Overview
If Sofia Coppola's Priscilla is one of your most-anticipated movies of 2024, and Westpac Openair Cinema's big summer return is one of your favourite film dates every year, then mark your calendar ASAP: when it opens its next season in January, this outdoor picture palace at Mrs Macquaries Point will launch with Mare of Easttown, Devs, On the Basis of Sex, Bad Times at the El Royale and Pacific Rim: Uprising actor Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley, plus Australian Euphoria and The Kissing Booth star Jacob Elordi as Elvis.
Westpac Openair Cinema has been announcing details of its next season for a month or so now, including locking in its 2024 dates and revealing that Ferrari, Next Goal Wins and Poor Things will all grace its huge screen. Priscilla opening its season is the latest piece of news for movie lovers, with the film set to enjoy its Sydney premiere in stunning surroundings on Wednesday, January 10.
Accordingly, audiences are in for Coppola's (On the Rocks) exploration of Elvis' marriage to Priscilla from the latter's perspective, adapting Elvis and Me, Priscilla's 1985 memoir that was co-written with Sandra Harmon. This isn't the first time that the book has hit the screen thanks to a 1988 TV movie, but it clearly has its namesake's approval given that she's one of the feature's executive producers. (Another: Coppola's brother Roman.)
Priscilla will be joined by both Barbie and Amelie on the full Westpac Openair Cinema, with the event adding three more titles in total before it reveals its full program on Monday, November 27.
If you're new to Westpac Openair Cinema, it sets up a towering screen at Mrs Macquaries Point each summer, backdropped by spectacular panoramic views. That'll be on the agenda in 2024 from Wednesday, January 10—Tuesday, February 20, complete with a vista over the city, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
The team behind the event has posted on social media about Oppenheimer and Past Lives as well, so fingers crossed that they make the cut when the complete lineup drops. Cross your toes, too, if you'd love a Barbenheimer double.
The Westpac Openair Cinema crew has also mentioned a few titles that it's still thinking about from its 2023 run, which you could take as a hint. On the list: Tár, Elvis, Jackie Brown and the OG Top Gun.
Westpac OpenAir Sydney
The event's array of dining experiences hasn't been announced as yet, including whether if Kitchen by Mike will be behind the cinema's meals again.
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. The program will be announced on Monday, November 27, with tickets on sale on Monday, December 11 — check back here then for further details.
Top image: Fiora Sacco.