Sydney's Open Air Cinemas
February 1st 2011 05:05
Combining the cinema with Sydney's long and balmy evenings has become a bit of a tradition for many people over the last few years. It really is the perfect blend: peaceful and beautiful scenery, stars, company, food and a film. Plus, the settings offer the freedom to drink wine or even recline.
Sydney’s most popular outdoor cinemas are the St George OpenAir Cinema and Moonlight Cinema. They have become an entrenched annual highlight for many dedicated viewers who scour the timetable buying their tickets well ahead of time. The most popular and well-known is the OpenAir Cinema, understandably so with its transcendent setting of Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge glowing beyond the screen. It really isn’t a wonder much of its season sells out the day tickets go on sale. Many viewers arrive early to have to have a drink and chat and to make the most of the striking scenery and surroundings.
The OpenAir Cinema’s summer partner, the Moonlight Cinema is another annual event held in Sydney’s’ Centennial park also running over the summer season. Its appeal is a little different. This experience allows viewers to choose their spots and lie on the grass rather than being allocated seats. Additionally, unlike the OpenAir cinema which has a bar that serves both food and drinks, including alcohol and coffee, at Moonlight you can bring your own food and even have a picnic. If you’re not keen on bringing your own food, they have a stall that sells snacks and drinks. Moonlight maintains its yearly dedication to showing new or recent releases intermingled with old cult classics such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Pulp Fiction and Zoolander.
It seems that the popular trend of outdoor films might have superseded the old drive-in experience. Perhaps, it’s that feeling of being outside in the summer air with the added advantage of catching up with friends in a relaxed social environmental.
But even though the environment is different, the same celluloid unwritten rules apply: switch off your phone, don’t yabber loudly and keep the crunching and shuffling to a minimum.
Other Sydney outdoor cinemas include:
Starlight Cinema at North Sydney Oval in February each year.
Open Air Cinema at Bondi Beach also in February each year.
TropFest at The Domain in February each year.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
To be honest, the programs don't excite me as much anymore. When OpenAir and Moonlight first started they programmed much more cult and classic cinema, but these days most, if not, all, of the programs are made up of current or imminent releases (and pretty commercial to boot).
Bring back the repertory-style cult classic cinema to open air I say!!!!
Comment by R
They really squeeze you in at the Open Air Cinema over looking the Opera House (ie small seats)
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I still love the view though and experience.
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
p/s...are those your legs/feet?! Love the shoes!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Afraid they're not my feet, observant one
Byee
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I haven't been to the ones in Melbourne, but there was something I nearly bought tickets for except something came up - a play of Lady Chatterley's Lover at Ripponlea Manor. Same premise, out in the open, but with live actors (they even do the nudie scenes, I am told).
I really hope they do it again, you should keep an eye out in Sydders too, I'm sure you would be into it as well!
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Looks great, I have not been yet...if I get down on the gorund, I may nto be able to get up again, so the seated one is more likely my idea...but...it takes me back to my childhood and the drive-in.
Such great days.
Melbourne built a new one, up in the Dandenongs 9 or 10 years back, never got to it, but, if you go to Melbourne, you must go, as it looks down on the city, which looks gorgeous from up there.
cheers
fog
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate