By Dara Clariza Evangelista
Movies have always been our easiest escape. Whether it’s a date night, a barkada hangout, or a solo self-care evening, there’s something about sinking into a theater seat and letting a new world unfold in front of you. It’s the closest thing we have to teleportation: one moment you’re in Manila traffic, the next you’re flying through Oz, drifting through space, or chasing mysteries through neon cities. And just when you think moviegoing can’t get any better, technology steps in and proves us wrong.
SCREENX is exactly the kind of upgrade that makes you rethink what a movie can feel like. Imagine the film expanding beyond the screen, stretching to the left and right walls so that scenes wrap around you. It’s a 270-degree panoramic setup that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into the story. Wide landscapes become bigger, action scenes feel closer, and musical moments feel like you’re standing inside the set. If traditional cinemas let you watch a movie, SCREENX lets you live in it.
To welcome this breakthrough format to the Philippines, SM Cinema unveiled the very first SCREENX theater at SM Mall of Asia with a lively launch event hosted by Janeena Chan. The celebration gathered SM and CJ 4DPLEX executives including Steven Tan, Hans “Chico” Sy Jr., Don Savant, Jamil Valiyev, and Karen Zabaljauregui. It was an energy-filled evening that marked a major milestone for local movie lovers.
And what better way to open the country’s first SCREENX than with “Wicked: For Good,” the highly anticipated sequel starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. As the inaugural SCREENX film in the Philippines, it sets the tone for what the format can deliver: breathtaking visuals, immersive magic, and a world that feels close enough to touch. Tickets are priced at ?700, with future SCREENX titles like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” already building excitement for the months ahead.
And honestly? The premiere itself was adorable.
They passed around “Wicked”-themed bites that made everyone smile: pastries inspired by Glinda’s hot air balloon, yellow brick rolls, sandwiches with dramatic black buns, and “flying monkeys” that turned out to be chimichurri chicken. Even the drinks joined in on the fun, with a strawberry concoction for Glinda and a calamansi creation for Elphaba.
The guests also understood the assignment. The crowd was filled with looks in shades of green, black, pink, and glam, Wicked-inspired. Some went full Elphaba chic, others channeled Glinda’s soft pink sparkle, and many arrived in sleek black fits for that classic musical mood. And the drag queens? Stunning. They showed up in the most beautiful, theatrical glam, adding that extra layer of magic you only get when fashion, film, and performance collide.
Located at the 2nd Level of the Entertainment Mall in SM Mall of Asia, SCREENX joins SM Cinema’s growing lineup of premium formats alongside IMAX and Directors Club. Through its partnership with global cinema tech leader CJ 4DPLEX, SM Cinema continues to push boundaries and bring world-class experiences to Filipino audiences.
SCREENX represents the next chapter in how we watch films: immersive, elevated, and unforgettable. And for movie lovers who crave something new, this might just be your new favorite way to escape.
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Jasmine Curtis-Smith is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now, as she shares her thoughts on good storytelling in films, as she’s set to star in upcoming movies Open Night, a 2025 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival sapphic film entry; and Manila’s Finest, an upcoming 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) crime drama movie.
Read the Stylish Magazine September-October 2025 cover story here.
Our #StylishPodcast episode featuring our cover girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith is out. Watch it on Facebook and YouTube.
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