Overview
When a new year starts, so does a whole new lineup of movies reaching the big screen, including at Moonlight Cinema. This summertime tradition may screen a heap of flicks that debuted a few months back, and classic titles as well, but its program is also filled with fresh releases. Take its just-announced January bill, for instance, which includes preview screenings of five big newcomers before they hit general release.
Those titles: Steven Spielberg's coming-of-age filmmaking ode The Fabelmans, Guy Ritchie's latest Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, the Margot Robbie-starring jazz age Hollywood-set Babylon, British rom-com What's Love Got To Do With It and Brendan Fraser-led awards contender The Whale.
The January lineup comes after Moonlight cinema revealed its December programming back in November, and also started its 2022–23 season. As always, one piece of advice bears repeating: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky.
While the outdoor cinema runs until different dates in different parts of the country — till mid-February in Brisbane and Adelaide, and the end of March in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth — this latest announcement focuses on its January films. So if you're keen to catch a movie under the stars over the break, take note.
Other highlights include James Cameron's 13-years-in-the-making sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Irish comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, as well as recent hits The Menu, Top Gun: Maverick and Ticket to Paradise.
The exact roster varies per city, but the national retro programming includes Twilight, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Princess Diaries, Con Air, Magic Mike and the OG Top Gun. So, that's sparkly vampires, 90s rom-coms, royal hijinks, Nicolas Cage, barely clad men and a need for speed taken care of.
Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema is letting you bring BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of bites to eat from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds.
There's also a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a beauty cart handing out samples, and dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — and there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches.
MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2022–23 DATES
Brisbane: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, February 19 in Roma Street Parkland
Sydney: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, March 26 in Centennial Park
Perth: Friday, November 25–Sunday, March 26 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Adelaide: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, February 19 in Botanic Park
Melbourne: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, March 26 in Royal Botanic Gardens
Moonlight Cinema runs through until March 2023, with dates varying per city. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with further program details when they're announced.