Ritz Laneway Cinema 2020–21

Overview

Before 2020 rolled around, Sydneysiders were already quite fond of watching a movie outdoors, with the city playing host to many an openair cinema each and every year. But if ever there was a time to take advantage of the whole concept — the fresh air and the outside location, particularly — it's this pandemic-stricken period.

Enter the Ritz Laneway Cinema, which first kicked off back in 2019, and has now returned for its 2020–21 season. Unlike other openair movie-watching sites, this is an addition to the Randwick complex's usual program. That means that the outdoor cinema is here for the long haul — whenever it's warm enough to catch a film under the stars, really — and updates its lineup regularly alongside the Ritz's usual indoor session times.

Running on select nights — as subject to the weather, obviously, and kicking off at sundown each evening — this excuse to watch both retro and new movies by moonlight has had a bit of a makeover since last year. Movie buffs will spot a new mural on the laneway's floor and walls, a new pasted poster wall and some super-sparkling fairy lights. For snacks and drinks, the dedicated laneway bar has returned from last time, too.

As for what you'll be watching, it's an eclectic range . At the time of writing, that includes double the Seth Rogen in An American Pickle, Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense (aka one of the greatest concert films ever made) and Stranger Things' Joe Keery going to extreme lengths to go viral in Spree.

Top image: Kimberley Low