These Are the Movies That Are Available to Watch in Cinemas During the Long CNY 2021 Weekend

Chinese New Year will look very different in 2021.

Aside from the fact that we can’t shout the usual auspicious phrase during lohei, we can only receive 8 distinct guests per day, so our reunion dinners will be a lot smaller than usual.

Plus, with house visits limited to just two a day, we might have a lot more free time.

Since we binged enough shows on Netflix for a lifetime last year, it’d be nice to head out with our favourite people to the cinema to catch a new flick.

If you’re thinking of doing just that over the long weekend, here are all the available movies you can watch.

Promising Young Woman

This is probably one movie you don’t want to bring the kids for.

A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who wronged her.

Starring Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman is a deliciously twisted tale of revenge.

The Diam Diam Era Two 

Jack Neo fans will likely have seen the first instalment in the Diam Diam series which was released last year.

Set in the 80s, the movie depicts the frenzy around the 1988 general elections in Singapore with beloved characters Ah Kun, Osman, and Shamugam forming a political party – C.M.I – to run for office.

The film stars Mark Lee, Henry Thia, and Suhaimi Yusof.

Tom & Jerry

Unless you somehow skipped straight to adulthood after your birth, you’ve probably seen a few episodes of Tom & Jerry.

An adaption of the classic cartoon, Tom & Jerry (2021) reveals how the two first met and formed their rivalry.

The live-action movie is voiced by stars such as Chloe Grace Moretz, Colin Jost, and Michael Pena.

If you’re thinking of bringing the whole family out for a movie, this would be the perfect one.

Soul 

Disney-Pixar films rarely disappoint, and Soul is no exception.

After landing the gig of a lifetime, a New York jazz pianist suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife.

The film explores the existential problems of life, and takes a modern view of the existence of the soul.

Stand By Me Doraemon 2

You probably already know about this one, but I’m going to tell you all about it anyway.

Based on the Doraemon manga series, Stand By Me Doraemon 2 is the sequel to 2014’s Stand By Me Doraemon.

Consumed with despair after finding a hand-sewn teddy bear made for him by his late, beloved grandmother, Nobita decides to travel to the past to see her one more time.

Unbeknownst to him, however, this is where he’ll encounter a little robot cat named Doraemon. Their meeting makes Nobita question many of his decisions in the future, such as marrying his lover.

Do note that this movie is only screened in Golden Village cinemas.

The Little Things

Love a good crime thriller? Well, The Little Things should be right up your alley.

Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon, played by Denzel Washington, is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment.

Instead, he ends up teaming up with Sergeant Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing the city.

This one is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dragon Rider

Love dragons but hate Game of Thrones? Then this fantasy film might be your best bet for the weekend.

The film charts the journey of a young silver dragon who follows a mountain spirit and an orphaned boy on their quest to find the Rim of Heaven in the Himalayas.

Monster Hunter 

Fans of the video game Monster Hunter will be lining up to see this one, as the movie is based on the beloved Capcom game.

To their horror, Lt Artemis and her loyal soldiers are transported from our world to one ruled by dangerous and powerful monsters who are rather protective of their territory.

In order to survive, Artemis teams up with a mysterious hunter who has found a way to deal with these beasts.

Demon Slayer – Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train

Based on the shōnen manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotōge, this film is a direct sequel to the 2019 anime television series.

After his family was brutally murdered and his sister turned into a demon, a youth embarks on a journey to slay every demon in his path. His mission begins aboard the Mugen Train, on track to despair.

Shock Wave 2

When a bomb went off unexpectedly during a police operation to disarm it, one unlucky bomb disposal officer got caught in the blast and lost one of his legs.

Years later, the police suspect the same officer, who was found in a coma at the spot of a terrorist bombing attack, of being involved in several other bombing attacks in the past two years.

Starring Andy Lau, this Hong Kong-Chinese action film is the second instalment in the Shock Wave series.

The Room

Please do not confuse this with 2003’s The Room, which was written, produced, and directed by Tommy Wiseau.

That film, which may be one of the worst films ever produced, has nothing to do with this mystery drama.

In the movie, a couple discovers a strange room in an isolated house that they just purchased.

The room grants them an unlimited number of material wishes, but since the woman has had two miscarriages, what they want most is a child.

Wonder Woman 1984

Haven’t seen Marvel’s latest blockbuster yet? Well, fortunately for you, the film is still screening over the long weekend.

Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, finds herself in the 1980s living among mortals who have no idea about her true identity.

Initially, her toughest task is fitting in with these people, but she will soon have to go head to head with Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.

Endgame

This is not the blockbuster Avengers movie but rather a Chinese-Hong Kong action black comedy starring Andy Lau.

Down on his luck, a miserable actor decides to take his own life, but before doing so, visits a bathhouse.

There, he accidentally causes a man to slip and fall into a deep coma, and in that moment, switches places with him.

Unfortunately for him, that man happens to be an assassin.

New Year Blues

Unless you’re Jeff Bezos, you probably felt pretty down at the beginning of 2021.

The only consolation is that everyone else did too. 

Indulge in this Korean melodrama which details the twists and turns of the lives of four lovers who must each overcome different fears and problems as they face the beginning of a new year.

Anti-Life

If you look up “action movie” in the dictionary, you’ll probably see Bruce Willis’ face.

Even though he’s 65 years old, the veteran actor is playing the lead in the high octane sci-fi action film Anti-Life. 

Also called Breach, the film follows a junior mechanic aboard an interstellar ark to New Earth as he tries to outwit an evil cosmic terror intent on using the spaceship as a weapon.

Shadow in the Cloud

This film has a simple but intriguing premise:

While travelling with top-secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress, a female WWII pilot encounters an evil presence on board.

Fast plans, monsters, and fights; what’s not to like?

The movie stars Chloë Grace Moretz, known most for her role in Kick Ass. 

Songbird

This film, believe it or not, is about the coronavirus but not Covid-19. Instead, it’s about a Covid-23 pandemic. 

In 2024, yet another pandemic ravages the world. Immune to the Covid-23 virus, one man races against time to save the woman he loves from a quarantine camp.

If you want to forget all about our existing problems, then this film probably isn’t for you.

Supernova

Supernova is one of the few romance films on the list, and will surely draw a tear or two from you.

A gay couple – one a musician, the other a novelist – embark on a road trip as dementia starts to take hold of one of them.

For those who don’t get the reference, a supernova is caused by the death of a star. That alone should tell you what kind of film this is.

China’s Van Goghs

This fascinating documentary tells the story of a little known but lucrative enterprise in China: copying and selling works by van Gogh and other Western artists.

It also relates the experiences of one peasant-turned oil painter, who transitions from making copies of iconic Western paintings to creating his own authentic works of art.

Assassins

 

This documentary details the mysterious murder of North Korean royal family member Kim Jong-nam and the captivating global investigation that followed.

The film is centred around the two women on trial for the murder, and presents viewers with a tough question: are they cold-hearted assassins or political pawns?

Dear Tenant

Dear Tenant tells the touching tale of a gay man who struggles to take care of his son and mother-in-law while dealing with familial and societal prejudice.

Released in December last year, the movie stars Morning Mo and Grace Chen.

Repossession

Repossession isn’t just the only horror movie on this list, it’s also the only film on this list produced in Singapore.

Starring Amy Cheng and Sivakumar Palakrishnan, the local horror thriller tells the story of a rich man losing his wealth, and his struggle to deal with his decline.

While you might get over the jump scares, the film’s haunting score will stay in your head for days.

The Climb

Strong friendships aren’t easy to break, unless you sleep with your best friend’s lover, of course.

And that’s exactly what happens to Mike and Kyle, two men who have known each other for many years.

This indie bromance shows how the two deal with the fallout and depicts the humorous adventures they get into along the way.

Kabadadaari

This is another one for all the crime thriller fans.

In this neo-noir film, a passionate traffic police who is bored with his routine job stumbles across some mysterious skeletons.

When he probes further, he comes across a cop who had investigated the matter in the past.

Breaking News in Yuba Country

Just like most songs these days, Breaking News in Yuba Country can’t exactly be classed in one genre.

In the film, a woman takes advantage of her growing celebrity status when the police and the public think her dead husband is just missing.

Best described as mystery drama with laughs along the way, it stars the brilliant Allison Janney as well as Mila Kunis.

Classic Films

In addition to the vast array of films above, several cinemas in the country will also be screening some classics from the past.

These include:

• Disney’s Fantasia
• Wild at Heart
• Funny Face
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
• Eat Drink Man Woman
• Adaptation

You can head to Popcorn SG for the full list of movies and showtimes over the weekend.

Have fun, and remember to mask up, even inside the cinemas!

Featured Image: Screengrabs from trailers