Overview
When Palace launched its 15-screen Pentridge Cinema in the revamped Coburg prison site back in 2020, it didn't just give Melburnians a new spot to see films indoors. Thanks to its pop-up outdoor setup, it also gifted the city another space to watch movies under the stars while the weather is warm.
That sibling venue, aka Pentridge Open-Air Cinema, returns for its 2022–23 season from Thursday, December 15 with quite the lineup. Launching the program is what's set to be one of the biggest films of the year, even though it only opens in mid-December, with James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water screening alongside a trivia session and a best-dressed — read: blue-heavy — contest. It'll show for three nights in a row, in fact. but only the first one will feature the extra festivities.
So far, the venue has revealed its lineup through until the end of February. Its season will run until Sunday, March 26; however, the rest of the bill won't be unveiled until closer to the date. The list of titles so far remains impressive, however, including Golden Globe-nominated Irish comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, the Cate Blanchett-starring Tár, 1920s Hollywood-set Babylon and the certain-to-be-steamy Magic Mike's Last Dance.
As we predicted before the cinema opened, this is clearly a great spot to watch prison flicks, with The Shawshank Redemption also on the new roster. Also either celebrating a theme or turning a night at the pictures into a party — or both — Moonage Daydream is screening on David Bowie's birthday, a session of Aliens includes sci-fi trivia, Titanic plays on Valentine's Day and the Isle of Dogs session is pet-friendly.
Among the throwback titles, a heap are scoring best-dressed contests, plus more trivia. Start planning your outfits for Die Hard, Romeo + Juliet, Twilight, Grease, Clueless, Friday the 13th, Pulp Fiction, Scream, The Princess Bride, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Labyrinth now.
Whatever you head along to see, you'll sit outside on a deck chair in the grassy courtyard, stare up at a big screen, soak in the summer evening air, and be surrounded by the precinct's 1850s-era walls.
Palace will run a pop-up bar outdoors each night, selling snacks and drinks. You can also BYO picnic if you'd rather, but not booze.
Pentridge Open-Air Cinema runs from Thursday, December 15–Sunday, March 26 at 1 Champ Street, Coburg. Head to the Palace website for further details and tickets.