Overview
The view from Mrs Macquaries Point is nothing short of stunning; however the view during Westpac Openair season is even better. When the outdoor cinema returns to the waterside spot for its 2020 run, Sydneysiders can soak up two gorgeous sights: the harbour, of course, and the impressive range of films that'll grace Openair's big screen.
From Thursday, January 9 until Friday, February 21, plenty of movies will play under the stars — starting with opening night's already-announced preview of Bombshell, which stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. That's just the beginning of the lineup, with Openair finally revealing its full program. Get ready for blistering revisionist takes on Australian history, crowd-pleasing biopics, Robert Pattinson playing a lighthouse keeper and more.
Yes, fresh from dropping its fiery first trailer, Justin Kurzel's exceptional True History of the Kelly Gang ranks high among Openair's standouts — and this must-see has much more in common with the Snowtown director's fantastic version of Macbeth than his forgettable video game adaptation Assassin's Creed. Other highlights include the Tom Hanks-starring A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, which looks set to earn Oscar attention, plus psychological horror movie The Lighthouse. The latter not only features Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, but marks filmmaker Robert Eggers' first movie since he creeped everyone out with The Witch.
Viewers looking for something amusing can opt for The Personal History of David Copperfield, the new film from Veep and The Death of Stalin's Armando Iannucci; Like A Boss, with Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek playing friends and business partners tested by a big new deal; and the latest adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Or, if you're fond of historical true tales, both Radioactive (with Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie) and The Current War (with Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison) should hit the spot. Filmgoers can also get a proper blast from the past thanks to a the 100th-anniversary screening of newly restored Aussie silent classic The Sentimental Bloke, complete with a brand new score performed live by Paul Mac.
If you missed some of Openair's previous lineup sneak peeks, its previously unveiled titles should get you excited, too. Greta Gerwig's version of Little Women leads the charge alongside Guy Ritchie's new gangster flick The Gentlemen — and between them, they star Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant.
Plus, if you've missed a few recent highlights at your local picture palace, Openair is also screening everything from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Hustlers, Rocketman and Official Secrets to Marriage Story, Blinded by the Light, Knives Out and Pain and Glory. After they release in December, it'll also play Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Throw in movie snacks by two top chefs — James Viles (Biota, Bertha's Meats) and Clayton Wells (Automata, A1 Canteen) — with the pair cooking up oysters, smoked beef tartare and sashimi kingfish belly, and your summer movie viewing just levelled up a few notches.
Westpac Openair season will release tickets at 9am on Tuesday, December 10, and they always sell quickly, so consider yourself warned.
Westpac Openair 2020 runs from January 9 to February 21, 2020. Tickets are on sale from 9am on Tuesday, December 10, with pre-sale tickets available for Westpac and St George customers from 9am on Friday, December 6.
Second image: Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, Copyright TM Lucasfilm Ltd.