Overview
Sitting outside, getting comfy in a deckchair and watching a movie under the stars is a regular part of Melbourne's summers. It's also the kind of activity no one across the city has even been able to dream about during the past few months of lockdown. But, come the end of October, it's set to become a reality again. Under Victoria's just-announced roadmap out of stay-at-home conditions, outdoor cinemas will be permitted to reopen once 70 percent of eligible Victorians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — which is expected around Tuesday, October 26.
Two venues that are counting on that happening: the Lido and Cameo cinemas, which've just announced the reopening lineups for their respective rooftop and outdoor setups. Both sites will welcome in movie buffs again from Tuesday, October 26, with the Lido getting things started with a gala session of wild tweet-to-screen flick Zola, and the Cameo going the Marvel route with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Other flicks Melburnians can look forward to at the two openair spots include the excellent new Candyman movie, which'll screen on Halloween (obviously) at both venues; the Ryan Reynolds-starring Free Guy, where he plays a non-playable video game character who becomes self-aware; and Australian drama Nitram, the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor-winner that depicts the days leading up to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
There's also Disney's animated newcomer Ron's Gone Wrong, plus Adam Driver, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon-led medieval drama The Last Duel — all of which have tickets on sale now.
Although they don't yet have sessions on sale, big-name flicks Eternals, The Many Saints of Newark, No Time to Die and Dune are all also slated to light up the big screen at Lido on the Roof and Cameo Outdoor Cinema.
And if you're wondering about the third openair cinema run by the team behind these two venues, Classic Cinema's Rooftop Cinema, it's set to reopen again after lockdown as well — but a date hasn't been set as yet, as its screen needs to undergo some maintenance first. It will be reopening its rooftop bar on Tuesday, October 26 for drinks, however, so you'll be able to stop by from 4–8pm on weeknights and 2–8pm on weekends.
Capacity-wise, Victoria's roadmap allows outdoor entertainment venues to reopen with a cap of 50 people at the 70-percent fully vaxxed mark. That'll increase when the state hits the 80-percent double-jabbed threshold, which is expected around Friday, November 5. That date is when indoor cinemas will be permitted to reopen, too, with a 150-person cap per space.
Lido on the Roof and Cameo Outdoor Cinema will reopen on Tuesday, October 26, pending Victoria reaching the 70-percent fully vaxxed threshold by that date. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the Lido and Cameo cinemas websites.