A cinephile’s guide to all 29 of Auckland’s dedicated film houses, from the massive modern multiplexes to the century-old cinema stalwarts.

Tāmaki Makaurau is incredibly lucky for the wealth of cinema options at hand, from tiny independents to massive multiplexes. We don’t have the capacity for what many cinephiles consider the mountaintop of modern movie-watching – celluloid film projection on an IMAX/VistaVision/70mm scale – but we have pretty much everything else.

When I speak of Auckland cinemas, I hope I convey the genuine reverence I feel for every single one of them: cinemas are very hard to keep in business, and the film industry is an amorphous and ever-changing beast which calls for all the different types of movie watching experiences offered by this list.

For all the good and not-so-good we can point out about these places, it is vital that we, the moviegoing public, also look at the things we could do better: get off our cellphones in theatres, prize varied and unexpected programming, buy our snacks and drinks at the theatres themselves (as that’s where the money is made), and generally make the effort to go to the movies over watching things at lower quality on streaming services – particularly the smaller or lesser-known films.

To me, any cinema is better than no cinema at all, but different films are better in different watching environments. Watching Hamnet at the Lido Cinema is inevitably going to be a better experience than, say, Hoyts Sylvia Park. That said, there’s also different cinemas for different needs. For those with a gaggle of kids, something like Event St Lukes fits the bill; for those like me who are of the bigger variety, seat comfort and space is a real consideration. Some will want a glass of wine, others want a giant bucket of popcorn. The best cinemas bridge as many gaps as possible. 

In compiling this ranking I attended every cinema on this list. My marking criteria assessed them on the quality of their screens and sound setup, general ambience, in-cinema experience, quality of concessions, seat quality, community engagement and quality of programming. You’ll notice I haven’t included price. Some cinemas are more expensive than others, and often involve a different kind of experience for the viewer. This will be taken into account, but cinemas won’t be put up against each other solely on the basis of cost.

In the interest of fairness, no space where the screening of films is not the primary purpose can be included. Therefore, apologies must be paid to strong community cinema operations like Flicks at Lopdell and Stardome Observatory, and festival mainstays like the mighty Civic, SkyCity theatre and (ugh) the ASB Waterfront Theatre. Underground cinema clubs like the excellent Koha Cinema Club or the AUT Film Club are also not counted here as they are not ticketed institutions. All are worth your time and patronage – with regards to Koha and AUT, entry is even free, a gratifying example of cinema as a communal mechanism, with really strong films programmed month-to-month.

An honourable mention must go to the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura, which, because it is council-funded and ultimately primarily an arts/theatre space, also can’t be a part of this list. But the Hawkins does adapt its theatre into a cinema week-to-week, showing films for almost the entire year with solid sound and picture, seating options and concessions. A true community project, the Hawkins is one of the cheapest ways to see new movies, with tickets for major new releases topping out at $12.50 for adults, a practically unheard of price elsewhere.

29. Hoyts Hibiscus Coast

The Good: I don’t have a huge amount of nice things to say about this one, sadly, so I’ll drop this in as a blanket comment on Hoyts cinemas – it is my opinion that they have the tastiest popcorn of the lot. The Hibiscus Coast Hoyts has a whole room dedicated to Artie’s Bar (the branded bar that accompanies most Hoyts cinemas), where other Hoyts seem to treat it as an afterthought.

The Not-so-good: The Hoyts Hibiscus Coast has seen better days. The whole thing has a dusty, dejected feeling, from the sparse, lonely-looking arcade machines crammed into the far end of the foyer to the faded, trampled carpet. The screens are fairly small, and the seats are cramped and uncomfortable with an unpleasant suede texture. 

Verdict: Overall I’ve been impressed by the more further-flung Hoyts cinemas, which are way overpriced but offer a fine multiplex experience. I can’t extend that to this cinema, though.

28. Event Westcity

The Good: Westfield Westcity is easy to find and well-placed, with a decently stocked Timezone arcade and Westcity’s sprawling foodcourt not far away for a pre- or post-movie meal and discussion.

The Not-so-good: I remember going to this cinema on Saturdays after soccer practice as a kid in the early noughties, and it looks like very little has changed. I really do love chintzy 90s/00s design, and these chain cinemas that have been around since then have a retro feel that almost functions as a kind of time capsule. But there’s a point where nostalgia tips over into feeling a little sad, and that’s the general vibe of the Westcity Event.

Verdict: What once felt like a cavernous, fun-filled hub now feels like a dust-covered fossil.

27. Hoyts Wairau Park

The Good: That quintessential early-2000s aesthetic is better preserved here than at Westcity, with neon lights, an arcade, plenty of parking and an array of other activities in the near vicinity. Take the kids to see Hoppers then go to LaserForce or bowling afterward.

The Not-so-good: In spite of the many activities dotting the landscape, Wairau Park is not an especially inspiring location. There’s something depressingly suburban about the whole affair, something that not even the “Parisian-themed” Artie’s Bar and Cafe inside the complex can offer relief from. 

Verdict: For whatever reason, I’ve always thought of Hoyts Wairau Park as the kids’ movie theatre. Maybe it’s the various other entertainment options that are situated all around it, or the unsettling North Shore Denny’s right around the corner, or the fact I saw (and cried at) Paddington 2 here, but something about this one-storey cinema has always been synonymous with family outings.

26. Hoyts Sylvia Park

The Good: Hoyts Sylvia Park houses a Ben & Jerry’s, for those of you too elitist to enjoy a choc top with the rest of us plebs. This particular Hoyts is also renowned for its diverse programming aimed at Auckland’s South and Southeast Asian communities (though it’s not the only one that does this), most notably its reliable stream of well-attended Bollywood movies.

The Not-so-good: What’s with the layout? After riding an escalator to the top floor, you’re greeted by a screen door that opens onto a wall of televisions. When you navigate around this, it’s difficult to locate where to buy tickets or purchase food – there are bizarre lockers for popcorn, a giant pillar in the centre of the room around which are various fridges housing choc tops, and a side-room housing arcade games. It’s not until you’re deep in the bowels of the beast that you find a group of booths, barely signposted and sparsely attended, where you can actually talk to someone who works there.

Verdict: In the war between the chain cinemas, Event bests Hoyts as far as I’m concerned – in aesthetic, ambience, screen quality and affordability. Hoyts Sylvia Park is exhibit A for the chain’s shortcomings – why is such a prominent cinema such a bewildering and underwhelming site for movie magic?

25. Event Cinemas Manukau

The Good: This peculiar cinema is housed inside a truly cavernous space, which includes a well-populated Timezone Arcade that stretches back into several alcoves and hallways. This is the only cinema I’ve gone to here in Auckland that also features pool tables and coin-booth karaoke, which is kind of genius. On a Friday morning, it was pumping, with laconic teenagers shooting pool, families lining up to see the Mario movie, and at least half of the Timezone machines occupied. 

The Not-so-good: This is not the newest or most exciting of chain cinemas by a long shot, meaning there’s little to recommend here that others aren’t doing slightly better – unless this is your local or you really love karaoke.

Verdict: A quick look at online Reddit discussions of Auckland cinemas indicates that Manukau Event Cinemas is frequently cited as “worst of the worst”. Really, it’s not that bad. It’s pretty much right down the middle. With two VMAX theatres, you could do worse.

24. Event Westgate

The Good: In recent years, Event Westgate has had a bit of a makeover, for the better. There are now recliners and daybeds in some of the cinemas, a glittering arcade, a passable bar and a truly enormous light fixture, certainly one of the more eye-catching features of the many chain cinemas I’ve attended.

The Not-so-good: The exterior of the building, a giant metal cube with a very faded half-signboard, is hardly enticing.

Verdict: As with Manukau, this is largely middle-of-the-road fare: you won’t have the worst cinema experience of your life, but nor are you likely to have the best.

23. Event St Lukes

The Good: Few mall cinemas encompass the classic “mall cinema” vibe like this one. It’s kind of amazing that it hasn’t had a major renovation or update in decades, with seemingly the same faded seats from the era in which I tried to sneak into an R16 screening of 300 when I was 15 (I failed), or had a cataclysmic teen argument with a friend over whether The Dark Knight was better than Batman Begins. The VMAX cinemas, which used to house midnight premieres, are surprisingly spacious, with good screen quality. The arcade also packs a solid amount of good time-wasters into a pretty small space.

The Not-so-good: The regular, non-VMAX cinemas are a lot lower quality in screen, sound and upkeep than the premium cinemas, with a slightly bedraggled, dingy feeling. There’s a certain moth-eaten homeliness here which I look at with utmost affection, but newcomers are unlikely to be impressed by. The attached bar, which sits mostly neglected at the back of the main foyer, feels more like a creche for adults to sit with their amassed bags of shopping while their kids gamble on the arcade machines.

Verdict: There’s a comforting, safe aura that emanates from St Lukes Event Cinema. For me, cinephilia began here, so I will never be able to dismiss it entirely, even as it gets a little long in the tooth. If there’s a mainstream film I’ve missed, and need to catch up on, I’ll still opt for ole faithful over glitzier and more refined options elsewhere.

22. Cinema 3 Pukekohe

The Good: Cinema 3 in Pukekohe is one of a handful of genuine independent cinemas in the city, and a unique one at that. The retro architecture of the exterior adds to the small-town cinema sensibility the whole place gives off, from its modest but tasty selection of snacks to the local ads that play alongside trailers pre-screening. There’s even an adjoining restaurant called Jessica’s which looks like a cute spot for an after-movie discussion. For a small indie cinema, I was impressed by the quality of the screen and the sound. Even better, the seats had adjustable armrests – take note, Auckland cinemas, this is an easy way to get bonus points.

The Not-so-good: As a counterpoint to the adjustable armrests, the seats themselves were bizarrely low to the ground, pushing my knees up to a slightly uncomfortable angle. The interior of the cinema foyer, with its blaring fluorescent lighting and somewhat sparse, economic decor isn’t necessarily the most scintillating environment to linger in before heading off to movieland.

Verdict: What happened to Cinema 1 and 2 Pukekohe? We may never know. What Cinema 3 has to offer is a rock-solid, locally run indie cinema with a robust set of screens and friendly staff. The entire vibe is retro in a way that feels authentic.

21. Bridgeway Cinemas Northcote

The Good: The Bridgeway is a cornerstone of the New Zealand International Film Festival, and does offer a decent range of under-the-radar options. Sitting alongside the Bridgeway is Sfera, surely one of the best cinema-adjacent dining options in Auckland, an Italian restaurant that’s fairly pricey, but also (I’m told) very good. The Bridgeway has also been one of the most-honoured cinemas in Auckland, the winner of numerous Best Cinema commendations and a fixture of Northcote’s residential community.

The Not-so-good: I hate to say it, but let’s face it – the Bridgeway is an old folks’ cinema. Head along to the Bridgeway and chances are that the audience will be overwhelmingly caucasian, and of an older age demographic. The films shown there largely follow this demographic’s taste with plenty of  “cup of tea” films: pleasant, handsome dramas that give off a “socially liberal, fiscally conservative” vibe, usually from Britain, unlikely to challenge the audience of mainly boomers who attend them. This is, perhaps, a financial necessity – those films are well-attended, undoubtedly. But more often than not they’re shown in cinemas that, in my experience, are pretty low volume and often uncomfortably warm. Many’s the time I’ve found myself involuntarily sweating my way through a festival movie, and not because of the events playing out on-screen. The Bridgeway’s concessions leave a lot to be desired, too, with a lot of focus on wine and not much on movie snacks. 

The Verdict: There are those who are incredibly passionate about the Bridgeway, and good for them. It is by no means a bad cinema, I just don’t feel like it’s necessarily for me.

20. Berkeley Mission Bay

The Good: This charming little cinema is tucked into Mission Bay’s main drag, nestled among an array of restaurants to satisfy pre- or post-movie cravings. The beach is literally right across the road, which is really nice, as are the picture windows in the foyer allowing you to stare out at the ocean as you wait for your theatre to open. The cinema is equipped with a number of posters of classic films that appear to have been there for a long time. It’s a nice touch.

The Not-so-good: I found the seats to be a little narrow and restrictive, and the sound a little quiet for my afternoon screening of action film Fuze – a film that called for booming audio. 

Verdict: Apparently this is technically a Hoyts Cinema, though it goes by a different name. This is quite an underrated one – it has a warm seaside ambience, friendly staff, and offers a decent selection of films. It’s nice that the beachfront of Mission Bay has space for the movies, too.

19. Silky Otter Cinemas Ōrakei

The Good: The original Silky Otter is nestled at the back of a cute little shopping complex, overlooking Mission Bay and the nearby train station. It’s a very picturesque, dare I say cinematic location for this high-end iteration of the local chain. The interior is small but inviting – the staff at the Silkies are some of the friendliest I’ve encountered, and the menus are great. I really like the little bespoke candy bags they have on offer.

The Not-so-good: Unlike the other Silkies, this one is not equipped with a full kitchen, which means its menu is a little more limited. The issues I have with the Silky Otters in general I lay out a little later in this ranking – these are pretty consistent across the three Auckland locations.

Verdict: The first Auckland Otter remains the bougiest, with a real sense of pomp and circumstance that belies the relatively small space in which it sits. Luxurious, with the price tag to match.

18. Hoyts Ormiston

The Good: I really like the big light feature on the ceiling of this multiplex as you head inside, and the way it reflects against the metallic walls and gold Hoyts sign that adorns the entryway. The interior subtly reflects the locale with hip hop-coded murals on a side wall. The staff were extremely friendly, and the cinemas spacious, clean and well-appointed, with ample sense of ceremony and circumstance as you head inside.

The Not-so-good: I dislike the self-service element of Hoyts cinemas. I might be in the minority here, but I like to interface with a human before I go inside a cinema. This one has a popcorn self-service station that looks back into a kitchen of sorts. To this I’ll say: this isn’t The Bear, I don’t need to see how the sausage is made.

Verdict: As with the next stop on this list, my journey to Auckland’s Hoyts extremities left me impressed by the quality of the locations and the overwhelming friendliness and enthusiasm of the staff. Good stuff.

17. Hoyts Botany Downs

The Good: I don’t spend much time out in this part of Auckland, so it was my first time rolling through the bustling Botany Downs town centre. I guess I didn’t get the memo – this is clearly the place to be on a chilly Wednesday night. It was so brightly lit, filled with (primarily young) people and operational restaurants and businesses that I thought I’d briefly travelled to a non-economically starved city with a halfway-functioning nightlife culture. This Hoyts fits in nicely to the space, with a big glowing sign and a typically cavernous foyer which tends to dwarf the staff working behind the counter. The theatre I went into was the much-ballyhooed “Xtremescreen” which was, to be fair, very large. This location also had very friendly staff.

The Not-so-good: The town centre is an absolute maze, heaving with cars, and the Hoyts itself is weirdly hard to find.

Verdict: This was easily my favourite of the many Hoyts I visited, because of the way it interacted with the space around it. There’s plenty of options for pre- and post-movie entertainment, dining, and so on, and in a way that feels less like you’re being pressured into buying something and more like you’re just hanging out. Old school!

16. Event Cinemas Albany

The Good: One of the newer Events in town, the Albany location is one of the most inviting and well-resourced cinemas around, with a hearty range of theatres, up-to-date sound and image technology, and an honestly impressive arcade below the cinema floor. It’s a clean location, with a nice ambience and general design – a quite nice light display in the centre of the entryway is a solid touch of class – and little of the wear and tear you might find at other, older chain locations.

The Not-so-good: Navigating your way to the cinema is easier said than done, particularly when approaching from Auckland CBD-side.

Verdict: One of the very best chain cinemas in the game, this one, particularly for those carting along the whole family. Peep that arcade!

15. Silky Otter Takanini

The Good: The (truly lovely, horror-film recommending) manager at this relatively new Silky informed me that much of the diverse crowd that comes through the Takanini cinema have been drawn away from Event Manukau and other similar spaces.  This eight-theatre cinema is far bigger than the other Silkies, with larger theatre spaces. The space afforded by the larger theatres at Takanini offers roominess of seat space. These ones are genuinely comfortable. The staff here are also extremely helpful and friendly, in my experience. Silky Otter Takanini seems well aware of the diversity of its neighbourhood – its regular Bollywood film screenings are routinely sold out, or so I’m told.

The Not-so-good: The Silky Otters are experimenting currently with in-cinema QR Code ordering, which hasn’t exactly been a success at similar theatres overseas. I remain suspicious of any system that invites cellphone use within a theatre, disrupting the cinema experience. Takanini’s foyer interior feels like it is still missing something, too. The matte-black, high-ceilinged interior is crying out for a little visual variation.

Verdict: The Takanini branch is coming for the multiplex crown. It’s not there yet, but it’s closing in.

14. Rialto Newmarket

The Good: Ah, the Rialto. A stalwart in the independent cinema game, confidently straddling the line between indie and commercial to general success. The Rialto has long been, to me, a “comfort cinema”, a place of reliably sturdy programming, good concessions (strong ice cream game) and mostly good-enough theatres. One of the key aspects of the Rialto’s success is the breadth of its programming: if a film isn’t showing anywhere else, whether that’s because it’s been out for a while or it’s flying under the radar, odds on the Rialto is showing it. This immediately sets it above its competitors, and ensures I’m there more often than many other cinemas on this list.

The Not-so-good: The problem here are the screens themselves, the sound, the ambience: it’s all just a little flat. The Rialto is pretty notorious for having middling sound and image quality, an irony considering they so consistently show such a wide range of cinema. 

The Verdict: The Rialto is an essential lifeline for under-the-radar arthouse offerings, perhaps even more so than some of its famous indie competitors. It’s a cinema that has a lot to offer but is somewhat let down by those most essential of elements, the screen and sound.

13. Monterey Cinemas Howick

The Good: I nearly drove right past it when I first arrived. Nestled within, of all things, an apartment building (sidenote: living above a cinema? Lowkey the dream) the Monterey Cinemas Howick location is unassuming from the outside but warm and welcoming within. This is a lovely little cinema with a strong sense of history. As you walk to your screening, you’ll note on the walls photographs of previous Monterey Howicks (it has moved a couple of times). The Monterey clearly has a committed local presence, which is fantastic. The team at the cinema told me about a reliable customer base of seniors referred to as “Monty’s Army”, which is extremely cute. Monterey also has some of the lowest prices of any cinema I’ve visited, with their highest possible price being $22 during peak hours and $10 tickets on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Not-so-good: The seats were a little narrow, and the interior foyer and hallway, while clearly relatively new and adorned with historical pictures, could be designed to reflect the character of Howick and the cinema’s clientele.   

Verdict: This one bears all the hallmarks of a fantastic community space – affordable prices, dedicated local audiences, a strong sense of film (and town) history. Underrated.

12. Beachside Cinemas Takapuna

The Good: A recent refurbishment following flood damage has done wonders for this historic location. Painted a brilliant, iconic blue, the interior has a charming, community-focussed feel, while the theatres themselves have strong sound and picture. One of the most charming quirks of the Beachside Cinemas is its use of couches, rather than traditional cinema seats, taking up the lion’s share of their bigger theatres. Rather than the ratty, overused couches one might imagine, these couches are plush and comfortable without making you feel like you’re sitting on something gross. Instead of the typical cheap Tuesday deal you’ll find at other cinemas, Beachside does its $10 ticket deal on Wednesdays, which feels a lot more audience-friendly somehow.

The Not-so-good: Credit where it is due, the Beachside does show alternative and retrospective films, to a point: in the weeks to come they’ll be showing reliable titles like Casablanca, Fight Club and Ferris Bueller, as well as local independent films The Weed Eaters and The Tavern. That said, it feels like there’s potential here to get even more adventurous with the programming. Yes, I’m aware this is becoming a common refrain.

Verdict: A perennial underdog, the Beachside Cinemas in Takapuna is a long-standing institution that has seen many different owners (and names) over the years. Fun fact: the Beachside showed New Zealand’s first-ever feature film, Hinemoana, way back in 1914. That film is now lost to time but the Beachside remains. 

11. Reading Cinemas LynnMall

The Good: Reading Cinemas LynnMall’s Titan XC Screen was one of the first in Auckland to offer the Dolby Atmos sound experience, which is about as good a sound experience as one can ask for. The Reading LynnMall is a remarkably solid all-rounder, with atmospheric lighting, a good layout, and competitive prices. I’ve heard from filmmaker friends that Reading boasts one of the more impressive screen and sound combos of the chain cinemas in Auckland – indeed, it is a space that by-and-large seems to be punching above its weight class. 

The Not-so-good: Some have mentioned online that the cleanliness factor can sometimes let Reading down. When I visited it struck me as par for the course for chain cinemas of its type – indeed my main note for the good folks at Reading was that their generally solid programming could be – say it with me now – more adventurous. Reading LynnMall is a local cinema with a strong reputation, so why not branch out and offer films that challenge an audience a bit more?

Verdict: The (comparatively) new chain on the block, Reading Cinemas LynnMall feels like an under-the-radar option that’s growing in stature. Perhaps it’s because New Lynn is the ancestral burial ground of the greatest chain cinema the city has ever known (RIP) but there’s an appealing nostalgia to the space that doesn’t feel musty or overbearing. Its generally low prices make it a good option for the cash-strapped, and it is starting to throw its weight around as a space for big events, like the 10th anniversary screening of Hunt for the Wilderpeople last month.

10. Waiheke Community Cinema

The Good: This lovely little one-room cinema sits nestled in Waiheke Island’s main town square – easy to miss, but well worth a stop. Befitting the name, this has the feel of watching a movie at a mate’s house, but amplified. All the seating comes in the form of extremely squishy and comfortable couches, while the candy bar sits at the back of the cinema amid a sea of classic movie posters and hand-painted images of superheroes. I was impressed by the sound quality, and the welcoming vibe of the staff behind the counter. This seems to be well-loved by local residents, too. 

The Not-so-good: The nature of the space is that it is close-quartered – the screen is fairly close no matter where you sit. If you happen to arrive late (as I did), you face the quagmire of buying tickets and concessions in the dark, with the film playing. Comes with the territory, really.

Verdict: One of the most pleasant watching experiences I have had on this long cinema journey. Highly recommend stopping in, particularly if rain ruins your wine tour.

9. Silky Otter Cinemas Ponsonby

The Good: The newest Silky Otter cinema is also the best, with a really lovely ambience and incredibly friendly staff. There are just so many lovely touches at the Silky Otter – the ready availability of blankets, the classy foyer with a cafe-style layout – and its centrality is a real bonus. It’s bizarre that Ponsonby didn’t have a cinema before this, to be honest. 

The Not-so-good: The cinemas themselves do feel quite cramped, with even the recliners seeming narrow and a bit restrictive. While the concessions (and full hot meals) are excellent, the interruptions that come with the servers arriving during the film to bring audience members food do feel more pronounced in such a small space. The picture and sound at these cinemas is the Ponsonby location’s greatest flaw, to my mind, with the projection feeling oddly, consistently dim and the sound tuned way too low. It is a strange and unfortunate quirk of these glitzy cinemas.

Verdict: With the exception of the Takanini branch, these locally-owned, “premium” cinemas have a bougie, luxurious vibe and the prices to match – even their cheaper ticketed days land at just below $20 apiece (for members, Monday tickets are $15). The menu is one of the best of any Auckland cinema, undoubtedly, with a lovely selection of meals and snacks, movie-themed offers and snazzy drinks. There’s also the value of supporting a local venture that is growing in stature and reputation as a strong competitor to international chains.

What’s generally holding these cinemas back, I’ve found, is that the actual screening rooms themselves sometimes leave something to be desired (Takanini again notwithstanding). Screen, sound and space have been, in my experience, less than ideal. These would not stop me from visiting again, far from it, but for now the Otters will have to settle with a showing just inside the top 10.

8. Event Cinemas Queen St (and IMAX)

The Good: Event Queen Street houses the city’s only IMAX screen, making it an absolutely essential fixture in Auckland cinescape. Anyone who saw One Battle After Another, Sinners or Oppenheimer in IMAX can attest to the way it elevates the viewing experience – precisely why directors like Christopher Nolan, Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler are drawn to it. The irresistibility of that screen ensures audience willingness to overlook all manner of drawbacks. The IMAX also has adjustable armrests, gods be praised. The other cinemas aren’t slacking, either – I’ve found them to be reliably robust in their sound and picture.

The Not-so-good: The vibe of the place lends the cinemas themselves a grim aura. At times it feels like you’ve wandered into a hotel ballroom full of ghosts. The fact that it houses an IMAX screen means that the Event Queen Street remains New Zealand’s flagship cinema space, which feels kind of depressing.

The Verdict: SkyWorld Metro’s Event Cinemas is the last man standing in that once glorious complex. Navigating your way there used to require weaving your way through a charmingly retro, bustling mini-metropolis; now, it is an eerie ghost town of boarded-up windows and hollowed-out food courts. If any cinema in this list was due a facelift, it’s this one. Or perhaps a second IMAX screen could be considered elsewhere, what with its popularity only rising in Hollywood.

7. Event Cinemas Newmarket (Westfield)

The Good: The best chain cinema in Auckland is also the newest one. Unveiled as part of the fancy Newmarket Westfield, it is a space that has maximised the appeal of high-end modern cinema technology, with big, adjustable seats, daybeds and genuinely pristine V-MAX screens with some of the best picture and sound quality of any cinema in the country. Like a nice hotel, the space feels liminal in a comforting way – spacious and well-lit, with an attractive golden sheen. Its Gold Class options, which are housed in two hilariously gauche spaces called “The Gallery” and “The Library”, have a certain whimsical charm too. There’s also the presence of the staff, who clearly take the whole thing very seriously, a bonus as far as I’m concerned.

The Not-so-good: The opening of the Westfield Newmarket Event effectively killed the beautiful, recently restored Broadway Cinemas, one of the last in Auckland with the traditional cinema signage that now sits hollowed out, a shell. What a shame. Also, it’s bananas that a new flagship Event Cinema didn’t invest in a second IMAX screen for the city. The space is practically begging for it, and it is inarguably the best way to watch a digitally projected movie in 2026. For a cinema clearly on the cutting edge of experience, image and sound quality, it seems like a missed opportunity. 

The Verdict: A chain cinema has limitations built-in for how far afield you can range with your cinema experience. For those seeking a classical, Hollywood-style big-tent experience, there is no better option.

6. Victoria Cinema Devonport

The Good: The glorious, art deco Vic Devonport has stood for over a century, dating back to 1912, and remains one of the very best of Auckland’s independent offerings. The cinema has great programming, with both big-ticket items and under-the-radar gems, as well as genuinely rivalling the Academy Cinema for showing films that others have since abandoned. There’s a real local, community feel to the cinema’s foyer, and yet the main cinema boasts an old-world grandiosity that can only be rivalled by a couple of other cinemas in the city. With posters of classic films dotting the hallways and staircases, it is a cinema that clearly values film history – no small thing. The Vic feels like a real, active part of the village in which it sits, and there are few Auckland locations that offer a better post-cinema wander-and-ponder or lavish meal than Devonport.

The Not-so-good: Likely a hangover of earlier, apparently skinnier times, the Vic Devonport’s seats are notoriously narrow and uncomfortable, seemingly designed with mid-2000s America’s Next Top Model contestants in mind, rather than your resident cinephile. There’s also the question of accessibility: located at the top of Devonport’s main drag, there are few parking options nearby. 

Verdict: The Vic Devonport is worth the trip. If I’m ever in that part of town, I do my best to stop and watch something. A cinema with both history and community at its centre.

5. Capitol Cinema

The Good: Up top, it should be noted that up until last year I was the programmer of the Capitol Cinema Film Club, which came to an end in December, so I’m probably a little biased in my love of the Cap. Situated smack-bang in the middle of Dominion Road, the legendary Capitol with its distinctive neo-Greek architecture has historically been one of the city’s most embattled movie houses, being pulled back from the brink time and again. And thank goodness, given it’s one of the lushest independent cinema experiences out there. 

With plush seats and a wonderful, wood-panelled ambience, the Cap makes great use of its single screen – it’s a rare location where the seats closer to the screen are arguably better than the ones further away. The Capitol is one of the most important sites for local cultural film festivals, hosting the Italian, British and Irish and African Film Festivals yearly, as well as premium genre festival Terror-Fi. Its Pitchblack Playback series, where audiences sit in a dark room and hear an album in full, is a great expansion of the potential for cinemas as alternative experiential spaces. The Capitol is also, as far as I know, the only cinema with its own bespoke scented candle, which you can purchase from the front counter and which smells great.

The Not-so-good: The Capitol feels like it could perhaps utilise the growing hotspot that is Dominion Road a little more: as one of the few places left in Auckland that could be considered “bustling”, one imagines that the Cap could potentially capitolise (sorry) on that late-night mecca more often – occasional collaborations with the amazing Cazador restaurant are a step in the right direction. Also, RIP the Film Club.

The Verdict: The Cap is one of the finest, most glamorous independent cinemas in the region, with an ambience that’s nearly unparalleled, making the most of a tiny space. Seriously, pick up one of those candles.

4. Lido Cinema

The Good: Fancy! The Lido is a cinema that just oozes glamour on Manukau Road. It’s the kind of cinema, like the Capitol, that one might feel comfortable just hanging out in, not even watching a movie. It also has, for my money, the single best screen of any independent cinema in central Auckland – the big one upstairs. It’s a surprisingly large space that gets appreciably dark when the lights go down. The Lido is also infamous for its pleasantly dotty, personalised newsletters, which consistently make for entertaining reading.

The Not-so-good: The Lido is one of the most inaccessible cinemas in Auckland, with virtually no nearby parking, making it a trek to reach unless you’re travelling by bus or taxi. A minor quibble, but a quibble nonetheless. It is also a space whose programming skews just a little safe – there’s a lot of “cups of tea” to be found here, as with the Bridgeway. 

The Verdict: Weirdly underrated in the Auckland cinemasphere, the Lido is a cinema not just for the bougie crowd, despite its reputation as such.

3. Academy Cinemas

The Good: Academy Cinemas has the best programming of any cinema in Auckland. Hands down. Where other cinemas are serving up stale reruns of Back to the Future or Grease (or, god forbid, the umpteenth screening of The Room), the Academy is digging into the back catalogue and the B-sides, with ongoing film series that challenge and surprise. In the months ahead, one could watch Edward Yang’s A Brighter Summer Day, Abel Ferrara’s Ms. 45, Todd Haynes’ Poison, Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev, Benjamin Christensen’s 1922 silent horror film Haxan: the list goes on and on. As the only independent cinema in the CBD, it has been essential for legions of students looking to expand their filmic repertoire, myself included. Not to be outpaced by chain cinemas, the Academy hosts screenings of new films too, including its obscenely good value $5 Wednesdays, where you can catch up on new films you’ve missed for the price of a cup of coffee. With its range of cocktails, toasties, classic movie snacks and barista coffee, the Academy also boasts one of the finest concession lineups in the land.

The Not-so-good: Inherent claustrophobia of an underground cinema aside, with the Academy’s dedication to showing experimental or classic films, there are frequent screenings with extended runtimes, which clash with the Academy’s ergonomically challenged seating. As someone who has sat through four-hour plus movies, it can be a punishing lumbar experience, the lack of adjustable armrests a further obstacle to comfort. While the programming is strong, some of the most exciting titles at times are relegated solely to the Academy’s boutique cinema, a much smaller viewing space, while films people can catch elsewhere are more likely to appear on the bigger screen. As much as it pains me to say, it can be hard to justify the journey for a boutique screen with dimensions rivalled by some televisions. There’s also the issue of sound – Academy’s speakers leave something to be desired.

The Verdict: The Academy is an utterly essential space, the lifeblood of alternative, historic and under-the-radar cinema at an affordable price. It’s so reliable that some cinephiles – myself included – may be tempted to take it for granted. We really shouldn’t.

2. Matakana Cinemas

The Good: The magnificent Matakana Cinemas is the platonic ideal of an independent local moviehouse – quirky, full of character, community-focussed with appropriate reverence for the art of the movies, and good screen and sound quality. It feels like something exciting, a place you genuinely want to attend. 

The Matakana has three named screens. There’s intimate, cosy Roxy Theatre, with big swathes of fabric draping the walls and ceilings; the surprisingly massive Tivoli Theatre, with its giant chandelier and curved screen, which made for one of my favourite ever movie-watching experiences (Heat, about a week after the first lockdown lifted in 2020); and the quite-remarkable Paradiso Theatre, with its 32,000 paper flowers adorning the ceiling. The Matakana has excellent, varied programming, and its own quarterly magazine detailing what’s coming soon. There’s a Social Club, and plenty of dining and shopping options nearby – as well as Tawharanui Beach not-so-far away. 

The Not-so-good: For its magnificence elsewhere, the candy bar concessions can sometimes feel a little limited. 

The Verdict: The Matakana Cinemas is a standard by which other cinemas should be measured. It feels very much of its community, an extension of the space of which locals clearly feel quite proud. It has strong programming and theatres that are in-and-of-themselves something to see, let alone the movies they’re showing. If I’m ever headed north, I make a point of stopping by and seeing what’s on.

1. Hollywood Cinema Avondale

The Good: The Hollywood has long been Auckland’s independent cinema crown-jewel, a scrappy, truly unique movie-house that endured an era of hibernation to become the centre of the country’s filmic universe – Wellington’s Embassy notwithstanding. It is the only cinema with 35mm projection capabilities in the country, an instant qualifier for crème de la crème status. If you have never experienced the haptic, textural joy of watching a film on celluloid, as it was meant to be seen, I suggest you amend that as soon as possible. The Hollywood is a key site for the launching of local films, with a beer garden-like outside space that has seen afterparties and raves galore; it boasts some of the most eclectic and enthusiastic programming and patronage in local movie culture, and it is – to my knowledge – the only cinema that regularly hosts weddings and major concerts. It is also an archival space, with a huge breadth of 35mm prints housed in a separate storage area next to the cinema.

The Less Good: The structurally dubious, spatially restrictive seats are infamously well past their use-by date. Also, while the site’s dedication to serving vegan-only concessions is entirely admirable, I really need dairy in my ice creams, sorry. 

The Verdict: An historical building that has existed in some form showing movies since at least the 1910s, and which at one point found itself in the hands of pioneering New Zealand filmmaker Rudall Hayward, The Hollywood is similar to the Capitol Cinema in that it is a space that has been pulled back from the brink many times over. One enters the cinema foyer and is struck by how it is a space that occupies two seemingly opposing ideas – at once an historical artifact of a bygone era and a punkish, brazenly indie operation that has flourished from the carcass of something long dead. 

Owner Matt Timpson has pointed out that the cinema’s survival is dependent on the space’s ability to turn into a concert venue – a necessity, perhaps, but also one that demonstrates what makes the Hollywood cool. It’s a place where people want to be. Just in the three months ahead, the Hollywood will host Bret McKenzie, American indie darlings Wednesday and British indie darlings Dry Cleaning. With the exception of the occasional, ill-considered pre-show, it is fair to say that the Hollywood represents the best of what New Zealand film culture can be: community-led, exciting, fresh and with due reverence to film history. It’s a space that has survived and will, surely, continue to endure – perhaps longer than the industry which gave it its name. Long live the Hollywood.