A New Outdoor Cinema Is Coming to Brisbane's Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens

For a city known for its warm temperatures and near-constant sunshine, Brisbane can be found surprisingly lacking in the outdoor cinema department. When summer rolls around, our options for open-air movie-viewing aren't as plentiful as other parts of the country — but a new addition will help expand our slate of star-lit cinemas.

South Bank Parklands has Openair each October and November, New Farm Park has Moonlight Cinema every year from December, and now Mt Coot-tha Botantic Gardens will play host to Sunset Cinema this coming March and April. In its first Queensland venture, the lineup includes 14 nights of outdoor movie-going from March 15 to April 7, kicking off with the Jessica Chastain-starring Molly's Game and ending with Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow.

The program's focus on formidable ladies doesn't end there, with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lady Bird, I, Tonya and The Post all on the bill as well. So is Fifty Shades Freed, which we can't say fits into that category. Other highlights range from an early screening of Early Man from Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Animations, to superhero thrills with Black Panther, to every cinema's retro go-to, aka Dirty Dancing.

In addition to big-screen flicks at the base of Brissie's beloved mountain, Sunset Cinema will also feature a snack bar serving up popcorn and other movie treats, booze from 4 Pines and MadFish Wines, and a food selection that's still to be confirmed. Or, pack your own picnic — it's part of the fun of seeing a film outside, after all — but leave any alcohol at home. No BYO is allowed.

Sunset Cinema runs from March 15 to April 7 at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. To view the program — and to buy tickets from 10am on January 24 — visit sunsetcinema.com.au.