Coliseum Theatre
A historic cinema in Kuala Lumpur and one of Malaysia's oldest continuously operating movie theatres.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Coliseum Theatre is a historic cinema in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Built in 1920 by the Chua family under the leadership of Chua Cheng Bok, it is regarded as one of the oldest cinemas in the country and, apart from an interruption during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War, one of its longest continuously operating cinema halls. The venue is associated with the Coliseum Theatre building on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and forms part of a larger historic commercial complex that also included the Coliseum Café and Hotel. The theatre was designed in an Art Deco style and originally provided approximately 900 seats, including a balcony. Its programming has historically been strongly associated with Indian cinema, particularly Bollywood and Tamil- and Hindi-language films. This specialization helped distinguish the venue from more commercially standardized cinema chains and connected it with Kuala Lumpur's long-established multicultural entertainment and retail district. After Chua Cheng Bok died in 1940, his estate continued to administer the theatre. In 1973, the property was acquired by a company purchased by Chua Cheng Bok's nephew, Dr Chua Boon Teck, and his wife, Mdm Khor Joo Saik. The family remained involved in preserving the cinema when its future became uncertain in the 2000s. In 2006, the Malaysian government proposed closing the theatre and converting the site into a cultural heritage centre. A public outcry followed, and the closure proposal was abandoned. Dr Chua Seong Siew, the elder son of Dr Chua Boon Teck and Mdm Khor Joo Saik, successfully appealed for the cinema to remain open. The government subsequently considered developing a nearby car park rather than removing the cinema itself. A major operational change took place in 2012, when the cinema was owned by Lotus Five Star Cinema (M) Sdn. Bhd. The historic single-auditorium venue was converted into a two-screen cineplex with a combined capacity of 474 seats and relaunched as LFS Coliseum Cineplex. It officially reopened to the public under that identity in November 2012. The venue continued to show a significant volume of Bollywood and Tamil/Hindi programming. The Coliseum Theatre is also linked to the Coliseum Café and Hotel, located behind the theatre. The café was historically associated with visitors to British Malaya, including the writer W. Somerset Maugham, but closed in 2021 after approximately a century of operation, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as the immediate context. The theatre is accessible on foot from Bandaraya LRT station and Bank Negara KTM station. Its architectural character, age, cultural associations, and survival through proposed redevelopment have made it a notable Kuala Lumpur heritage cinema.
History
Coliseum Theatre was built in Kuala Lumpur in 1920 by the Chua family, led by Chua Cheng Bok. Its Art Deco building originally accommodated about 900 patrons and included a balcony. The venue became part of a larger complex containing the Coliseum Café and Hotel, a well-known establishment that later attracted historical associations with figures such as W. Somerset Maugham during his time in British Malaya. The cinema is described as one of Malaysia's oldest and, except for a wartime interruption during the Japanese occupation, one of the country's oldest continuously operating cinema halls. Indian films have formed a particularly important part of its programming, with Bollywood, Tamil, and Hindi releases helping establish the theatre's distinctive cultural role in Kuala Lumpur. Following Chua Cheng Bok's death in 1940, his estate continued to manage the theatre. In 1973, the cinema was acquired by a company bought by his nephew, Dr Chua Boon Teck, and his wife, Mdm Khor Joo Saik. The family's connection to the venue remained important during a later preservation dispute. In 2006, the Malaysian government proposed shutting the theatre and converting it into a cultural heritage centre. The proposal generated public opposition and was eventually dropped. Dr Chua Seong Siew, the elder son of the later owners, successfully appealed for the cinema to stay open. The government instead pursued plans for a car park nearby, allowing the cinema to continue operating. In 2012, Lotus Five Star Cinema (M) Sdn. Bhd. owned the venue and undertook a substantial format change. The former cinema was converted into a two-screen cineplex with 474 seats in total. It reopened to the public in November 2012 under the name LFS Coliseum Cineplex, while retaining its historic identity and its established emphasis on Indian-language film releases. The theatre's associated café closed in 2021 after roughly a century of operation, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as the reason. The cinema is located within walking distance of Bandaraya LRT station and Bank Negara KTM station. Its age, architectural style, family ownership history, programming profile, and survival of a proposed closure have made it a notable part of Kuala Lumpur's entertainment and built heritage.
- 2021
Associated Coliseum Café closes
[1]The related café closed after approximately 100 years, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2012
Conversion into LFS Coliseum Cineplex
[1]Lotus Five Star Cinema (M) Sdn. Bhd. converted the venue into a two-screen, 474-seat cineplex.
- 2012
LFS Coliseum Cineplex opens
[1]The redesigned venue officially opened to the public in November under the LFS Coliseum Cineplex name.
- 2006
Proposed closure withdrawn
[1]A proposal to close the cinema and convert it into a cultural heritage centre was abandoned after public opposition and an appeal by Dr Chua Seong Siew.
- 1973
Ownership transferred to a company acquired by the Chua family
[1]The theatre was acquired by a company purchased by Chua Cheng Bok's nephew, Dr Chua Boon Teck, and his wife, Mdm Khor Joo Saik.
- 1940
Chua Cheng Bok dies
[1]After Chua Cheng Bok's death, his estate continued to administer the theatre.
- 1920
Theatre constructed
[1]The Chua family, led by Chua Cheng Bok, built the Coliseum Theatre in Kuala Lumpur as an Art Deco cinema with a balcony and capacity of approximately 900 seats.
Products and positioning
A historic Kuala Lumpur cinema with a distinctive Indian-film programming identity and heritage-site character.
Cinema venue · 1920
Historic cinema exhibition
The Coliseum Theatre's core offering is public film exhibition in a historic Kuala Lumpur cinema building. The original venue was a large single auditorium with a balcony and approximately 900 seats. Following its 2012 redevelopment, the operation became a smaller two-screen cineplex with a combined capacity of 474 seats.
Film programming
Bollywood, Tamil and Hindi film screenings
Indian-language cinema has been central to the theatre's identity. Its programming has included Bollywood productions and Tamil- and Hindi-language films, giving the venue a recognizable role within Kuala Lumpur's Indian-film exhibition market.
Cineplex operation · 2012
LFS Coliseum Cineplex
In 2012, the venue was reorganized as LFS Coliseum Cineplex under Lotus Five Star Cinema (M) Sdn. Bhd. The format introduced two screens and 474 seats while preserving the site's Coliseum identity and continuing its established Indian-film orientation.
Brand decisions
2012
Convert the historic auditorium into a two-screen cineplexGeneration changeBackground
The venue required an updated operating format while retaining its established name and location.
Action taken
Lotus Five Star Cinema (M) Sdn. Bhd. transformed the theatre into a two-screen cineplex with 474 seats and relaunched it as LFS Coliseum Cineplex.
Aftermath
The redesigned cinema opened to the public in November 2012 and continued to show mostly Bollywood and Tamil/Hindi films.
2006
Retain the cinema rather than convert the site into a heritage centreStrategyBackground
The Malaysian government proposed closing the historic theatre and repurposing it as a cultural heritage centre. The proposal encountered public opposition.
Action taken
Following the public response and an appeal by Dr Chua Seong Siew, the closure plan was abandoned and the cinema was allowed to continue operating.
Aftermath
The theatre survived as a functioning cinema, while a car park was considered for nearby development instead.
Sources1 sources
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