On Sunday July 6, House Samyan hosted a special surprise screening event where movie lovers gathered to find out which classic film would make its grand return to the theatre. The crowd roared with delight as the first title was revealed to be Heat (1995), the acclaimed action-packed crime thriller not seen since House Samyan first opened its doors more than two decades ago.
After the credits rolled, House Samyan unveiled nine more titles in its House Classics programme, presented under the concept RE:VERB – a celebration of cinema that continues to resonate, no matter how much time has passed.
Here’s the full lineup of films screening throughout the second half of the year – cinematic gems that absolutely deserve another round in theatres.
An all-time crime-action masterpiece often hailed as the blueprint for modern heist films, Heat is a gripping tale of cat and mouse told through razor-sharp direction by Michael Mann. What truly cements its legendary status is the iconic on-screen face-off between two titans of cinema Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Set against a moody noir Los Angeles backdrop, Heat follows a relentless detective and an unattached thief as their paths collide during a high-stakes bank robbery.
A hauntingly beautiful, profoundly emotional and quietly mysterious love story – The Double Life of Véronique is a poetic masterpiece by Polish auteur Krzysztof Kieślowski, best known for his Three Colors trilogy. The film revolves around the parallel lives of two women, one living in Poland, the other in France, who have never met yet share an uncanny connection. They look exactly alike, almost like twins separated by fate, and their lives echo each other in strange and inexplicable ways.
A searing Hollywood noir that cuts deep into the dream machine and still feels strikingly modern, nearly a century later. Sunset Boulevard is a biting, tragic tale that exposes the shadows behind the spotlight. At its centre is Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter who stumbles into the decaying Sunset Boulevard mansion of Norma Desmond, a once-glorious silent film star now trapped within her faded fame. What begins as a strange encounter turns into a twisted relationship as Norma attempts to use Joe as her ticket back to the silver screen. What unfolds is far from a comeback – it’s a haunting spiral into delusion, obsession and cinematic tragedy.
A rom-com classic that scratches your brain in the right place with wit, warmth and heartbreak, The Apartment clocked up multiple Oscars and is widely considered a perfect movie. Directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, it remains sharp, charming and emotionally resonant throughout. The story follows C.C. Baxter, an ordinary office worker with big dreams of climbing the corporate ladder. His secret weapon? Lending out his humble apartment to company executives for their not-so-innocent rendezvous. But then fate steps in as Baxter discovers that the woman he secretly adores is one of the frequent ‘guests’ brought there by his boss.
It’s a wuxia classic that swept international awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for director Ang Lee. Starring two of Asia’s biggest icons Chow Yun-fat (A Better Tomorrow, 1986) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022) the film follows the story of a mysterious female warrior who steals a sacred sword, setting off a chain of events filled with betrayal, longing and fierce martial arts duels.
A dark comedy that cuts deep into structures of power and authority, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is as biting, rebellious and sadly relevant today as it was nearly half a century ago. Winner of five major Academy Awards, the film features a tour-de-force performance by Jack Nicholson as a convicted criminal who fakes insanity to avoid prison, only to find himself locked in a mental institution ruled by cruel and rigid rules, unraveling into a harrowing portrait of institutional control, human dignity and the fight for freedom in the face of dehumanizing systems that still resonate in 2025.
Cult film fans surely know this one thanks to its unforgettable performance by Christian Bale. A top-tier psychological thriller, American Psycho is both deeply unsettling and fiercely satirical, exposing the dark heart of consumerist culture. It tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a man who appears perfect in every way – good looks, filthy rich and a prestigious career – but behind the facade lies a psychopathic serial killer who has claimed the lives of countless women. Or has he?
A beloved classic among critics and cinephiles, this romantic musical drama won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a tender young romance between Geneviève Emery, a 16-year-old girl, and Guy Foucher, a charming 20-year-old mechanic. Despite their deep love, the relationship faces strong disapproval from Geneviève’s mother. When unexpected circumstances force the young couple apart, her mother encourages Geneviève to consider a well-off jeweler who has long supported the family instead.
A classic romantic musical bursting with charm and colour, this film was directed by Jacques Demy, the visionary whose work inspired Damien Chazelle to create La La Land (2016). The story follows two beautiful twin sisters from the quiet seaside town of Rochefort, each dreaming of leaving their small-town life behind in search of love and new opportunities in the big city. What unfolds is a joyful, whimsical tale filled with unexpected encounters, heartfelt moments and unforgettable musical numbers that carry the story from start to finish.
A tearjerking drama masterpiece from Taiwan that won Best Director at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the story of a family in Taipei facing life’s constant changes and daily challenges. Each family member – father, mother, daughter, son and a paralyzed grandmother – must learn, grow and find their own way to cope with pain and uncertainty together.
Discover Time Out original video
