Overview
Literally massive news, movie lovers: IMAX is bringing its big-screen experience to Queensland. Australia's number of giant spots to catch a film is expanding to three, with the Gold Coast joining Sydney and Melbourne. Cinephiles will be able to check out the new screen before 2024 is out, with the country's latest IMAX set to open before Christmas and Boxing Day.
The Sunshine State has been in this situation before, however. South Bank's Cineplex in Brisbane was previously an IMAX but, while it still has the towering screen in operation, the picture palace hasn't shown the format for more than a decade. Accordingly, Brisbanites are set for a trip down the highway — and tourists to the Gold Coast who are keen on catching a flick during their stay have somewhere huge to hit up.
The movie haven to head to: Event Cinemas Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, with an existing auditorium transforming for IMAX, which is being custom-built in. Expect a 1.1:9 aspect ratio screen, with images flickering across it thanks to IMAX 4K laser projection. There's no word yet if, like its counterparts down south, the Gold Coast's IMAX will be one of the biggest cinema screens in the world.
IMAX Corporation and hospitality company EVT are aiming for a Thursday, December 19 launch, which means opening with Mufasa: The Lion King — and then showing 2024's Boxing Day slate. On an ongoing basis, film fans can expect to see not just blockbusters, but also concert films, documentaries and live events make the most of IMAX.
The Gold Coast will now boast two sizeable ways to get a movie fix, with surround-screen viewing experience ScreenX making its Australian debut at Event Cinemas Robina back in 2023. Three walls, three screens, a 270-degree field of view: that's the maths behind that concept, which uses multi-projection across a screen area measuring 67.7 metres.
Also in 2023, after IMAX Sydney reopened at Darling Harbour following a seven-year period where it was demolished and then rebuilt, it was revealed that another IMAX was on its way to Sydney. While it's planned for an existing Event Cinemas location as well, it hasn't come to fruition as yet.
"At EVT, our vision has always been to provide experiences that escape the ordinary, and IMAX embodies that ethos. Queenslanders have long desired an IMAX cinema, and we are thrilled to bring this incredible cinematic experience to the Gold Coast," said Daniel McCabe, EVT's General Manager, Cinema Operations Australia.
"Australia boasts an exceptionally passionate moviegoing audience and 2024 has already become the highest-grossing year for IMAX in the country since 2016. With audience demand at an all-time high, we couldn't be more excited to bring The IMAX Experience to the Gold Coast," added IMAX Chief Sales Officer Giovanni Dolci.
IMAX will open at Event Cinemas Pacific Fair, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Level 1/1571 Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach, in the lead up to Christmas 2024 — expected on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Head to the cinema's website for more details.
Images: IMAX Queensgate NZ and IMAX Sydney.