South Africa’s cinema landscape is undergoing major change as Ster-Kinekor relinquishes several of its prime cineplex locations – and rival Nu Metro moves swiftly to take them over.
Among the most notable takeovers this year came at Durban’s Gateway Theatre of Shopping, formerly Ster-Kinekor’s flagship site, which Nu Metro reopened on 3 October 2025.
Theatre closures
The reshuffle follows Ster-Kinekor’s exit from business rescue two years ago and a wave of retrenchments and theatre closures in 2024.
While the company said it managed to limit job losses, it has continued shutting down sites in recent months.
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In June, Ster-Kinekor closed its Cavendish Square cinema in Claremont, Cape Town, after announcing the move six months earlier.
Meanwhile, its Bedford Square complex in Bedfordview also shut down in March.
Both were later taken over by Nu Metro.
Shrinking screens nationwide
South Africa’s two largest cinema chains have together lost roughly a third of their movie theatres over the past decade.
In 2015, Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro operated 76 cinema complexes nationwide. At the time of publishing, only 51 remained, marking a 33% overall decline.
Ster-Kinekor’s footprint has shrunk from 55 multiplexes and 400 screens in 2015 to 34 cinemas, a 38% reduction.
Nu Metro has fared slightly better, dropping from 21 to 17 locations over the same period – a decline of 19%.
Ster-Kinekor once operated six theatres elsewhere in Africa, but now retains only two in Namibia.
| Cinema | 2015 sites | 2025 sites | Change | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ster-Kinekor | 55 | 34 | -21 | -38% |
| Nu Metro | 21 | 17 | -4 | -19% |
| Total | 76 | 51 | -25 | -33% |
Ster-Kinekor’s comeback attempt
Despite its shrinking footprint, Ster-Kinekor is staging a comeback, introducing new offerings to entice audiences back to the big screen.
The company’s Throwback Cinema series, launched in May 2024, screens classic films at a discounted R50 per ticket – a move that has helped drive attendance.
This year, Ster-Kinekor has seen record attendance for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and the live-action Lilo & Stitch, while Imax screenings have doubled compared to any previous year.
As the country’s two leading chains adjust to a changing entertainment landscape – shaped by streaming, shifting consumer habits, and post-pandemic economics – the race to capture the South African box office audience remains as fierce as ever.
