In August 2024, during my stay in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines, I visited a cinema inside a shopping mall. This article shares my experience and provides information about cinemas in the Philippines.
SM City Davao Shopping Mall and SM Cinema
SM City Davao
SM City Davao is a large shopping mall located in the heart of Davao City. Although it doesn’t have a tall structure, it’s a very spacious mall, including its annex building. Both the first and second floors boast a wide array of restaurants, cafes, dessert shops, and food courts, making dining options abundant.
Getting to SM City from within Davao is convenient, with jeepneys from various directions terminating at the mall. Some routes arrive and depart from the bus stop within SM City’s premises, while others stop on the road in front. Be especially careful about the boarding location for your return trip.
SM Cinema
SM Cinema’s reception is located on the second floor, with ticket counters at both ends of the mall. I paid for my tickets in cash at the manned counter.
I watched an American film this time. The ticket price was 265 pesos (approximately 680 JPY). Looking at the list of screenings, some films were 275 pesos, and Japanese anime films were 400 pesos, indicating that prices varied by film.
When it was time for the theater to open and enter the screen, I received a 500ml bottle of water. The movie I watched was shown on a very large screen with both ground-level and upper-level seating. The air conditioning was quite strong; I recommend bringing a long-sleeved shirt or a light jacket.
English Films with No Subtitles or Dubbing
The film I watched was an American movie, so it was naturally in English. However, it was screened without any subtitles or dubbing. It was rated R16, which suggests that general Filipinos aged 16 and above can understand English without difficulty. So far, the Philippines is the only country in Asia where I’ve watched an American movie without subtitles or dubbing.
Showtimes
Showtimes can be checked on the official SM Cinema website or on movie information sites like ClickTheCity.
Conclusion
SM Cinema at SM City Davao is an excellent place to enjoy a movie in Davao. Immerse yourself in the world of film with modern facilities and a comfortable environment. If you have time before your movie, you’ll have no trouble passing the time with the numerous cafes and restaurants available.
