Meet the Singaporean Gen Xer who collects old movie tickets, newspapers and payphone cards

“This is what people in the 1980s and 1990s do for their entertainment. There was no internet. So if you want to watch the latest blockbuster, you have to queue up, buy tickets and just go to the cinema,” he said.

On the other hand, watching a movie in 2025 can often feel “transactional”, like a “throwaway” experience, he added. 

The biggest shift has undoubtedly been due to streaming services, which let consumers watch movies anytime, anywhere, for a monthly subscription fee that’s sometimes cheaper than a single movie ticket. 

This, to Chong, feels like a loss of the quintessential “communal viewing” experience, even though he too has subscription plans to streaming services.

“I liked the experience of just watching a movie together in the hall. During that time, there weren’t any pesky mobile phones ringing. You may be distracted by people eating popcorn or talking a bit, but that’s okay. And if something is funny, everyone laughs together.”