Forget ordinary movie dates at any of the big cinema chains in town – those have been done to death. Besides, sometimes you just want something special to spice up your love life. So the next time you feel like catching a flick, romance your partner with a picturesque evening in Sentosa or go the casual route with a relaxed screening on a CBD rooftop. Alternatively, instead of another round of Netflix and chill, there’s always the roving movie pop-ups that screen films at public spaces and local landmarks across the country.
Browse through the list below for suggestions.
Be My Kaki Bus
Nudge your significant other over to a PG13 affair in your heartland ‘hood for a glimpse of the elusive “kampong spirit” among neighbors as they gather around the screen. Showing films at parks, common public areas, and town centres across the island, Be My Kaki Bus is a weekly event that spotlights family-friendly movies including cartoons, animated tales, and popular box office hits. The best part is, you don’t even have to get all dressed up to hang out in your neighborhood.
Films at the Fort
One of the original annual open-air cinema concepts, Films at the Fort has been through five editions at Fort Canning Park, always with a solid movie line-up padded by gourmet grub. Just imagine an evening under the glittering night sky, engaging in a cuddlefest on a picnic mat and sipping on a glass of red while watching stories unfold in front of your eyes. Date night doesn’t get any more perfect than that.
MovieMob
The roving cinema pops up pretty regularly across Singapore – from Singapore Art Museum and the Botanic Gardens to Viva Business Park and Marina Bay – to screen mostly commercial blockbusters along the lines of Zootopia, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Wonder Woman, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It even organizes the occasional drive-in movie screening, for couples who like their film-watching experience to come with a tinge of nostalgia for the good old days.
Movies by the Beach
Sentosa’s free weekly outdoor movie series happens every Tuesday (see Popcorn Movie Nights below), Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Palawan Green by Beach Station. Each week focuses on titles from different countries, with Chinese, Malay, Hindi, Tagalog, and Thai classics and blockbusters projected on the makeshift screen. The vibe’s pretty chill and easygoing here, so feel free to pack along a picnic basket for a little weekend evening alfresco dining.
Peroni Sunset Cinema
If you missed out on the festival’s debut at Tanjong Beach last year, fret not, for the open-air cinema is set to return with more booze, bites, and beats. So expect once again to glimpse oh-so-romantic tropical sunsets and watch award-winning flicks with the cool night breeze (and the arms of your partner) enveloping you. Details on dates and programmes have yet to be released, but you can sign up for the mailing list if you’d like to be the first in line for tickets before they’re all sold out.
Popcorn Movie Nights
Hosted by local movie app Popcorn, this weekly screening takes place at Sentosa until April this year, with easy-on-the-eyes flicks such as Thor: The Dark World, The Secret Life of Pets, and Transformers: The Last Knight on the calendar. It may be a Tuesday affair, but that’s just a good opportunity for you to unwind earlier in the week – stroll hand-in-hand to Palawan Green as sunset tunes serenade you, then get cozy once the sky darkens and munch on popcorn, pizzas, and burgers while you feast your eyes on the screen.
Singapore Open Air Cinema Club
Each month, co-working space the Hive welcomes movie buffs on its rooftop to watch everything from indie arthouse pictures to cult classics. With the wind in your hair and the CBD skyline as a backdrop, it’s just the place for a casual movie date. For a taste of what to expect, previous screenings include films like Blood Diamond, Lion, The Breakfast Club, and Spirited Away.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2018, but the Coconuts crew is bringing it back from the archives since the information it contains remains relevant and useful. Rest assured, we’ve reviewed and updated it to make sure this oldie but goodie will still serve you well.
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