Box office bust? The show may be over for another Hong Kong cinema

Hong Kong could see another cinema shut down in a prime retail district after the management of IFC Mall began informally sounding out potential tenants for the roughly 20,000 sq ft (1,858 square metres) occupied by Palace IFC, whose lease expires at the end of the year, according to people familiar with the matter.Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), which manages the mall in Central, had been reaching out to select industry contacts to explore options as the struggling cinema business had generated weaker foot traffic, the people added.“With the space’s size and its position in the mall, it is less straightforward to find a domestic tenant, so they may need to explore overseas alternatives,” a property agent involved in the discussions said, adding that premium shopping centres in Hong Kong were always keen to bring in new names. No formal leasing appointment has been made.SHKP declined to comment. The mall is jointly owned by SHKP and Henderson Land.Palace IFC in IFC Mall. Overall box office revenue in Hong Kong fell 16 per cent year on year in 2025, the lowest level in 13 years and extending a multi-year decline. Photo: Jonathan WongPalace IFC is operated by Edko Films, a film distributor which also manages 13 cinemas and 77 screens in Hong Kong under the Broadway Circuit brand. The upscale Palace IFC has five screens and 544 seats. Edko did not respond to a request for comment.