Magical Movies, Shared Moments And Big Screen Experiences Await With Ster-Kinekor This Festive Season

There is only one place to go for a full-on festive season experience that is filled with shared moments, big screen emotions and unforgettable movie magic. As the holiday season arrives, after a long, tough year, Ster-Kinekor is inviting South Africans to rediscover the magic of shared movie moment.

People are really looking forward to the welcome end of year break. To celebrate this special time with family, friends and loved ones, Ster-Kinekor is inviting everyone to come and celebrate everything we all love about going to the cinema: the nostalgia, the excitement, that shared connection, and the magical movie moments that only happen when the lights dim and the story begins to play out on the big screen.

The cinema is a special experience, made more special by watching a big blockbuster in any one of the country’s leading cinema chain’s exclusive formats. For the youngsters, there is the bright and colourful Kids’ Cinema to keep them entertained – and give the parents a break, to the immersive IMAX experience with unmatched picture and sound quality, and the uber-luxurious Cine Prestige experience for that special date night or family reunion. Whether it’s your child’s first big-screen adventure, a laugh shared with friends, or a heart-stopping IMAX moment, Ster-Kinekor is where shared memories are made.

IT'S A SUMMER OF FUN ON THE BIG SCREEN

Families – and especially younger viewers – can look forward to a packed holiday line-up filled with colour, imagination, and delight. They are spoilt for choice with five fabulous, fantasy titles screening over the long summer break. Already showing on the big screen is Zootropolis 2. After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia's history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find their partnership isn't as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counselling programme.

More animal adventures join in the holiday fun with the release of Pets On A Train now on circuit. When a train unexpectedly starts up, taking only pets with it, the animals discover that Hans, a badger with a grudge is behind it all.

From 19 December, we leave the animals behind as we meet David in a giant musical adventure. In a kingdom torn by fear and corruption, a shepherd boy is called to stand against a giant and the darkness behind him. With nothing but faith, courage, and a sling, he defies an empire and awakens the heart of a nation. From the quiet hills of Bethlehem to the roar of the battlefield, his journey will shape kings, test hearts, and reveal that the greatest strength is found in trust, not power.

One of our favourite cartoon characters makes his return to the big screen with The Spongebob Movie: The Search for Squarepants, releasing on 26 December, in which SpongeBob travels to the depths of the ocean and faces off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman.

Added to the excitement around the release of the film is the chance to meet the movie’s characters with the Spongebob and crew costume tour visiting select Ster-Kinekor cinemas across the country, including Tygervalley and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Mall of Africa and Eastgate in Johannesburg, and The Grove in Tshwane, from 26 December to 11 January.

And, the fun and games don’t end there. Join Tom and Jerry as they set off an exciting new adventure in Tom & Jerry: Forbidden Campus, releasing on 02 January to bring in the new year. The iconic cat-and-mouse duo accidentally travel through time in a museum. Along their journey, they meet a group of intriguing new companions and become involved in a final showdown with mysterious forces.

While all the kids' movies will be playing in select cinemas across the country, the younger kids will love the experience of enjoying the film in the fun-filled Kids’ Cinema spaces that feature their own foyer area with activity tables and catering counter, brightly coloured beanbag seats (with bigger seats at the back!), and a slide and ball pool.

The Kids’ Cinemas can be found at Ster-Kinekor Sandton City, Fourways Mall, The Zone @ Rosebank, Carnival City and Irene in Gauteng, and at Blue Route, V&A Waterfront and Capegate in Cape Town. To boost the fun factor, select Kids’ Cinema sites will host exclusive competitions and promotions. And, there’s the chance to win a private Kids’ Cinema birthday screening party for any kids’ title screening in 2026, by booking tickets to view any three of the five festive titles until 11 January 2026, giving young moviegoers an extra three reasons to visit their favourite cinema.

PREMIUM CINEMA MOMENTS WITH IMAX & CINE PRESTIGE

IMAX: Go Big or Go Home

With its breathtaking scale and immersive surround-sound, IMAX promises some of this season’s most electrifying cinematic moments. The much-anticipated Avatar: Fire & Ash has its big screen IMAX release from 17 December. In the wake of the devastating war against the RDA and the loss of their eldest son, Jake Sully and Neytiri face a new threat on Pandora: the Ash People. For audiences seeking a sensory, larger-than-life holiday outing, this title promises to be an unforgettable IMAX spectacle.

Cine Prestige: Where Luxury Meets the Movies

For those wanting to indulge, Cine Prestige offers cinema lovers a sophisticated big-screen escape, featuring plush red leather recliners, stylish private lounges, and gourmet catering delivered directly to your seat. It’s the perfect experience for festive date nights, special outings, or year-end treats.

ADDITIONAL FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS

Beyond the family blockbusters and premium-format titles, Ster-Kinekor’s holiday slate includes a variety of other crowd-pleasers across different genres. The Housemaid, releasing on 19 December, follows Millie, a struggling woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina and Andrew, an upscale, wealthy couple. However, she soon learns that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.

Song Sung Blue, from 26 December, is based on a true story, and follows two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams – a heartfelt musical drama with broad appeal and ideal as a festive feel-good watch. Releasing on the same day is Anaconda, in which a group of friends facing mid-life crises head to the rainforest with the intention of remaking their favourite movie from their youth, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives.

For ballet lovers, don’t miss the Paris Opera Ballet’s beautiful production of The Nutcracker screening at select cinemas from 20 December, and perfect for the festive season. One Christmas Eve, young Clara is given an inanimate puppet, a nutcracker. Holding it in her arms, she falls asleep and dreams of a fantasy world where toys come to life. Surrounded by toy soldiers, rats, and oversized dolls, and guided by the Nutcracker Prince, Clara confronts her desires and fears.

The festive season is the perfect time for audiences to share magical movie moments and celebrate the holidays the Ster-Kinekor way – with laughter, wonder, luxury, adventure, and the joy of being together.

Cinemagoers can also make the most of the loyalty programmes on offer from Discovery Vitality and Edgars Club for great value, while The Epic Deal for SK Club members (free sign-up) gets you a movie ticket, drink and popcorn for just R149,90 between Mondays and Fridays.

And, if it’s your kid’s birthday during the holidays, why not host the party at your favourite Ster-Kinekor cinema? The kids’ birthday party package on offer includes movie tickets and catering, making it an ideal venue for that special celebration.

If you’re in Joburg, and you need to spend some energy, why not try out the newly launched SKX-PERIENCE Powered by Jozi X at The Zone in Rosebank. This indoor adventure hub offers activities including axe throwing, gel blaster, splatter room and escape room, adding a new interactive dimension to the Ster-Kinekor entertainment experience.

Catch all your favourite holiday movies and shared moment experiences at Ster-Kinekor. Book your tickets now on the new-look website at www.sterkinekor.com or download the new-look SK App on your smartphone.  For news and updates, go to Facebook: Ster-Kinekor Theatres | follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter: @Ster-Kinekor. For all queries, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).

#DoMoviesRight   #sterkinekor   #KidsCinema   #schoolisout   #holidaytimeismovietime   #BigSKreen   #sharemoments

ENDS

Issued by:                                             aHead PR                                                      

On behalf of:                                        Ster-Kinekor Theatres                                                               

For media information:                     Janet de Kretser                                                 

Tel:                                                         083 973 3531

E-mail:                                                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Ster-Kinekor Theatres

Ster-Kinekor Theatres is the largest movie exhibitor on the African continent. To most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name ‘Ster-Kinekor’. The company operates 33 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa that house 255 large-scale screens, with 33,951 seats and the largest 3D footprint featuring over 100 state-of-the-art 3D screens in South Africa (Commercial, 3D, IMAX, Kids Cinema, Cine Prestige, and DBox). It also operates four cinema complexes in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, with 23 screens and 3,014 seats.

As the industry leader, Ster-Kinekor has pioneered cinema concepts such as Cinema Nouveau, a dedicated art-house multiplex cinema, and the luxurious Cine Prestige theatres, the first ‘business class’ cinema experience in South Africa; and has headed the return of the IMAX® Experience, with eight IMAX® Theatres across the country. Ster-Kinekor has expanded its cinema innovation to launch the first Kids’ Cinema complete with slides and bean bag seating (currently six screens) as well as D-BOX which brings movie experiences to life with motion seats. Most recently, Ster-Kinekor introduced SKX-PERIENCE Powered by Jozi X at The Zone in Rosebank, an indoor adventure hub offering axe throwing, gel blaster, splatter room and escape rooms, adding a new dimension to the Ster-Kinekor entertainment experience.

As one of South Africa’s most loved brands, it is Ster-Kinekor’s ongoing mission to become synonymous with the unrivalled magic of the cinema experience, by providing ‘Great Moments at Their Greatest’. During 2013, the company embarked on a massive roll-out project to convert and equip every cinema with the very latest in digital projection and sound technology. The result of this upgrade is that every cinema now boasts state-of-the-art cinema technology that encompasses 2K and 4K digital projection and 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems.

The SK Club loyalty programme rewards members with redeemable points when they swipe their card when buying movie tickets or catering, as well as half-price tickets on Tuesdays. Combined with industry-leading loyalty programmes from Edgars Club and Discovery Vitality, these give Ster-Kinekor a strong consumer value proposition and competitive advantage. Ster-Kinekor has extended its loyalty offering to include the first subscription model in South Africa: SK Subscription Club, which offers members a limited or unlimited number of movies per month at a set cost whilst also enjoying the benefits of SK Club.

As the market leader, Ster-Kinekor aims to spearhead the advancement of cinema across both South Africa and the rest of Africa, to ensure that consumers continue to experience movies as they were made to be seen – on the big screen.

See more at: www.sterkinekor.com