From the cavernous multiplexes to the charming boutique offerings, Christchurch is a cinema-lover’s paradise. But which reigns supreme?

Not to gallop in on my high horse to ‘Conquest of Paradise’ like everyone else in this smug city, but Christchurch might just be the cinema capital of the country right now (stop screaming Wellington and let me explain). First of all, with 10 resplendent cinemas servicing a population of 410,000, Christchurch City boasts a rate of 41,000 people per cinema (PPC) – stronger than Auckland (52,000 PPC) and even Wellington (42,000 PPC). These cinemas are a near even split between mall-rat multiplexes and indie darlings, welcoming movie-goers of all stripes.

Obviously Christchurch is also unique in that many of its beloved cinemas have been lost, or their original sites moved, since the earthquakes. As much as I love tidbits like Gloomy Sunday running for a million years at the old Academy and this absolutely sick sign on the old Hollywood, I have only lived here for three years and therefore am forced to assess every cinema as it stands today. Also, hold onto your cheesecutters, but this reviewer is less interested in your Dolby whatsits and 4K whatevers and more into factors like raw charisma and snack range. 

Speaking of snacks, I worked as a projectionist for four years at one of Auckland’s higher-ranking cinemas while at university (and a bit beyond hehe – I did a BA) and just want to reiterate the importance of buying food and drinks at the candy bar of your favourite cinema. The margins on ticket prices are tiny, and the snacks are where the money is made. Revisiting so many wonderful cinemas while writing this, I was reminded that going to the movies is one of the only good things we have left, so just buy the bloody Milk Duds. 

And one more note before I wrap up this droning Hoyts-length pre-roll of caveats. I have only considered cinemas that sit within the boundaries of Christchurch City, which means huge apologies to this endearing 15-seater at the Apollo in Lincoln, the charming pizza hub Reel Cinema in Akaroa and the historic Town Hall in Rangiora. Also shout out to our grand dames standing strong further afield, such as the Geraldine Cinema, one of the oldest still operating, the cotton-candy-pink Mayfair in Kaikōura, and the regal Regent in Hokitika. 

God, how good are the movies?! 

10) Hoyts Northlands, Papanui

The good: I went to see Obsession here just this week, and it was perhaps the perfect spot to experience a schlocky R16 horror on a Cheap Tuesday eve. The cinema itself, although cavernous and tired, was packed with excited teenagers, a demographic through which mall cinemas really come into their own. There was hooting, hollering, and surprisingly few phone screens. The girl next to me got such a big fright in one scene that she screamed and threw her handful of popcorn in the air like in a cartoon, and you simply aren’t going to get that kind of rambunctious audience engagement at a bloody posh Silky Otter. 

The not-so-good: If it weren’t for the teenagers bringing the party, Hoyts Northlands would feel like a haunted airport lounge that plays the Michael trailer on loop to empty vinyl couches. I first felt its uneasy aura when Google Maps fritzed out and made me park on the other side of the mall, forcing me to skirt through a sinister loading dock. Inside, it was all peeling paint, dark grey and brushed concrete, with just an ominous pop of blood red in the ceiling neons and the tiling at Artie’s Bar (ft. chicken brie and cranberry pizza, $20). I also ate a terrible waxy mass-produced choc top, and my bathroom stall had run out of toilet paper.

The verdict: Great for a night of horrors, in more ways than one. 

9) Hoyts EntX, central city

The good: This is where you want to go if you like your movies extreme and you like your extreme without an “e”. With the Xtremescreen boasting “Xtreme Sound, Xtreme Comfort and Xtreme Size”, I am proud to say EntX still wasn’t Xtreme enough for me not to fall Xtremely asleep in those enormous comfy loungers before Cillian even dropped the bomb in Oppenheimer. Centrally located and right opposite the bus exchange, the EntX complex also boasts a Holey Moley and an Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq for hours of overstimulating, dystopian fun. There’s also a restaurant simply called “The Diversity”, which intrigues hugely. 

The not-so-good: So devoid of spirit, not to mention staff, that I would go as far to say that Hoyts EntX feels anti-human. The line of kiosks that greet you up the escalator makes the whole place feel like a McDonald’s, and the optimistically named “Treat City” is laid out like a self-service supermarket on the Death Star. Don’t tempt me with your shelves of plush Oompa Loompas from 2023’s Wonka, I’m already vulnerable enough trying to pour my own Frozen Coke while also holding a giant bucket of popcorn and a choc top. Nightmare. 

The verdict: Big screens, big sound, no soul to be found. 

8) Hoyts Riccarton

The good: This is easily my most-frequented mall cinema. I love the easy parking situation, I love the fact that it is never that busy, and I love the cinema’s proximity to my holy trinity of a Good Day Out (Drexel’s, Chemist Warehouse, Rollickin’ Gelato). I love that there’s a really stressed out warning on the back of the bathroom door that says “CAUTION: THIS DOOR MAY OPEN AT ANY TIME” as if that is not something true of all doors, and I love that there’s a little arcade with everything from Time Crisis 4 to Ghostbusters pinball to kill time if needed. 

The not-so-good: The interior is extremely maroon and extremely dated, and once I went to a movie there and the whole cinema was pitch black and we had to use our torches like the bloody Burma Trail to find our seats (as with all Hoyts, you are lucky if there are 1.5 staff members in the entire place). And while the joie de vivre of mall-rat teenage patrons can be infectious (had a great time at M3GAN with Riccaz’s finest) it can also have its pitfalls. In that same session, a sassy teenage girl cut in front of me in the toilet queue and I intuitively said “sorry” like a cuck and she laughed in my face and I think about it all the time. 

The verdict: Take caution – the doors may open and the teens may turn on you at any time. 

7) Reading Cinemas at The Palms, Shirley

The good: I know multiple people of decent character who are practically evangelical about Reading Cinemas at The Palms as the best multiplex option in the city. After a couple of recent visits, including watching The Moment with a group of friends and just one other guy, I absolutely get the appeal. It immediately transports me back to the Y2K perfection of Auckland’s SkyWorld in its heyday, spaceship chic all the way from the giant glass windows and brushed steel accents to the silver conical basins in the toilet. And when that sun sets and the golden hour streams through the titular Palms? Move over Venice Beach. Extra points for the splash of te reo Māori in the menu (whānau snack deal for $35) and calling their big beefy cinema experience “Titan Luxe” even though that combo of words has a distinctly condom-y vibe to it. 

The not-so-good: There’s no two ways about it – the orange bucket armchairs in the Reading foyer are fiercely stained with years upon years of liquids, possibly of a bodily nature, so God only knows what the older cinema seats look like in the harsh light of day. I’m also told by one Palms die-hard that there’s a dicky speaker in one of the eight cinemas, but who is to say which one. 

The verdict: Perfect early 2000s mall multiplex nostalgia.

6) Silky Otter Wigram

The good: This is where I’ll likely head to watch an elevated popcorn genre film like Sinners or Weapons – big, fun movies that demand a little more respect and proximity than the gaping maw of a mall multiplex. Silky Otter boasts luxe reclining leather loungers that make free funny fart noises, big reusable silver sippy cups and a huge menu of food you can order from your seat and have delivered straight to your gullet (including pork bao buns and lemon butter-glazed broccoli, OK Annabel Langbein!) You can also get bottomless popcorn on a Monday, and even request a fluffy blanket if you get chilly. What can’t she do?

The not-so-good: It’s all very luxurious and decadent, but I go to the movies to get away from phone screens and QR codes and I certainly don’t want to witness the punter in front of me meticulously inspect their mushroom arancini with their reading light like a gemologist holding a rare diamond. But this is true of all Silky Otters, so why is Wigram not in the top five? Well, I’ve frequently had to park in the nearby New World which makes me nervous even if they have a Memorandum of Understanding, and there’s something about that hollow courtyard with a “Joe’s Garage” that feels like a Shortland Street set. 

The verdict: Extremely comfortable and extremely flash, but is it too much of a good thing?

5) Academy Gold Cinema, Sydenham

The good: I rate Academy Gold not just because of its exquisite relic of a URL – artfilms.co.nz – but because Academy Gold rates itself. The entrance is ordained with five shining gold stars, a sublime show of confidence that laughs in the face of tall poppy syndrome. Inside, the three-screen cinema is impossibly cosy with red-and-gold-striped wallpaper, movie posters in gilded frames and dimmed leadlight lamps. Showcasing a bunch of the latest arthouse films and special events like the Met Opera and the French Film Festival, this is a cinema so stone-cold serious about movie consumption that they sell bloody barley sugars at the candy bar. You’ll need that extra glucose to take in just how many depictions of Marilyn Monroe there are about the place (I counted four, but the limit may not exist). 

The not-so-good: A friend recently described the screen in cinema one at Academy Gold as “smaller than my mum’s TV” (I haven’t been in that cinema, or seen her mum’s TV, so can’t possibly verify this claim). The location at the back of The Colombo is also slightly odd and means your walkable dinner and drink options are limited at night, although Two Thumbs Brewery is just two minutes away across the road. I’d also wager there’s no other cinema in the country within a stone’s throw of a store called Not Just Cushions which really does seem to just sell cushions. Could be a positive or a negative, depending on your stance on cushions. 

The verdict: Tinseltown has come to Sydenham. 

4) Silky Otter Hollywood, Sumner

The good: Travelling to Sumner to go to a movie is basically like going to a destination wedding in Crete. This nifty little three-screen seaside cinema is rare in that it is positioned just a hop, skip and a jump away from Sumner Beach. Nowhere else in Ōtautahi can you leave a movie theatre, walk for a block, and immediately feel the sand between your toes. Gaze across the Pacific and breathe in the oceanic air as you muse over all the profound insights you are going to write on your Letterboxd like “damn, those sheep really were detectives” and “wow, that devil really did wear Prada… again!” Also has dirt cheap “schools out” afternoon sessions where you get a ticket and popcorn for $8, even if you aren’t a kid. 

The not-so-good: As with my above thoughts on Wigram, I just never feel totally relaxed at any Silky Otter because there’s always the chance that a kindly clerk is going to jump out of the darkness with a Fully Loaded New York Style Hot Dog and ruin everything. Mercifully, Sumner has a smaller kitchen and menu offering, so perhaps fewer chances for a culinary jump scare. My free popcorn was also a bit stale but, for an $8 outing, beggars can’t be choosers. 

The verdict: Location, location, location. 

3) Deluxe Cinemas at The Tannery, Woolston

The good: Tucked away at the end of The Tannery, Ōtautahi’s artisanal hub for all manner of ye olde shoppes and wares, Deluxe Cinemas is a true hidden gem. Grab the twisty wrought iron handles and step through the heavy wooden doors to discover a palatial golden foyer complete with crystal chandelier and art deco patterned ruby red carpet. The staff wear waistcoats and bowties, for crying out loud! What I also love is that Deluxe Cinemas feels truly dedicated to providing a third space for people, hosting all sorts of special screenings for members and seniors and even dishing out free coffee, tea and biscuits for the first two sessions of every weekday (Coupland’s biscuits even!) That community vibe extends to the Cassels beer in the fridge, brewed mere metres away, and the charming pre-roll ads for the yarn and apothecary shops just up the hallway. Good legroom too, and the toilets have wooden seats like the RMS Titanic (compliment). 

The not-so-good: It is on the smaller side with only two little cinemas, so the programming options are more limited than you might get at other comparable boutique options. Still, they are managing to cram in the French Film Festival along with their regular arthouse fare and a few special screenings, so maybe it’s all a matter of flexibility and I need to harden up. Also, the carpark at The Tannery has a sinister energy, but that’s not strictly Deluxe’s fault. 

The verdict: Deluxe by name, deluxe by nature. 

2) Lumière Cinemas, central city

The good: This will be many people’s favourite cinema, and for very good reason. Recently included in Time Out’s 100 greatest cinemas in the world, Lumière is a glittering beacon that shines from beneath the dramatic Gothic Revival silhouette of the historic Arts Centre. With its two cinemas Bernhardt and Bardot named after French actresses, and the space dotted with charming vintage cinema posters and signs, Lumière oozes with love for all things cinématique. The programming is richly varied, playing host to a number of festivals throughout the year including Whānau Marama, and their Out of the Past sessions provide regular nostalgia hits. There’s also a bunch of interesting one-off events such as Greg Sestero chatting about The Room, Pitchback Playback sessions to vibe out to your favourite album, and even a cat video fest. All of this is to be enjoyed from their luxurious leather loungers, ideally with that week’s Rollickin’ Gelato flavour in hand, followed by a debrief drink at Cellar Door (if you are the queen of France) or Astro Lounge (if you are a real one). 

The not-so-good: There’s something about the labyrinthian layout of Lumière which means, no matter how many times I go there, I still have absolutely no idea where anything is or where I am going at any given time. If you asked me to do a police sketch of the space it would look like MC Escher’s Relativity, all hallways and staircases and confused people holding a florentine and a glass of red while trying to find the toilet. It is a heritage building, so not much to be done there, but it still stresses me out. 

Verdict: Lose yourself, sometimes literally, in the magic of cinema. 

1) Alice Cinemas, central city

The good: I firmly believe that Alice Cinemas is not just the best movie theatre in Christchurch, but should be considered a Unesco site of cultural importance. To step into the foyer of the cinema-meets-video-shop is to travel through the looking glass to a wondrous place where physical media still reigns supreme. Alice’s intricately themed Wonderland and Egyptian cinemas are nestled within some 30,000 rentable DVDs, the largest publicly available collection in the country, and a seriously impressive spread of collectibles and movie-themed flourishes. Everywhere you look, you will see something enchanting. Alice herself is wedged halfway out of the sky-painted ceiling, there’s a giant unblinking eye in the corner playing old movies, and a wild array of celebrity autographs from porn star Ron Jeremy to comedian Conan O’Brien (who visited Alice’s in 2024). 

But Alice’s supremacy extends far beyond the good vibrations from all those DVDs and all that great memorabilia. Their regular weekly programming is a deft mix of indie darlings and quality blockbusters, and they host a bunch of unique film festivals that you won’t find anywhere else. At the moment they are rocking the Architecture & Design Film Festival, but other annual standouts include Mātaka Mai, the first te ao Māori film festival in the city, and Terror-Fi, a smorgasbord of freaky-deaky genre and cult films from all around the world. Some of my most treasured recent movie memories have happened here, including the pin-drop silence as the credits rolled on Mārama (a surprise Terror-Fi screening that nobody saw coming) and the deeply strange 4D experience of Gut Instinct.

I could go on and, because you’ve lasted this long, I will. You’d think a place like this might have an air of pretension about it, but the staff at Alice’s are the friendliest I have encountered in any cinema anywhere in the country, always down for a chat about movies and a few DVD recommendations for good measure. They love movies so much they’ve even started their own movie recommendation podcast, chatting to staff, local creatives and filmmakers about their 10 favourite films (Letterboxd found absolutely lapped x 2). Call me a misty-eyed millennial desperately clinging on to the past, but in a world of streamers, snobs and endless distractions, Alice’s is a treasure beyond measure. It’s also the only cinema in all of Christchurch to back itself enough to make its own merch, so you know it is something special.

The not-so-good: Alice’s location is perfect for proximity to post-movie spots like Little High, Smash Palace and Duck Island, but I can only imagine the pure hell of trying to get anywhere near it when there is a game on at the looming One NZ stadium just one block over. Thoughts and prayers to all those involved. 

Verdict: My Mad Hatter top hat is off.