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.

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.

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.

If you yearn for the days of rolling jaffas on the floor, throwing lollies at the posh people…read moredownstairs from the balcony, and ascending up a grand staircase to your seats, Hollywood Cinema is the place to go. Despite it being a place of slightly faded glory now, they do have modern projection and audio gear, so do not fret on that point, and it's got more character in one of its walls than every Hoyts combined. It's one of the few independent cinemas left in Auckland; that alone should encourage you to head along there instead of going to a boring old multiplex. Films are generally current releases, but the great thing is that they also sometimes rotate those with less-commercial films that only seem to play for three days in other cinemas. They also host a 24hour movie marathon once a year, as well as regular concerts on the organ (which rises up out of the stage) that once accompanied many a silent film.

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!

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.

While on vacation decided to see a couple of movies with my daughter on the rainy days. The…read morecinemas here are different than back home in the USA. There are multiple floors and on each is a different set of theaters. The rooms are not very big, and beware the previews are about 30min long! Also, the bathroom is not nearby, so make sure to use it before entering the movie. There are multiple fast food restaurants on the first floor. Overall a good place to come on a rainy day.

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.

I'm strong believer that whoever redeveloped the Capitol Cinema was a bit of a romantic. From the…read moremoment you enter the cinema and dodge the entrance to where people are trying to scale ridiculous height, you begin to climb the stairs up to a different time. They have captured the essence so well of what it was like to go to the cinema, not from my childhood days but possibly my parents as well. The kiosk where you can pick up your treats (which I relatively well priced compared to the big mulitplex cinemas) has welcoming staff and you feel like they're genuinely interested in the movies being played. The seating is comfortable, not a great amount of leg room for someone over six foot, but enough to get through a movie without having to fall into some crazy yoga position. The quality of the screens and audio are as good as you would find in any "new" cinema. Overall, if you want to take a loved one for a romantic night out to the cinema, this is the place. Oh and either before or after you enjoy your time at The Capitol, I recommend you fill up on dumplings across the road at New Flavour.

Well the theater is surely oldish and the seats as well, but the sound is particularly great and…read moreenjoyable. Went to a concert last time and was surely not dissapointed . Also the welcome was nice and we'll organized. Good place for concert or local activities

I had the privilege of not only seeing Courtney Barnett live last night but to also see a gig at…read morethe infamous St James Theatre. I have walked by this place for years on my way to the Academy Cinema and was always so intrigued at the back story behind this random boarded up theatre in the heart of the CBD. When it opened a short while ago I knew I had to keep it on my radar. And then Courtney Barnett announced a show there and it was just pure serendipity. The acoustics are great and despite it being a rather large venue the 2nd and 3rd levels are closed off to the public. This makes only the mezzanine floor opened (no seating) for gigs. As a result you get a beautiful venue to perv at while enjoying a rather intimate show. There aren't many places like it in Auckland nonetheless in the rest of NZ. It reminded me of the beautiful venues back in Chicago and really look forward to the next gig there! The bar presents a respectable selection of beer wine and spirits and the only downfall for men is that the loo is like 3 floors down in the basement. Lucky ladies is on the main floor. They've still got some work to do but I am so grateful at the efforts to save this piece of Auckland history.

I love this small theatre as its the host for all the Fatso movies I get invited too, it also does…read morea Wednesday deal where you can go for $8. The ice cream, like Rialto is Kapiti - you choose the flavour and whether you want it in a cup or cone. There's a wine bar and its more intimate and cosy - good for a date. The staff are friendly and the place clean and cute. I will always have it as one of my favourite movie venues along with Rialto over and above the larger Events and Hoyts cinemas.

Seems hard to deny that the Academy is central Auckland's nicest cinema. Not that it has a lot of…read morecompetition. They went through a little stretch where their quality was certainly tailing off, but now (I believe this is due to a change of ownership) they're starting to perform at a high standard again and the whole experience is that much better for it. I particularly like watching films in their teeny weeny secondary theatre. It's gorgeous. So small and good. I'm a big fan. Plus they have this massive stairwell you have to traverse to get down to the place which is a definite plus. Who doesn't like stairs?!