Cinema is expected to attract even bigger audience numbers, thanks to a fantastic line up of flicks including sequels such as Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Avengers: Endgame and the surprise return of Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 4.

Captain Marvel starring Brie Larsen, was eagerly awaited by the growing number of fans dedicated to the Marvel Universe and superhero films…(ahem) us included of course.

The Lion King, Aladdin, and Hobbs & Shaw are similarly expected to draw big crowds.

Globally, cinema is still seeing strong growth; PWC’s 2017 – 2021 Entertainment & Media Outlook predicts that cinema attendance will reach 21.6 million by 2021, suggesting that the medium is undaunted by the rise of streaming services.

“It’s not a case of people choosing between using streaming services or going to the movies,” says Chief of Sales, Motheo Matsau. “Research (for example, a recent study by Ernst & Young’s Quantitative Economics and Statistics group) has shown that they do both. Watching films on the big screen fulfils a different need – whether it’s meeting with friends or entertaining children, going to the cinema remains a preferred form of entertainment.

“Ster-Kinekor capitalises on this by emphasizing the experience of seeing a film – from the biggest screens to top quality visuals and sound. This is also why we have invested in D-Box, IMAX and Cine Prestige theatres, all of which further differentiate the experience of streaming content at home and heading out for a movie.”

If anything this perfectly proves that cinema and streaming services can co exist despite the huge competition. We for ones are dedicated to both as previously shown and it seems there won’t be any change soon which is great news for all that subscribe to content using either or both outlets.

Hold on before you get ahead of yourself and think you will be in charge of pouring your own “bottomless” drink, and eating popcorn until you’re full and then filling it up a few times before even starting the movie. Think a little more technologically. How long does it really take you to go to a movie, get your tickets, waiting in line after line? Ster-Kinekor have come up with a revolutionary, custom designed system to provide an easy and time saving way to reduce the amount of time wasted in long cue’s by subconsciously helping everyone decide what they want in a more speedy fashion by providing them with the power of choice, one touch screen at a time.

With the help of the well-spoken and friendly staff at each terminal there is no need to panic. If you are movie goer who hasn’t quite “kept with the times” or feel that you and the new age of technology just don’t get along, the staff will assist you. With or without the complaints, the inevitably growing demand from audiences continuing to visit cinemas to watch the latest releases is getting greater and greater. However, Ster-Kinekor has decided to make going to the movies feel effortless, amazing and as simple as counting to one, two and three. Step one: you get to the cinema and go to the ticket terminal to purchase your ticket then move on to the snack terminal. Step two: you select what you would like and then receive a printed coded slip. You walk over to the Snack bar, scan your encoded slip and the clerk receives it on a screen and starts preparing your order. Step 3: after throwing some flavours on your popcorn and claiming a straw, you scan your ticket and in you go.

Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres has stated “When we introduced our unique self-service ticket terminals more than eight years ago, we noticed an immediate and significant reduction in queue times for our customers. We are hopeful that the catering terminals will have as great an impact in offering our customers a seamless experience when buying their tickets and snacks, before entering the cinema to sit back and enjoy the latest blockbuster on the big screen”. Ster-Kenikor does not seize to amaze as they provide the very latest in digital projector technology with surround sound speaker quality, eight state-of-the-art cinemas and seats you wish you had in your lounge. The cinema house includes two 3D-ready screens with that “produce a larger-than-life format”. A statement with which I heartily agree.

There is a certain type of expectation I have when going into a cinema and the Ster-Kinekor at Thorn Hill Mall not only lives up to that expectation, but is leading the way in setting new standards which put it ahead of other cinemas available at the moment