From 2009 to 2021, The Flicks Community Movie Houses were a beloved part of Phnom Penh’s cultural scene — the city’s only independent, licensed art house cinemas dedicated to screening quality films for the local expat and tourist communities.
Founded with heart and sustained by passion, The Flicks offered a unique alternative to mainstream cinema: cozy air-conditioned movie rooms, an unbeatable popcorn recipe, and a rotating lineup of foreign films, festival winners, classics, documentaries, and indie gems on 6-meter-wide HD screens. Whether you were lounging in our comfy rattan sofas or reclining seats, you were part of something special.
Where It All Began
The Flicks journey started in early 2009 when a New Zealand couple, Martin and Jeanette Robinson, transformed a pre-Khmer Rouge villa into the first Flicks Festival Movie House. Located on Street 95 near Tuol Sleng, it quickly became a local favorite.
In 2011, after an online fundraising campaign saved the venue from closure, the Dutch Ramon Stoppelenburg took over. Under his guidance, the cinema was revitalized — the bar expanded, the lobby upgraded, and seating reimagined for ultimate comfort. It became more than just a movie house; it was a community hub.
The success of the original location led to the opening of The Flicks 2 near the riverside in 2012, and The Flicks 3 near the Royal Palace (now The Box Office) in 2014. Together, they created a cozy movie network across Phnom Penh — until 2017, when The Flicks 2 and 3 closed their doors following a series of external challenges.
The original Flicks on Street 95 in BKK3 carried on until its final screening on August 8, 2021, when the curtain fell due to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Flicks Experience
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Locations: Three venues across Phnom Penh from 2009 to 2021. -
Cover charge: Just $4 (or ៛16,000) for a full day of movies.
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Seating: 32 at The Flicks 1, 20 at The Flicks 2, and 36 at The Flicks 3.
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Perks: Legendary popcorn, cold drinks, and outside food orders delivered during your screening.
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Atmosphere: Fully air-conditioned, relaxed, and intimate — the way movies should be.
We also made our spaces available for private screenings, birthday parties, church events, or simply for those who wanted a cinema to themselves.
Powered by Community
The Flicks was more than a business — it was a community project, crowdfunded by 109 supporters and run entirely by dedicated volunteers. All profits were reinvested into the cinema and used to support or sponsor Phnom Penh’s broader cultural scene:
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The Phnom Penh Players amateur theatre group
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Nerd Night Phnom Penh (a bi-monthly intellectual social gathering)
- Comedy in Cambodia (our venues sold the tickets)
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Annual performances of The Vagina Monologues
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Open air cinema nights, literary journals like The Quiet Reader, and more
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Expat-focused websites and city guides
Strong Views, Strong Rules
We believed in movie magic — and that meant no interruptions.
Phones, texting, and noisy behavior? The movie stopped, and you were asked to leave. Simple.
And yes — outside food and drinks were not allowed.
What’s Next?
After closing in 2021, Ramon left Cambodia — but the story isn’t over yet. In 2025, he returned to Phnom Penh and is now searching for a new home for The Flicks. Could a revival be just around the corner?
Follow us on Facebook and stay tuned. The reel may roll again.