Take your pick of Sydney’s best outdoor cinemas.
Lights, camera, Aerogard! Sydney sure loves a movie en plein air. With the city’s favourite summer leisure season in full swing we’ve compiled a list of the best outdoor cinemas on offer. So grab your picnic basket, your sturdiest deckchair and read on.
Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema
Jan 21 – Feb 28
Soak up the serenity at the Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema. Theirs is always a knockout season of blockbusters, art house pics and family favourites. Keep an ear out for the ‘Sundae Session’, a dedicated live music event with free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. You’ll love these outdoor cinemas sessions.
Cinema in the Square
Jan 06 – Mar 16
Kick back in deckchairs and don a headphone for a unique ‘silent cinema’ experience while you revisit the films of your childhood at World Square’s FREE Cinema in the Square. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Muriel’s Wedding and Gremlins are all showing. Best of all, Din Tai Fung and the Burger Project are only a short reach away.
Flickerfest
Jan 08 – Jan 17
Flickerfest is Australia’s leading competitive short film festival. Running for 25 years, filmmakers know that it’s a must visit date on the international festival calendar. This year 100 new short films from around the world are screening, selected from over 2,400 submissions, so you know competition is going to be tight.
Moonlight Cinema
Dec 03 – Mar 27
Another grande dame of the outdoor cinema circuit is the Moonlight Cinema. It’s been rolling out the red (picnic) carpet in Sydney for 20 years. Advance screenings, new releases and cult films are all shown. So relax in the leafy surrounds of Centennial Park’s Belvedere Amphitheatre while sipping a glass of bubbly and tucking into some home-brought rations or fare from the nearby food trucks.
Movies by the Boulevard
Jan 02 – Jan 17
Movies by the Boulevard is a relaxed, family-friendly film fest, which also happens to be FREE. On selected nights there are even kids’ activities but make sure to check what’s screening as not all movies are appropriate for kiddies.
Skyline Drive-In Blacktown
Daily
Nostalgia meets Hollywood glam at Sydney’s last remaining drive-in Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, one of the newest outdoor cinemas around. Originally built in the 1960s, the twin-screen venue went through a massive revamp a couple of years ago and was transformed into an ode to retro Americana, but with all the mod cons. Catch all the latest new releases in the comfort of your car or under the stars on a ‘Grass Class’ deck chair. When those hunger pangs strike, hit up the Happy Days-style diner for a burger, hotdog, malt shake, spider or banana split.
St.George OpenAir Cinema
Jan 7 – Feb 19
Against the gorgeous backdrop of glam Sydney Harbour, the St.George OpenAir Cinema lights up Mrs Macquaries Point over 40 nights for its huge, 20th season. Watch premieres and previews, a selection of 2015’s best art-house films, and a range of family friendly films on the hydraulically raised screen with in the 2000 seat grandstand.
IMB Bank Sunset Outdoor Cinema
Jan 21 – Mar 19
North Sydney Oval is home to the IMB Bank Sunset Cinema. So play a game of lawn bowls or even some yoga at The Greens before heading across the road for a movie. Other drawcards include The Nighthawk Diner food truck with their American diner-style gourmet eats, and the West Australian vino and bubbly of the MadFish Wine Bar.
Sydney Hills Cinemas
Jan 15 – Feb 14
At two years old,the Sydney Hills Outdoor Cinema is the city’s youngest outdoor cinema. If you really want to treat yourself or shine on date night, hire one of the VIP Bell Tents and glamp under the stars for a few hours with your own private butler. Did we mention that Gelato Messina will be serving up exclusive choc tops for the event?