A local, independent cinema in the Auckland suburb of Balmoral. You'll find it situated on…read moreDominion Road, just past the Balmoral Road intersection, and by all the amazing (and cheap) chinese restaurants. It doesn't look much from the outside (my flatmate did in fact wonder what kind of movies were shown there) but walk inside to find a beautiful foyer with chandeliers. A range of snacks are on offer, such as Movenpick ice creams and you can even enjoy a wine with your movie if you so desire. This one cinema wonder certainly delivers on its luxurious surroundings. The plush purple chairs are very comfortable, while the curtain across the screen is a sign of a bygone era. It is a nice change from the cinema mulitplexes that we have become so accustomed to. While the ticket prices haven't gone back to $5, there is still a Tuesday night special (adults $10.50). So make a night of it, perhaps visit a restaurant across the road for some homemade dumplings and then make your way to the cinema for a movie. Thank me later for that great idea.

The Capitol used to be one of my favourite teenage haunts when it was Charley Grays. It had late…read morenight movies on Friday nights and I once saw Auckland icon Killer Ray live here before a showing - probably The Rocker Horror Picture Show or A Clockwork Orange. It closed down for a few years in the 90s and eventually Clip'n'Climb opened amidst fears the old cinema had been ripped out. Thankfully this was not so and the theatre, its foyer and restrooms and have been restored to their former Art Deco period glory. I always especially loved the Powder Room - a good Powder Room is such a girlie pleasure. This is not a 100% faithful restoration as it includes contemporary touches but like its sister The Lido in Epsom, it is beautiful and luxurious with a full bar, lounge-y lobby and gourmet ice cream. The films on show here are usual Indie Festival types and often chosen I think for an older demographic who seem to be in force each time I am here. Make a night of it and get a cheap fast dinner at one of Balmoral's many eateries; the only problem you might run in to is parking so allow time for that before sitting back, relaxing into your huge seat with your goodies and enjoying the show.

This Event Cinema is my favourite because it is so quiet. I often wonder if they make any money out…read moreof this cinema at all, but I'm not complaining. Often the candy bar is a one man operation and they even rip your tickets because 80% of the time there is no dedicated staff member to do this. It is obvious that the skeletal staffing is due to the lack of movie goers at this cinema but we can rip our own tickets and use the lights on our phones to find our own seats. This cinema is huge, there is a lot of seating, big couches around and a time out games arcade. I have only seen this area packed a few times and there is also a bar here. These cinemas also do not have stadium seating so you often feel like you are sitting on the floor which I don't mind, to make up for it there is quite possibly 1.5m of leg room in front of you. One other good thing is you can get your parking validated so it only costs $6 for a maximum of 4 hours, not even The Hobbit was that long so you would be safe. The parking is just of Davis Crescent.

Even on bargain Tuesday's (really, who actually goes to the cinema any other night of the week?)…read morewhen there's a newly released blockbuster on, this place is quiet. It makes taking my "can't we just wait 'til the DVD" whining partner out to watch a film a much more enjoyable experience. The Broadway bar is an absolute winner as well. AND you can take alcoholic beverages and cups of coffee into the movie with you! It's fantastic. The staff are always friendly and happy to help and the place is vast but easy to navigate. I really wouldn't go to the cinema anywhere else; comfortable seats, big screens and good choice of popcorn and snacks at the counter. Tip: If you go after 6pm, you can park for free a few minutes walk away at the bottom of Parnell Road.

Event cinemas St Lukes is my go to cinema. First of all the location is great, you can shop around…read morethe mall before your movie or grab a quick bite. Secondly the fact that it's at the mall means loads of parking spaces, although it can be a bit of a hustle to find it. Plus the cinema screens a variety of movies which range from 3D movies to those that can be screened in the Vmax theatre. I always enjoy going to St Lukes just to have a look at the set up they have. Another added bonus is the arcade in the cinema, if you have spare change, a lot of spare time and a winning spirit! You can take a few moments to win your lovely date a teddy bear, a phone or even candy! Do it.

Yeah so we all know about the two big players in Auckland's movie market. Thankfully we still have…read morequite a few lovely little boutique theatres but for those must-see box office busters you can't beat Event Cinemas at St Lukes. The parking is plentiful (long stay is best on the roof), there's one of those generic coffee shops right outside that everyone complains about but still can't resist, and you can squeeze in some shopping too with your movie. Bonus. There's eight cinemas here including 3D so we use this place a lot over school holidays when everyone wants to seee the same flicks. There's a foodhall downstairs too so if your movie is near a meal-time I would suggest booking your tickets online to save yourself the queue time, then grabbing a refreshment of your choice to take window shopping.

Thanks to my fellow yelpers in guiding me to this theatre. I had thought to go to Queen St cinema,…read morebut after reading the reviews, and seeing what people had to say about Lido, it was no contest. I'm so glad to make the trip here. The seats are for adults. Wine can be purchased from their bar and brought into the theatre. Parking is available for free across the street. Admission prices are fair. A most positive experience, as no one's cell phone went off during the film, and no one was looking at the phone (at least none that I could see)!!

The Lido is an independently owned cinema located in Epsom. The cinema only has two theatres so…read moreunlike Event or Hoyts cinemas, there are only a few films that run each day. Also unlike larger cinema complexes, The Lido plays more offbeat films as well as those popular blockbusters and Oscar nominated works. On top of the interesting and creative films The Lido plays, the cinemas themselves are also more comfortable and luxurious, with each theatre being decked out with nice high backed, wide seats and aisles. Glasses of wine, beer, coffees, popcorn, confectionary and Rush Munro's ice-creams are available when purchasing tickets, and the staff are all incredibly friendly, smiley girls that really contribute to the comfortable atmosphere of The Lido. This cinema is the perfect mixture of homeliness and class, and is the ideal place to meet relatives or the girls for a good movie, or alternatively romance your partner on a date.

On a rainy day in Auckland, I decided to take advantage of the weather and see a movie -…read moreOppenheimer. The biggest cinema for mainstream movies is Event Cinemas, part of a large commercial complex right in the heart of CBD. Talking with people, this area still hasn't fully recovered since the pandemic, which speaks to why the complex feels relatively empty and quiet. I even had difficulty finding the main entrance as most of the door area that used to have restaurants and bars are empty and looked closed. Entering off the street and going down, only to go up massive escalators inside, I finally found what I was looking for. The theatres are on multiple floors depending on the style of screen (traditional, IMAX, etc.). The ticket lobby and main concession stand is on the third level. Tickets can be purchased off touch screens in the lobby, where you choose your desired seat. Most theatres have recliners or even full day beds, prices depend on time and type of seat. After purchasing my ticket, I went up another level where usually a ticket taker would be, but the table was empty and remained so. I found it odd there was no one checking - I guess trust (or cameras) were ensuring you are a paying customer. There are bars and concession stands in other areas but all were closed on my visit; maybe only peak time they're open. The screen itself was great quality; seats comfortable, prices reasonable for modern movies, and everything was clean. I was happy taking a break from the city for a few hours and would see a movie here again.

5 stars for the dramatic architecture 2 stars for the…read moreservice/bathrooms. The building is quite simply amazing. This would have to be the most dramatic movie theater I have ever seen. I came here to see Star Wars the Force Awakens and was more impressed by the sci-fi bridges and architecture in the theater than i was with the planet killer bridges and architecture in the Star Wars movie. Event Cinemas never seem to have enough staff and the bathrooms always seem to be a disaster, there is never enough toilets, they are dirty and often in some state of disrepair.

I go to Rialto on a semi-regular basis. Most of my experiences here have been good, although they…read moreoften seem short staffed (or the only staff on hand cannot perform all the tasks needed to serve someone). They don't have frozen coke and more often than not don't have Nut Top ice-creams (my favs) but they do have Kapiti ice-cream which serves as a great alternative. For those wanting an alcoholic beverage, they also have quite a range in their bar and bar snacks to match. Keep an eye out for deals - they often have special events or cheaper priced nights!

Rialto cinema is an attractive cinema that offers an extensive range of screenings, bringing to…read moreAuckland otherwise overlooked film festivals. Chirpy French pop played matched to their current French film festival while the current Hollywood hype was advertised beside screening from The Metropolitan Opera. And it is ONLY because of this range in movies that I would give this venue anything above a 1 star rating. While paying almost double the amount of other cinemas, expect service that is nothing short of a teenage bowling alley. Uncleared tables. A caffeinated decaf coffee. Ignored during a 10 minute interval in the movie. No to mention our exquisite opera was preluded with music by a rapper and a Spice Girl. Staff seemed to lack product knowledge, management or incentive so that their lethargic attitude left a bad taste in our mouth and an empty space in our bellies. Now if only there was some way of downloading movies and viewing them in the comfort of your own home...

Awesome...that explains it all really! Hubby and I recently had a date night here mid week. Along…read morewith three strangers, we enjoyed watching a latest release movie in this laid back cool as a cucumber cinema. Loved it!

Fact 1: Cinemas are cooler if they're independently owned and not part of a chain. Fact 2: Cinemas…read moreare cooler if they have an organ. Fact 3: Facts 1 and 2 make the Hollywood doubly cool. While it's nice just going to see a movie in this old-fashioned, nostalgia-filled cinema, the real highlight happens a couple of times a year when they show screenings of old silent movies with live accompaniment on the organ. We went and saw a Buster Keaton movie last year, and not only was it cool seeing the old film on a big screen, it was also lovely hearing the organ being played. Any instrument that takes up an entire room is worth hearing live, I reckon.

Unequivocally my FAVOURITE venue in Auckland! There is something quite magical about this place…read more From the beautifully themed entrance lobby to the star covered ceiling in the theatre itself the Civic never fails to impress. Their line up of musicals, orchestral performances, theatre and Opera are the best of the best too! Close to public transport and parking close by it is an easy place to get to as well which is a convenient bonus

I have a special bond with the Civic, when I was a kid my grandmother worked there and I would…read moreoften get to go into the Civic and the Wintergarden theatres and run through the back halls and rooms, this was during the days of the St James theatre when no-one had even heard of a multiplex. I've been up to the top and seen the stars, I've played with the glowing eyed lions. In part I think the bond I have with the Civic is a little more intense but no less symbolic then the one the rest of Auckland has with it. The Civic is possibly more iconic than the Auckland Town Hall and it seems to sit astride the heart of the Auckland CBD. Inside the Civic, the entrance hall remains mostly unchanged with the exception of the candy bar that used to sell Tangy Fruits, with a glass of wine or beer being the order of the day. Yes folks the Civic ascended from its cinema roots and matured to be an actual Theatre. In all its changes, its not lost its Grandiose 1940's charm and while the seats are still packed in there, you can sit in the Civic and know you're part of Auckland's long history with the Arts. Wellington is still considered the cultural capital of New Zealand, but its got competition here.