An actual fire test was performed on single combustibles placed in a local cinema complex, and quantitative differencesin the maximum heat release rate (HRR) and fire growth rate were investigated based on the design fire curve methods(i.e., the general and 2-stage methods). In terms of combustible use and fire load, a total of 12 combustibles were selected,classified into cinema lounge and movie theater. It was found that the maximum HRR and fire growth rate determined usingthe two-stage method were quantitatively different from those of the general method. The application of the two-stagemethod, which can be used to determine the fire growth rate of the initial fire stage more precisely, could be useful inaccurately predicting the activation time of fire detectors and fire-extinguishing facilities, as well as the available safe egresstime (ASET) and required safe egress time (RSET).