Melbourne Cinemas

There are a number of cherished Melbourne cinemas, all with great atmosphere, classic art deco architecture and good films – the best new releases, arthouse cinema and international film festivals.

There are also outdoor cinemas to enjoy on balmy summer nights, some good old drive-ins, as well as commercial movies in Melbourne.

Real Melbourne Movies – Arthouse Cinema & Quality Films

Cinema Nova

The Nova cinemas Melbourne are one of these movies where you can really enjoy the experience of going to the movies. It is an independent Melbourne cinema - with community feel and a warm, intimate environment, where you can sip a glass of wine with your film.

It is Melbourne's largest and most vibrant arthouse cinema complex, offering the very best new arthouse and upmarket commercial releases. There have also regular special film events and festivals, and support the Melbourne Film Festival and local filmmaking.

Since its beginnings in 1992 Cinema Nova has doubled its capacity every few years and now offers 15 auditoria, screening a large variety of films every day.

If you are after a deal, you can get cheap film tickets on Mondays, especially before 4pm. It’s located in the vibrant Lygon Street in Carlton.

The Palace Cinemas

The Palace Cinemas are uniquely Australian, and originally Melbourne cinemas. Their founder Antonio Zeccola began his career of screening films in the 1960s in a rented town hall to small enthusiastic Melbourne movie audiences - just like his father had done before him.

This quickly grew into a number of suburban Melbourne cinemas and expanded interstate. There are today 20 Palace cinemas throughout Australia– many of them in restored landmark heritage buildings.

Palace cinemas provide luxurious quality cinema for discerning moviegoers in Melbourne and beyond – with fully licensed bars, great coffee and atmosphere as part of the experience. Even the popcorn, popped in olive oil, is healthy.

The Palace cinemas are also home of Australia's leading international film festivals: Italian, Spanish, Greek, French, German, Israeli, Russian… as well as world-best screenings of opera and ballet.

The Palace Cinemas are the Palace Kino Cinemas in Collins Street, Palace Cinema Como in South Yarra, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Dendy Brighton, Palace Balwyn and Palace Westgarth.

The Astor Theatre

The Astor’s Theatre has "old-world" charm. It is one of the Melbourne cinemas where you are transported back to the days when going to the cinema was an event.

With a motto of Fine Films and Atmosphere they take you to the movies in a grand, old manner. The impressive 1930s art-deco cinema retains its old charm with soft lighting, gentle music and beautiful curtains – together with a state-of-the-art sound system and giant screen.

The Astor Theatre presents a mix of older films and recent releases along with special seasons of major re-releases such as Ben-Hur and Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window – giving you historical and contemporary movie experiences.

It is located on the corner of Chapel St and Dandenong Rd in St Kilda.

Classic Cinema

The Classic Cinema in Elsternwick shows quality mainstream as well as Arthouse cinema.

Its focus is on a complete 'cinematic experience'- big screens, beautifully appointed seating and a warm, friendly environment. Your movie night out might start with drinks or a hand-made choc top in the art-deco foyer.

You find an eclectic mix of films at the Classic - from big Hollywood blockbusters to the best in foreign cinema, kids' flicks to family favourites.

It is located right at Elsternwick station, only 5 minutes from St Kilda.

Sun Cinemas

The Sun cinemas in Yarraville - in a beautiful art deco building with a large Sun façade and neon sign - were saved from a derelict state and have been turned into one of the most charming Melbourne cinemas.

In 1938 it had been the most luxurious cinema in the area, with sell-out shows to over 1000 patrons. Following a period of neglect and rundown, the sagging seats and movie hall have now been transformed into 6 stunning boutique cinemas, all detailed in the original art deco style.

The Sun is screening a great selection of the latest new release films – in charming Yarraville.

ACMI Cinemas

The ACMI Cinemas - the Australian Centre for the Moving Image - are on the forefront of Melbourne cinemas responsible for the celebration, exploration and promotion of the cultural and creative richness of everything digital and film in Melbourne.

It offers a vibrant calendar of award-winning Australian and international film screenings and festivals – the Melbourne International Film Festival, Kids Films, Experimental Films, Seniors Films – and various film expositions and a large permanent exhibition about the story of film and television.

Outdoor Cinemas Melbourne

During the summer months – December to March - there are a number of outdoor Melbourne cinemas where you can sit back and enjoy movie watching on beautiful summer nights under the stars.

In various Melbourne outdoor movie venues you can see just about everything - from cult classics, to childhood favourites, as well as the latest releases and arthouse films.

The Moonlight Cinema must be the most stunning of the open-air Melbourne cinemas, screening the latest releases, as well as cinema classic and cult films on the central lawn of the Royal Botanic Gardens during the summer months in Melbourne.

Bring a picnic rug, drinks and snack – and enjoy. Very romantic against the backdrop of the gardens with the city high-rises in behind!

St Kilda Open-air Cinema charms with sunset live music and films under the stars - drinks, sea breezes, music and films. That’s where you get Melbourne’s most-loved indie bands and singer songwriters playing to the sun setting over Port Phillip Bay.

This is followed by full-length feature films on the huge outdoor screen on the rooftop of the sea baths – showing a range of mainstream cinema as well as some lesser known films – favs (favourites), classics and the best of new summer releases.

At the St Kilda Sea Baths, at St Kilda Beach during summer.

The Rooftop Cinema is a unique cinema on the roof of the Curtain House in the heart of Melbourne. It is the place to go for a uniquely urban and sophisticated movie experience, with cocktails, deckchairs and cult films.

It showcases arthouse, classic and recent release films. On top of the Curtain House, 252 Swanston Street Walk.

Melbourne Drive-Ins

Drive-Ins were a big hit in the 1950s. A drive-in is where films are projected onto a giant outdoor screen and patrons watch the show from their own cars.

Drive-ins hold a nostalgia factor and are regularly showing classic films. You can’t help get an image of excited audiences in Cadillacs and convertibles lined up in front of the screen…

Nevertheless, they are also just one of the Melbourne cinemas where you can enjoy your new releases with the family from your own car.

Village Drive-in, Coburg -You can load a bunch of kids into your car – under 12 year olds are free - and head to the drive-in for the latest release. Kids love it! The drive-in also provides a fifties-style diner for an authentic experience - in Newlands Road, Coburg.

The Lunar Drive-In is Australia's largest drive-in cinema! It screens the latest blockbuster films as well as holding special events including movie marathons. The maximum price for a carload of people is $28, which makes it an affordable for a family or friends night at the movies.

The Lunar opened in 1956 just before the arrival of television and still carries the excitement of these early pre-television days. It’s on the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong.

The Dromana Drive-in works along similar lines -In for the patrons of the Mornington Peninsula.

IMAX

The Imax in the Melbourne Museum is housing the world's third largest screen, which provides you with the ultimate in movie going, 3D and surround sound experiences – where you are really in the action and emotion of the film.

They show a range of documentaries as well as new releases. In the Melbourne Museum in the Carlton Gardens.

Commercial Cinemas Melbourne

Another group of Melbourne cinemas are your commercial cinemas.

There are the Village Cinemas, with the Village at Crown at Southbank, the Village Jam Factory in South Yarra, Village, the Rivoli Cinemas in Hawthorn East, the Village Airport West, and Village Sunshine.

There is a Greater Union Cinema in the city in Russell Street.

And there are the Hoyts Cinemas , with Hoyts at Melbourne Central, Hoyts Victoria Gardens in Richmond, Hoyts at Highpoint in Maribyrnong, and Hoyts Northland in Preston.

During school terms they hold Mums & Bubs sessions where you can turn up with your baby and pram twice a month at reduced prices and with kids under 5 free. There's a place to change a nappy and the lights stay dimmed for feeding - pretty good offer!