Major Cineplex

Major Cineplex Group Public Co. Ltd. is the largest operator of movie theaters in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Combined with its subsidiary, EGV Entertainment, the company has 838 screens in 180 locations around Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Among its properties is Thailand's largest multiplex, the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon, with 16 screens and 5,000 seats, along with the IMAX theater. The second-largest chain in Thailand is SF Group.

History

Major Cineplex was founded by Vicha Poolvaraluk (or Poolvaraluck) in 1994. A member of a family with roots in the movie business (the family was involved in film studios as well as several single-screen theaters), Vicha started out in property development.

In 1992, he was asked by his father, Charoen Poolvaraluck, to take over the movie theater business. Vicha decided on a concept of large movie complexes that could offer a range of entertainment services, including not only movies, but also bowling alleys, karaoke rooms, restaurants and shopping. The first such complex opened in 1996 on Borommaratchachonnani Road (Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisri Road) in Pinklao, Bangkok. The 14-screen, 4,000-seat Major Cineplex Ratchayothin opened in 1998 and featured Thailand's first IMAX cinema. It was the company's flagship cinema complex until 2006, when Paragon Cineplex opened. Other early Major Cineplex theaters include branches at Ramkamheang and Sukhumvit.

In 2004, Major Cineplex absorbed Thailand's No 2 theater operator, EGV Entertainment, which was Thailand's first cineplex operator. EGV had been owned by a rival branch of the Poolvaraluck family, headed by Vicha Poolvaraluck's cousin, Wichai Poolvaraluck, who started EGV as a partnership with Golden Village.

Theaters

Major Cineplex

There are at least 19 Major Cineplex-branded theaters in Thailand, with the number expected to grow in the coming years. The company aims to increase its total number of screens to 500 (including EGV cinemas) by 2012. Major Cineplex's theaters range from shopping complexes, anchored by the cineplex, such as Major Cineplex Ratchayothin or Major Cineplex Sukhumvit, that include bowling alleys, fitness centers, restaurants and shops, to multiplexes that are part of larger shopping malls, such as the Bang Na or Rama III branches in Bangkok.

At the theaters themselves, there is a range of seating choices, including the luxury "Emperor" class, which is similar to EGV's "Gold Class" (see below), and "Opera", which provides a sofa-like seat, designed for couples.

In December 2006, the company debuted another flagship brand, the Esplanade Cineplex, consisting of 13 theaters and a 26-lane bowling alley at the Esplanade complex on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok's Din Daeng district.

EGV/Major Cinema

Thailand's first cineplex operator, EGV or Entertain Golden Village, was formed in 1993 by Wichai Poolworaluk's Entertain Theatres Network as a joint venture with Hong Kong's Golden Harvest and Australia's Village Roadshow (which formed Golden Village).

The first cineplex was opened in 1994 at Future Park Bangkae (present-day Seacon Bangkae). Other branches include the Grand EGV in Siam Discovery (opposite Siam Square) and the EGV Metropolis, which anchors a Big C shopping center on Ratchadamri Road in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok opposite CentralWorld.

Village Roadshow took over Golden Harvest's stake in 2000, and in 2002, Wichai bought out Village Roadshow's 50% interest. The company then merged with Major Cineplex in 2004, putting aside a rivalry within the Poolvaraluck family.

In 2019, Major Cineplex has replaced the former EGV brand with Major Cinema, which has been used to rebrand EGV branches.

EGV's theaters

Aside from its EGV-branded multiplexes, EGV has the following:
*Gold Class – Smaller theaters, located on existing EGV properties, with their own box offices. The screening rooms have around 50 seats, with heavily padded reclining chairs and valet food-and-drink service. Blankets, pillows and foot-warming stockings are provided. EGV was the pioneer in this concept of luxury movie-going in Thailand and it remains popular.
*D-Cine – Small, living-room-like theaters where customers can program their own DVD movie showings.
*Drive-In Café – A short-lived concept, this was tried in 2003 in an auditorium at EGV Seacon in Prawet district. Featuring a 1950s American drive-in theater motif, the audience sat in automobile-like restaurant booths and could be served hot dogs and hamburgers while they watched a movie.

Major

In 2024, when the Seacon Bangkae branch, which was then called "Grand EGV", was under renovation, Major Cineplex announced the name of the new branch using the first name "Bangkae Cineplex" before eventually changing the name to "Major Bangkae". In the following year, Major Cineplex decided to use the name "Major" as the sole brand to rebrand all Major Cineplex, Major Cinema and EGV branches to use the same name since April 2025 to make the brand as memorable as possible. The rebranding project began at Major Cineplex, Central Pinklao branch, under the name "Major Central Pinklao" as the first branch.

Paragon Cineplex

Opened in early 2006, Paragon Cineplex is on the fifth floor of the Siam Paragon shopping mall. With 16 screens and 5,000 seats, it is Thailand's largest movie theater location. It includes the 1,200-seat Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre as well as some smaller Honda Ultimate Screens with reclining seats. There is also the Enigma, a members-only cinema and the Thailand's second ScreenX theatre. It was firstly located at the Quartier CineArt.

IMAX

Thailand's second IMAX cinema is part of the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon. It was firstly located at the Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.

In 2024, Major Cineplex Group has 9 IMAX Theatres around Thailand. The locations with IMAX with Laser theatre are Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon, ICON Cineconic at Iconsiam, Quartier CineArt The EmQuartier Bangkok, Esplanade Cineplex Ngamwongwan-Khaerai, Bangkapi Cineplex at M Lifestore Bangkapi, Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, Major Cineplex CentralFestival Chiangmai, and Mega Cineplex at Central Mega Bangna which is the only IMAX with Laser theater that does not feature IMAX nXos 12.1 channel sound system. Finally, the IMAX digital theatre is Westgate Cineplex CentralPlaza WestGate which will upgrade to IMAX with Laser projection system in 2025.

Major Cineplex also operates IMAX Theater in Cambodia, it is a part of the Major Cineplex by SMART at AEON Mall Sen Sok.

In 2023, Major Cineplex and IMAX Corporation announced they would be opening 10 new IMAX with Laser locations around Thailand and Cambodia. This would be the biggest investment in IMAX system within Southeast Asia. The 10 locations include 5 upgrade locations that will transform IMAX Digital 2K Xenon projectors to laser projector. They will start with Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, and Quartier CineArt in 2023, Major Cineplex CentralFestival Chiangmai, and Westgate Cineplex in 2024, and finally, the Major Cineplex by SMART AEON Mall Sen Sok in 2025. A further 5 new installations will start with Esplanade Cineplex Ngamwongwan-Khae Rai in 2023, Bangkapi Cineplex at M Lifestore Bangkapi in 2024, and 3 more location which will be revealed within 2025 that will focus on prime and strategic locations.

Esplanade Cineplex

Opened in late 2006, Esplanade Cineplex is a forth installment of Major Cineplex specialty chain. It's located on the fifth floor of Central Esplanade Ratchada shopping mall in Dindeang district. With 12 screens, including 2 Cinema Galleries for showing the Experimental film, BSC Diamond Screens with reclining seats and Dolby Atmos cinema.

However, Major Cineplex has opened a second branch of Esplanade with brand using from Central Pattana in Nonthaburi Province called ''Esplanade Cineplex Ngamwongwan-Khaerai'', and serve Thailand's biggest and largest digital laser cinema theater "GLS: Giant Laser Screen" which the theater was converted to sixth branch of IMAX with Laser in November 2023. This branch also provide a same functional of Esplanade Ratchada except Dolby Atmos, and RealD 3D cinema system.

Mega Cineplex

The sixth installment of the Major Cineplex chain, exclusively built at Central Mega Bangna shopping mall in Samut Prakarn. It's designed in pixel and the Digital theme as the cinema is Thailand's first ''Digiplex'' that all 15 screens are equipped with the only Digital 4K projector, and RealD cinema system, and do not feature a 35-mm film projector in this branch. This brand also includes 4DX theatre, Thailand's third IMAX with Laser theatre, and Thailand's largest LED cinema screens powered by LG Miraclass Cinema System.

Quartier CineArt

The eighth installment of Major Cineplex chain, exclusively built in The EmQuartier Bangkok shopping mall. It is said to be a Thailand first CineArt concept. With 8 screen, including fourth branch of IMAX with Laser, Thailand first Laser Projector "AEON THEATRE @ QUARTIER", Dolby Atmos and RealD XL theatre, and 5 digital cinemas.

ICON Cineconic

The seventeenth installment of Major Cineplex chain, exclusively built in Iconsiam Bangkok shopping mall in 2018. It is said to be a Thailand first interracial standard concept and Thailand first laserplex. With 14 screens and 3,000 seats, ICON Cineconic cinemas are including The Iconic IMAX Theater-the first IMAX with Laser theater in Thailand that equipped by IMAX-Barco 2nd generation laser projector (the Commercial Laser; CoLa) and 12.1 channel IMAX nXos sound system, The Iconic VIP Screen-the 6 star theater, Cineconic Kids Cinema, Cineconic Living Cinema-a cinema-themed with living room concept that provide for group rental or event rental first, the Iconic 4DX theater, and 9 digital cinemas that equipped with laser projection system.

The "M" Cineplex Collection

In 2016, Major Cineplex has launched the "M" cineplex collection to regrouping the Major Cineplex specialty chain into one cinema group and refers to new boutique cinema concept. It's including all brand of Major Groups cinema except Paragon Cineplex, Esplanade Cineplex, Quartier CineArt, Icon Cineconic, and Mega Cineplex.

The "M" cineplex collection has an eleventh specialty cinema around Thailand. The chain brand's include:

* Hatyai Cineplex - Located in Central Hatyai shopping mall in Songkla. Designed in Crystal theme that related to shopping mall theme. This brand included Giant Laser Screen and 4DX theatres.
* WestGate Cineplex - Located in Central Westgate shopping mall. Designed in Digital Edge theme. This brand included IMAX with Laser, 4DX and Kids Cinema theatres.
* Promenade Cineplex - Located in The Promenade shopping mall. Designed in Classical theme. This brand included Giant Laser Screen, 4DX and Kids Cinema theatres.
* Eastville Cineplex - Located in Central Eastville shopping mall. Designed in English Garden cinema concept and provide the first eco-cineplex that belong to "Green Ville" concepts of shopping mall.
* Diana Cineplex - Located in Diana Hat Yai shopping mall in Songkla. Designed in Movie Relaxation theme.
* Ayutthaya City Park Cineplex - Located in Ayutthaya City Park shopping mall in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Designed in Movie Relaxation theme.
* Korat Cineplex - Located in The Mall Korat shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima. Designed in Digital Edge theme belong to WestGate Cineplex.
* Blúport Cineplex - Located in Blúport shopping mall in Huahin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Designed in Resort theme belong to Blúport.
* Seacon Cineplex - Located in Season Square Srinakarin shopping mall. Designed in Movie Relaxation theme.
* Si Racha Cineplex - Located in Central Si Racha shopping mall in Si Racha, Chonburi. Designed in Digital Oasis and Resort theme.
* Chanthaburi Cineplex - Located in Central Chanthaburi shopping mall in Chanthaburi. Designed in Digital Oasis theme.
* Westville Cineplex - Located in Central Westville shopping mall in Nonthaburi. It is to be first cinema hall that designed for low carbon and sustainability design. All materials used for decorate are recycled materials.
* Bangkapi Cineplex - Located in The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi shopping mall in Bangkapi. It was once garage of SF Cinema with major renovation surround remnant of old SF inside theaters except to newly IMAX with Laser and is now opened with 7 cinemas from previously 9 cinemas portion. This brand included Kids Cinema theatre.
* Nakhon Pathom Cineplex - Located in Central Nakhon Pathom shopping mall in Nakhon Pathom. Designed in Digital Oasis theme.

Other businesses

While movie theaters are Major Cineplex Group's core business, the company is heavily involved in the bowling alley, and the ice skating rink business, with a total of 245 lanes under its Blu-O brand. It also has 127 karaoke rooms, and 4 rinks under its Sub-Zero brand. The company also provide leases for retail space to outside tenants in its anchored shopping malls, it has total 48,828 sqm rental space in 2022.

The company has also invested in California WOW Xperience Plc. (SET: CAWOW), the leading fitness center operator in Thailand. California WOW Xperience has 10 branches: eight in Bangkok, and one each in Pattaya and Chiang Mai. The company established California WOW Xperience due to foreign ownership rules for the wholly owned Asian subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness, known as California Fitness. It has member swap agreements with both chains and holds a 36.75% stake in that venture. Consequently, California's Fitness Center branches are becoming part of Major Cineplex's developments.

However, the company sold all of its CAWOW stock before it was terminated by SET in 2011. CAWOW's business was completely shut down that year. In 2012, the Anti-Money Laundering Offices (ALMO) began investigating CAWOW's business and found that 99% of the business cash flow (1,669 million baht) had been transferred from CAWOW to other nominees by Eric Mark Levine, the CEO of CAWOW.{{cite web , url=https://www.marketthink.co/17935 , title=มหากาพย์ของ California Wow ที่ปั้นธุรกิจให้ดูรุ่งเรือง แล้วค่อยชิ่ง , date=24 August 2021 As a result, the business went bankrupt in 2013. The ALMO froze an 88-million-baht land plot in Phuket before it was transferred to a nominee, leading to a lawsuit between Eric and ALMO.

After the shutdown of CAWOW, the old CAWOW team and Major Cineplex formed a new fitness club business under the WE brand. The concept behind WE is that it will not accept new members once the member list exceeds their branch limits. Currently, WE Fitness has 7 locations around Bangkok and Nonthaburi provinces. The 5 clubs under WE Fitness Society are Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, Major Cineplex Sukhumvit-Ekkamai, Major Cineplex Pinklao, Central The Esplanade, and the Esplanade Cineplex Khaerai. Additionally, there are 2 premium clubs under WE Signature: MarketPlace J-Avenue Thonglor and the Vie Hotel Bangkok Ratchathewi.

Major Cineplex is also have a ticketing service, Major Ticketing, which sold advance bookings for movies, as well as other events. However, it was merged with BEC-TERO's Thaiticketmaster in 2007. The merged entity is called Thai Ticket Major. Later in 2023, Major Cineplex was sold the 20% stake in Thai Ticket Major to Ticketmaster Europe which 20% remains.

In 2008, Major Cineplex swapped 79.99% share in M Pictures Co. Ltd. with 146,920,114 shares or 40.81% in Traffic Corner Holdings Plc. (TRAF) at Bt1.84 per share, totaling Bt.270.3 million and subsequently renamed as M Pictures Entertainment Plc. (MPIC). M Pictures continued to co-owned with Major Cineplex until 2023 when the company is sold to popular musical artist, Khanngoen Nuanual.

References

External links

Major Cineplex corporate website
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EGV website
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Paragon Cineplex
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IMAX Thailand

Financial Statement Quarter 1/2006 (ZIP)
at the Stock Exchange of Thailand

Cinema chains in Thailand
Companies based in Bangkok
Mass media companies established in 1996
Companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
1996 establishments in Thailand
Thai brands