Hongkongers rush to snag HK$30 movie tickets ahead of Cinema Day

Hongkongers have flocked to movie theatres to snag HK$30 (US$3.90) tickets for the city’s annual Cinema Day, with some eager fans arriving as much as four hours in advance, while long queues of more than 10,000 are also waiting online.

Dozens of film-goers were already queuing outside an Emperor Cinema branch at shopping centre iSquare in Tsim Sha Tsui before tickets were sold out at noon on Wednesday.

Cinema Day, organised by the Hong Kong Theatres Association, is set to return on May 10.

Like the past two editions of the events, residents can purchase movie tickets, even VIP offerings, for just HK$30.

Hospital worker Maymay Chu was the first person in line at the cinema in Tsim Sha Tsui, where she said she hoped to purchase VIP tickets for a screening of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*.

“The seats at this cinema are very comfortable,” she said. “For HK$30, you can buy tickets for the VIP showing at the cinema that usually cost around HK$200. I wanted to try it out, so I came here today.”

“If it wasn’t for that, I would not have come all the way here to queue; movie tickets are HK$30 everywhere else,” the 50-year-old said, adding that she had been standing in line since 8am.