SPRING INTO THE SEASON WITH CINEMA FAVOURITES FROM SEASONS PAST

Throwback Cinema brings Taxi Driver and Matilda back to the big screen – with tickets only R50

There’s something about the arrival of spring that makes us want to shake off the old and embrace the new, but Ster-Kinekor is giving movie lovers a very good reason to look back as September gets underway.

This spring, the popular Throwback Cinema series invites audiences to revisit two very different cinematic favourites from seasons past, bringing them back to the big screen for a new generation – and, giving fans who remember them the chance to experience them all over again.

And, in true Throwback Cinema style, tickets are only R50.

September’s line-up opens with director Martin Scorsese’s iconic Taxi Driver, screening for two weeks from 04 September, before making way for the much-loved family favourite Matilda, which releases for two weeks from 18 September, and in time for the short 3^rd term school holiday break.

“Whether it’s a film that shaped your love of cinema, one you haven’t seen for years, or a classic you’ve only ever heard about, Throwback Cinema offers the opportunity to rediscover these movies where they belong: on the big screen,” says Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer of Ster-Kinekor.

Taxi Driver – 50 years of an unforgettable cinema classic

Marking 50 years since its original 1976 release, Taxi Driver remains one of the defining films of American cinema, and one of the landmark collaborations between director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro.

De Niro stars as Travis Bickle, a lonely and troubled Vietnam veteran who works the night shift as a taxi driver on the streets of New York. Haunted by insomnia and increasingly alienated from the city around him, Travis becomes obsessed with the idea of cleansing what he sees as the corruption and decay of the streets. His increasingly disturbing worldview draws him towards an attempted political assassination and, ultimately, towards the rescue of Iris, a 12-year-old girl played by a young Jodie Foster. The film also stars Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Albert Brooks and Peter Boyle.

Directed by Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, Taxi Driver won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. For audiences who know the famous lines, the iconic moody score and the unforgettable image of De Niro behind the wheel, this is a chance to see the film that helped define a cinematic era on the big screen once again.

Matilda – 30 years of Dahl-inspired magic

From dark psychological drama to childhood magic, the September Throwback Cinema line-up takes a delightful turn with Matilda, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.

Based on the much-loved book by Roald Dahl, Matilda was first released in 1996 and was directed by Danny DeVito, who also stars as Matilda’s neglectful father, Harry Wormwood.

The film stars Mara Wilson as the exceptionally bright and independent Matilda, alongside Rhea Perlman as her mother, South African-born actress Embeth Davidtz as her kind-hearted teacher Miss Honey, and Pam Ferris as the terrifyingly strict school principal Miss Trunchbull.

Matilda is a gifted young girl who finds comfort and escape in books while dealing with a family who fails to appreciate her extraordinary intelligence. When she discovers that she has telekinetic powers, she begins to realise that she may have the ability to stand up for herself – and for the friends around her – against the formidable Miss Trunchbull.

Full of Dahl’s trademark blend of eccentric characters, wicked humour, imagination and heart, Matilda has become a much-loved family classic that continues to resonate with audiences who grew up with it – while introducing new generations to its magical world. The timing is particularly fitting, as its release follows the celebration of Roald Dahl Day on 13 September.

A spring date at the movies

From the gritty streets of 1970s New York to the wonderfully strange world of Crunchem Hall, September’s Throwback Cinema line-up proves that great movies never go out of season.

“Throwback Cinema is about giving audiences the opportunity to experience, or re-experience, films that have become part of our collective cinema memories,” says Wylie. “September gives us two very different films, but both are wonderful examples of movies that have stayed with audiences long after their original release. And at R50 a ticket, there’s every reason to make a cinema date this spring.”

So, as the days get longer and spring gets into full swing, make space for a little nostalgia. Bring your friends, bring the family, introduce someone to a classic they’ve never seen – or, simply settle into a cinema seat and enjoy an old favourite all over again.

Bookings for September Throwback Cinema titles are now open. Screenings take place at the following Ster-Kinekor sites: Sandton, Mall of Africa, Cedar Square, Eastgate, Cresta and Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg; Brooklyn, Irene and The Grove in Tshwane; Vaal in Vanderbijlpark; MooiRivier Mall in Potchefstroom; Watercrest Mall in Waterfall, KZN; Baywest in Gqeberha; Somerset Mall in Somerset West; and Blue Route, V&A Waterfront, and Capegate in Cape Town.

Book on the Ster-Kinekor website at www.sterkinekor.com or download the 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).

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ENDS

Issued by:                                            aHead PR                                                      

On behalf of:                                       Ster-Kinekor Theatres                                                                      

For media information:                    Janet de Kretser                                                 

Tel:                                                       083 973 3531

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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 32 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa that house 249 large-scale screens, with 33 110 seats and the largest 3D footprint featuring 99 state-of-the-art 3D screens in South Africa (Commercial, 3D, IMAX, Kids Cinema and Cine Prestige). 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 nine 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 seven 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