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Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
It's official: the world's most beautiful outdoor cinema is in Australia
We Aussies are in the thick of winter right now, making it the perfect time to cosy up at the movies with a bucket of popcorn and a box of Maltesers. But here's the good news – we're officially halfway to summer, the unofficial season of outdoor cinemas. Our deliciously balmy summer weather sets the perfect scene for sinking into a bean bag with a prosecco in hand and watching the sun dip below the horizon as a blockbuster lights up the big screen. But if there's one thing that takes the movie magic to the next level, it's watching the plot unfold in a stunning location. From abandoned train tracks and cemeteries to grand castles and amphitheatres, Time Out's global film editor worked with our travel writers around the world to curate a list of the 30 most beautiful outdoor cinemas on Earth – and four Aussie theatres cracked the list. Westpac OpenAir, Sydney Australia is home to loads of breathtaking outdoor theatres, but Sydney's Westpac OpenAir took the crown as the most gorgeous alfresco cinema in the world. With the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge as its backdrop, this floating cinema at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney's Botanic Gardens is nothing short of spectacular. The massive 350-square-metre, three-storey-high screen projects everything from the latest blockbusters to vintage classics. While relaxing, you can order a bottle of bubbles to wash down a picnic box or enjoy a bougie dining experience on the site's waterside terrace. Somerville Auditorium, Perth Fancy watching a film in a forest? Perth Festival 's Somerville Auditorium has your bark, ranking as the 19th most beautiful outdoor cinema on Earth. From November to April, picnicking crowds sink into deckchairs and beanbags to watch an expertly curated festival programme full of world cinema and arthouse gems. This tradition has been happening since 1953, so it's got some serious cultural clout. Cameo Outdoor Cinema, Melbourne Following just behind in 20th place was Cameo Outdoor Cinema in Belgrave, just a 45-minute drive from Melbourne's CBD. Set against the lush backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges, this leafy spot serves up more than just scenic views – the film lineup is top-tier too. Expect everything from Almost Famous to Z, with Hitchcock marathons and even the occasional silent flick. You can even bring your four-legged friend along for the fun! Sun Pictures, Broome It's pretty cool that Australia lays claim to the world's oldest outdoor cinema, Sun Pictures, which has been playing films in a gorgeous garden in Broome since 1916. It ranked as the 30th most gorgeous screen in the world and the fourth most beautiful in Australia. Come rain, hail or shine, you'll find a mix of locals and backpackers gathering under the stars for one of two nightly screenings. We hear the house-made choc bombs here are the bomb (sorry, not sorry!).
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This is officially the world's most beautiful outdoor cinema
Comfy seats, 4k projection – oh, and the Sydney Opera House in your eyeline If you're of the opinion that going to the movies is an activity reserved for chilly winter evenings, you obviously haven't checked out our newly refreshed roundup of the planet's most glorious outdoor cinemas. Foolish. Across the world, there are plenty to choose from, whether you're in Catalonia and fancy a screening with a mediaeval castle as your backdrop, or are hiking around Colorado and stumble across a showing at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. But none can quite compare to our crowning champion when it comes to big outdoor screens. Where is it, you ask? Well, it's perched overlooking Sydney Harbour. The Westpac OpenAir sits on Mrs Macquaries Point with the city's skyline (including blockbuster landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge) in the background. There's dolby digital surround sound and 4k projection, as well as some seriously comfy seating and even the option to throw in a bougie dining experience on the site's waterside terrace. Recommended: I went on a food tour of Copenhagen inspired by 'The Bear' – these are the best things I ate. 'A movie needs to really land when it has to compete with Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge all doing their jaw-dropping thing in the background. Then again, if you do catch a dud, there's always the lights twinkling on the water and the fruit bats flying overhead to ensure a trip to this breathtaking screen in Sydney's Botanic Gardens is a memorable one,' writers Time Out contributor Stephen A Russell, 'You can order a bottle of bubbles to wash down a picnic box as you settle in for an evening watching everything from the latest blockbusters to vintage classics. It's a genuinely unforgettable experience.' That's pretty high praise, eh? Well, there's 29 more stunning screens where that came from. Check out our full roundup of the most beautiful outdoor cinemas in the world . Oh, and here are the most beautiful (indoor) cinemas on the planet, as well as 100 places we think all movie lovers should visit. ICYMI: The world's greatest art deco buildings, to mark 100 years of art deco. Plus: The Italian island named the world's most colourful destination. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
