Firefly Cinemas: The Greatest Showman
The capital's drive-in cinema experience returns for 2018.
Overview
In recent years there has been a resurgence of drive-in cinema experiences; a pastime that the kids from American Graffiti and Grease made look cool. The novelty of watching the big screen from the warm confines of your car has not escaped the Wellington-based Firefly Cinemas.
Firefly Cinemas was founded in 2013 and attracts thousands of people every season wanting to live (or relive) cinema experiences from the 60s. Cinema patrons can park in front of the 40-foot outdoor screen and tune into FM radio and get the audio transmission from the film.
Since their inception Firefly Cinemas has screened some real bangers, from Dirty Dancing to Fight Club to Jurassic Park to Kiwi fan favourite What We Do in the Shadows. The organisers are eager to give all New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the drive-in cinema and occasionally travel around, plus they have a strong focus on supporting New Zealand film, filmmakers and budding filmmakers.
The cinema has just wrapped up their 2017/2018 season and are about to roll out the 2018/2019 season. To kick it off, The Greatest Showman will be projected onto the screen at Trentham Racecourse in Upper Hutt on 15 September. Rev your engines, warm up your vocal chords and belt out a tune with Hugh Jackman, because traditional cinema etiquette doesn't matter so much here. Though make sure your fellow passengers are on board with your 'tuneful' renditions first. If you don't feel like watching from inside the car, you're more than welcome to bring beanbags and camping chairs to enjoy the movie under the stars.
You can follow Firefly Cinemas on Facebook to keep updated on their upcoming screenings, and every now and then you can vote for what you want to see on the big outdoor screen next.