The best film events in Sydney

Somebody pop the Champagne, because the world's most beautiful outdoor cinema will be back by the harbourside, running over 47 nights from January 9 to February 24 – and tickets are now on sale. Westpac OpenAir will once again take over Mrs Macquaries Point this summer, with panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as its staggering backdrop.  The line-up features everything from old-school hits to cult classics and brand-new Aussie debuts, including films like Dirty Dancing, Marty Supreme, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Hamnet and 10 Things I Hate About You. You can check out the full program here.  Meanwhile, there’s more than just iconic views and the latest blockbusters in store, with a bunch of excellent food and drink offerings available for every budget. Think fresh seafood and Spritzes at The Chandon Garden, a lush waterfront restaurant by acclaimed chef Danielle Alvarez called Summer House Dining, and a classy dining terrace for Westpac customers. A heads-up that you’ll need to book your spot in advance.Just after a sundowner? Then order a beer (or an entire bottle of Champagne, ice bucket and all) and settle in for a film screening projected on the huge 350-square-metre, three-storey-high screen that lights up as night falls over the harbour.  If you really want a run-up for the view, take a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens on your way to the cinema (but word to the wise, don't leave it too late, lest you be caught...

Get a glass of wine, crawl under the blankets and settle in on the beach for another season of movies in bed at Barangaroo. Yep, Mov'in Bed is back! This fun twist on the classic outdoor cinema has been running since 2016 – and from 2023, it's been bringing in 280 tonnes of white sand to transform Barangaroo into a pop-up beach, offering film buffs the chance to see new releases and beloved classics on the big screen. Located in Barangaroo's Harbour Park, it's close to the new Metro station, which means that snuggling under the stars in this beautiful harbourside spot has never been easier.  Hate sitting on grass for hours? Mov'in Bed has 150 queen- and king-sized beds, perfect for two or three people to share. Tickets start at just $12 for sand positions (BYO blanket), with queen-size bed experiences from $45 per person and VIP packages from $75 per person including sparkling wine, butler service, unlimited gourmet popcorn and premium viewing. The season kicks off with romance in Regretting You, followed by action-packed thrills like Tron: Ares, dramas including Twinless and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey and blockbusters such as Now You See Me Now You Don’t and Fantastic Four. From mid-December, the program goes full festive mode with Christmas favourites like Home Alone, Love Actually, Die Hard, Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Find out what's screening and book your tickets here.  

Budget conscious movie fans, this one’s for you. For the fourth year running, Darling Quarter’s free open-air cinema is back – complete with dog-friendly seating and high-quality headphones for crystal-clear audio.Kicking off this Thursday, January 8, the free open-air cinema will run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until January 25, with the varied film program featuring big releases and old-school favourites. Through a new partnership with HBO Max, this year's program features family faves like The Wizard of Oz and Space Jam alongside newer hits like Superman, Fantastic Beasts, and A Minecraft Movie.  Though screenings are free, it’s worth booking a place – with free unallocated seating and beanbags available to hire for an extra $10. This year’s movie experience sees the upgrade of all new headphones, meaning you don’t have to worry about the ambience of the area impacting your audio experience (though sound will be played through large outdoor speakers too). For a cinema snack, moviegoers can order Click and Collect from some of Darling Quarter’s fave eateries – including Churrascaria, Dopa and Gelatissimo.  With a flat evening parking rate of $21 per car, this is hands down one of the most affordable cinema experiences you can have in the Harbour City. Keen to spend those extra dollars on another movie-style experience? Darling Harbour’s magical carousel is a short walk from the cinema, you’re welcome.You can learn more and reserve tickets over here. Stay...

Nothing will come between us and a free flick and the magic of an outdoor movie will never wear off. Add an iconic location to that, and we’re ready to say "pass the popcorn". So yeah, we're pretty pleased to hear that The Rocks is bringing back its Laneway Cinema this summer. Catch a flick every Wednesday night between November and February – think the big screen and bean bags among the golden sandstone buildings and cobbled lanes of The Rocks. Located on the end of Playfair Street, it's a short stroll from Circular Quay, so you can easily get there by train, ferry, bus or light rail. You can even grab a bag of popcorn (minimum $2), with proceeds in support of deserving charities.  November is all about millennial throwbacks. From horror to teen comedy and romance, the line-up includes Final Destination and Can't Hardly Wait. December, on the other hand, gets festive with Christmas rom coms like Bridget Jones's Diary (December 3) and The Holiday (Dec 17).  A bunch of the Rocks’ food and drink offerings are just a few steps away. Our resident food and drink fanatic recommends popping into Le Foote, The Doss House, Saké or one of the many eateries in the area.  Doors open at 5.30pm with the movie commencing at 7pm. Tickets are released every Monday for the following week's Wednesday screening. Be sure to register here for free tickets to secure your seats, as there is limited seating available.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more...

Sydneysiders don’t need many excuses to roll out a picnic rug, pop a bottle of pét-nat and spend a balmy evening under the stars – but this summer, Moonlight Cinema is making an especially solid case. Australia’s most well-established outdoor movie night is officially turning 30, and to celebrate, it’s handing the programming reins over to the people. Yep: for the first time ever, you get to help shape the season’s line-up. Since its debut back in 1995 – opening with a now-iconic screening of Pulp Fiction – Moonlight Cinema has become a staple of the Sydney summer. More than five million people have sprawled across the lawns since then: first dates, proposals, celeb sightings, and countless delighted doggos who’ve come to expect their own bean bag and biscuit as standard. This year, the beloved Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Parklands will once again transform into one of the Harbour City’s most picturesque open-air theatres, with films running throughout the summer from Friday, November 21, 2025 to Sunday April 5, 2026. And while the November–December program is already on sale, the real thrill lies in The People’s Program – a nationwide vote to decide which nostalgic favourites will hit the big screen from January through March. Voting is now open, with film choices including Shrek, Dirty Dancing, The Castle, Jurassic Park and more. Everyone who casts a vote gets 30 per cent off General Admission to People’s Program screenings – plus a shot at winning a Double...

Every Wednesday evening, the Art Gallery of NSW welcomes you into its hallowed halls and throws the ultimate in absolutely free mid-week social and cultural events. Until 10pm, Art After Hours offers a regular program of live music, lectures and celebrity talks, drawing workshops, film screenings, gallery tours and other events – and, of course, nocturnal access to its latest exhibitions.  The program is usually themed around the exhibitions currently showing at the gallery, and you can join guided tours around the gallery at 5.30pm – it's free and no booking is required. Plus, a free courtesy bus runs every 20 minutes from 7pm until closing from the gallery to various city locations that are all close to public transport – so, no matter where you need to go, they have you covered.  Head to Art After Hours to jazz up your Wednesday night, and to inject a liberal splash of arty delight into your week, and your life.  Want more high culture? Check out our list of the best art exhibitions on across Sydney right now.

The north-of-the-bridge iteration of Bondi's Sunset Cinema is taking over North Sydney Oval again this summer, bringing three months of alfresco flicks to the open-air location. Sunset Cinema North Sydney will kick off a new season of outdoor popcorn delights from December 18 through to March 14. Pack your blankets and lawn chairs or hire a bean bag for an additional $15. Or level up with a Fever Tree lounger seating with popcorn and a Fever-Tree drink for an additional $30. Gates open at 6.30pm with films commencing at sundown. There will be a food truck onsite, but you're more than welcome to pack a picnic. Note: you can BYO food but not alcohol. The screenings kick off with a string of Christmas movies like The Holiday, Love Actually and even Home Alone on Christmas night(!). Kids will love Zootopia 2 and The Spongebob Movie, while families can join in a singalong for Mamma Mia!  Screenings take place Wednesday to Saturday (with a few exceptions). Early bird tickets are $20 per adult, which can be  and tickets (from $27 for adults, kids $15) are on sale now. Want more? Check out the best outdoor cinemas in Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. In the mood for a show? Here’s our list of the best theatre to see in Sydney this month. No cash to splash? You can catch an alfresco movie every Wednesday this summer in The Rocks.

Calling all Sydney-based cinephiles. Flickerfest – Australia’s biggest competitive short film festival – is coming back for 2026, taking over Bondi Pavilion with more than 200 short film screenings across a glittering ten-day program. Known for spotlighting some of the country’s best-received short films, with heaps of Academy® and BAFTA winners among its alumni, Flickerfest is returning for its 35th year, with films screening by the beach from January 23 until February 1, 2026. The carefully selected curation of short films will be chosen from a pool of more than 3,600 entries – and based on what we've seen in previous years, we're expecting big things.As well as the shortlisted films, the program features a celebration of young Aussie filmmakers (FlickerUp), a showcase of LGBTQI cinema (Rainbow Shorts), a series of films about relationships (Love Bites) and exploring films about relationships, Short Laughs (a comedy series) and FlickerKids: a special program of kids and family-friendly films. After the Bondi-based festival, Flickerfest will go on tour – taking selected films to more than 40 venues across Australia from February until October.You can check out the full program and learn more over here.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.RECOMMENDED: Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend.And these are the best outdoor cinemas in the city.In the mood for a show? Here’s our list of the best...