Palace's New Moonee Ponds Picture Palace with a Rooftop Cinema Is Opening Just in Time for Boxing Day

When you love spending your spare time staring at a big screen in a darkened room, new cinemas opening is just like Christmas. When Melbourne's next picture palace starts its projectors and begins welcoming in film lovers, it really will be the festive season. Make a movie date, cinephiles: Palace Penny Lane Cinema is launching on Thursday, December 21.

The new Moonee Ponds venue was first announced in June, and was then targeting a spring opening. Now, it'll give Melburnians a cool place to escape the heat come summer. It's also launching just in time for the biggest moviegoing day of the year, aka Boxing Day, and will screen the Emma Stone (Cruella)-starring Poor Things, DC's latest Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the Anthony Hopkins (The Son)-led One Life, and animated fare Wish and Migration from Tuesday, December 26.

Palace Penny Lane will join the independent cinema chain's existing range of places to worship the silver screen around Melbourne, including the historic wonder that is The Astor and Pentridge's picture palace in an old prison. At the brand's latest addition, movie buffs can look forward to 11 traditional screens indoors, all boasting the usual Palace experience. Think: leather recliners, 4K projection and, for fans of wine with their flicks, double pours.

Fancy seeing a movie under the stars, too? Palace Penny Lane will also double as a rooftop cinema.

Film buffs will find their next must-visit haunt on Puckle Street in the Penny Lane development, hence the name, which sits 6.5 kilometres out from Melbourne's city centre.

"As we unveil Palace Penny Lane Cinema in Moonee Ponds, we're not just opening a cinema; we're inviting the audience to engage in the shared community experience of storytelling that we're so passionate about," said Palace Cinemas CEO Benjamin Zeccola.

"At Palace Cinemas, Italian hospitality is in our DNA, and with the launch of this new location we're thrilled to share warmth, luxury and quality entertainment in vibrant Puckle Street."

Other films on the venue's roster include Ferrari, Priscilla and Next Goal Wins — so, an Adam Driver (65)-starring and Michael Mann (Blackhat)-directed biopic, a different take on the Presleys from Sofia Coppola (On the Rocks) and Taika Waititi's (Thor: Love and Thunder) based-on-a-true-story soccer comedy.

Palace's Movie Club will also make the jump to the new venue, of course, if you like cheaper seats, free entry on your birthday and access to special events.

Palace Penny Lane Cinema will open on Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds on Thursday, December 21. Head to the Palace website for further details.