with many high-profile films, only four have managed to collect more than RM2,000,000 prior to the month of September. The surprising failures of well-reviewed movies such as Nota and Jejak Warriors have struck fear that the local film industry is losing the trust of audience members who are tired with formulaic horror/comedies and poor scripts.

Among local films whose box office takings could be affected by this move include new releases Jwanita and Girlfriend Kontrak. Jwanita, Osman Ali‘s highly-anticipated eighth film, marks his second attempt at the horror genre. It stars highly popular, award-winning actors Maya Karin, Bront Palarae and Cristina Suzanne. We published a short review yesterday after managing to catch a pre-release screening.

Girlfriend Kontrak meanwhile stars popular television actors Risteena Munim (“Playboy” Itu Suami Aku…) and Keith Foo (Dia… Isteri Luar Biasa) with support from Bront Palarae and Mustapha Kamal, and is a romantic comedy by Virginia Kennedy.

Commonly known as Tunku Hajah Raudzah, Kedah’s Raja Puan Muda passed away due to an unspecified illness at the ripe old age of 86 at 10:15am on Monday, Bernama reports. She was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum.