Sydney's Westpac Openair Cinema Has Revealed Its Full Summer 2024 Lineup of Films by the Harbour

Everything from the 'Mean Girls' musical to 'The Dry' sequel 'Force of Nature' is headed to Mrs Macquaries Point's stunning big screen.
Sarah Ward
Published on November 27, 2023

It's almost that time again, Sydneysiders: time for movies to compete with Mrs Macquaries Point's stunning view of Sydney Harbour. Every summer, the scenic spot's vista over the water, city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge gets a 350-square-metre screen showing the latest and greatest flicks — and Westpac Openair Cinema has just revealed its complete 2024 program.

Film lovers already knew that Sofia Coppola's Priscilla will open the outdoor picture palace's big summer return, and that Ferrari, Next Goal Wins and Poor Things are among the movies on Westpac Openair Cinema's lineup as well. They all have company, including the also previously unveiled Barbie and Amelie. Big-name titles abound, whether you're keen to see the Sydney premiere of The Dry sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2 or can't wait for the new Mean Girls musical — or just think that Saltburn would look spectacular in the venue's surroundings.

Running from Wednesday, January 10—Tuesday, February 20, Westpac Openair Cinema will also show May December, which stars Natalie Portman- (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Julianne Moore (Sharper); scandal-fuelled comedy Wicked Little Letters, as led by The Lost Daughter costars Olivia Colman (Heartstopper) and Jessie Buckley (Women Talking); and Nicolas Cage (Renfield) in Dream Scenario, where the inimitable actor plays an ordinary man who starts haunting the world's slumbers. Or, you can look forward to theatre and the screen combining via National Theatre Live: Dear England, featuring Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid's Tale) — plus sublime Japan-set Oscar contender Perfect Days from iconic German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence).

Other highlights span wrestling drama The Iron Claw, with Zac Efron (The Greatest Beer Run Ever), Jeremy Allen White (Fingernails) and Harris Dickinson (A Murder at the End of the World) leading the cast; Paul Mescal (Foe) and Andrew Scott (His Dark Materials) getting swooning in All of Us Strangers; the new version of The Color Purple; the George Clooney-directed The Boys in the Boat; and war veteran tale The Great Escaper, which could be Michael Caine's (Best Sellers) last performance.

Or, there's Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) both starring in and directing Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, Ridley Scott (House of Gucci) reteaming with Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid) for Napoleon, and Paul Giamatti (Billions)-led and Alexander Payne (Downsizing)-helmed comedy The Holdovers.

The list goes on, complete with the already-released Past Lives, Oppenheimer, Dumb Money and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One also set to screen. Among the classic picks, Pretty Woman and The Notebook will also score a whirl.

As for the snacks — because Westpac Openair Cinema is also about the dining experiences — you'll be nabbing a bite at Summer House Dining, Chandon Garden and Mike & Friends at The Point.

As happens every year, tickets are likely to go quickly when they go on sale on Monday, December 11. Across the summer of 2018–19, more than 40,000 tickets sold within the first two days of pre-sale, for instance — so put it in your diary ASAP.

Westpac Openair 2024 runs from Wednesday, January 10—Tuesday, February 20, with Westpac pre sales from 9am AEDT on Monday, December 4 till 5pm AEDT on Wednesday, December 6, then general tickets on sale from 9am AEDT on Monday, December 11 — head to the cinema's website for further details.

Images: Fiora Sacco, Chris Grundy, Andrew Maccoll and Nikki To.

Published on November 27, 2023 by Sarah Ward
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