In Taiwan, they are venues for social interaction among students and other youths. In Hong Kong, on the other hand, they are a blue-collar entertainment for workers after they clock out, "says film critic Peggy Chiao. People can't stay at home forever. In both Taiwan and Hong Kong, going to movies has a very strong commercial appeal.
「戲院具有社會功能，在台灣是青年學生社交的場合；香港則是打工仔下工後，藍領階級的娛樂」，影評人焦雄屏說，人無法永遠待在家裡，台灣和香港一樣，看電影都有很強的消費性。