Are you looking for an indoor school holiday activity? Have your kids been bugging you to watch the latest release movie? Whether it’s your first trip to the movies or your tenth, there is always fun to be had when visiting Brisbane movie theatres with kids.
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Thankfully, Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs are brimming with movie theatres, or cinemas as some like to call them. Here we have listed all the movie theatres in Brisbane and some some handy tips so you and the family can have the best time when next watching your favourite movie on the big screen.
Find a Movie Theatre in Brisbane
Brisbane Central
- Balmoral Cineplex
- Cinebar Rosalie Village
- Dendy Portside
- The Elizabeth Picture Theatre
- Event Cinemas – Brisbane City Myer Centre
- Hawthorne Cineplex
- Moonlight Cinema Brisbane (Roma Street Parklands)
- New Farm Cinemas
- Palace – Barracks
- Palace – Centro (James Street)
- Red Hill Cinemas
- Southbank Cineplex
North Brisbane and Moreton Bay
- BCC Cinemas – Strathpine
- Bribie Cinema
- Event Cinemas – Chermside
- Event Cinemas – North Lakes
- Hoyts Cinema – Redcliffe
- Hoyts Cinema – Stafford
- Limelight Cinema – Morayfield
- Reading Newmarket
South Brisbane and Ipswich
- Cineplex Redbank Plaza
- Event Cinemas – Browns Plains
- BCC Cinemas – Capalaba
- Event Cinemas – Carindale
- Event Cinemas – Indooroopilly
- Event Cinemas – Loganholme
- Event Cinemas – Mount Gravatt
- Event Cinemas – Springfield
- Hoyts Cinema – Sunnybank
- Limelight Cinema – Ipswich
- Majestic Cinemas – Wynnum
- Reading Jindalee
- Regal Cinema – Graceville
- United Cinemas Eldorado – Indooroopilly
- Victoria Point Cineplex
Drive-In Movies
If you want to add an extra fun element to your movie watching, then you should definitely experience the drive-in at least once in your life. Surprisingly, this retro activity is rather popular, so if you are planning on watching your favourite flick from the comfort of your own car with the windows rolled down, then we suggest arriving early to secure a spot.
The Tivoli drive in is well known for being family-friendly, often with reduced ticket prices and a fantastic cafe onsite. Another drive-in, which shows movies every night of the week, is the Yatala Drive-In. There are three fields showing the latest releases, with admission paid per carload.
So next time you are looking for a Saturday night activity, pile the family into the car, pack the snacks and kick back while watching a movie at the drive-in.
Periodically, usually in the warmer months, venues around the city and suburbs will often showcase family-friendly movies in a local park or outdoor setting. Check out Where To Watch Outdoor Movies in Brisbane for further information.
An FM car radio or portable radio is often needed to listen to the movie, so make sure you have checked the requirements and what your car has before attending the drive-in.
Pre-book Tickets and Stress Less
While outings to the movie theatres are fun, there can also be an element of stress. To avoid this unnecessary pressure our recommendation is to pre-book your movie tickets online.
Firstly, it means you can choose your seats, making sure your group are seated together (for some families, the back row is the best place). Secondly, when you arrive, it means you can just flash your email confirmation ticket or printed out version and skip the queue. Finally, it means you won’t turn up for a much-anticipated movie and be left with the front row or worse, no seats at all.
Save Money Buying Tickets
Everyone is out to save a buck, and there is no exception when visiting the movies.
Your first port of call should be the website of the movie theatre you are planning on visiting. Simply by signing up to free loyalty programs or newsletters can offer you savings. School holidays are also a time when many discounted tickets can be found, including family passes, adults at kid’s prices and grandparent deals available. Some cinemas will also reward members with points for seeing movies, which accumulate over time, offering you future discounts and perhaps even a free movie!
Don’t forget the discount days too. Most Brisbane movie theatres will have one day of the week where they offer heavily discounted tickets (this is not usually a weekend), so head to individual websites and familiarise yourself with available discounts before finalising your visit.
In addition, discounted movie vouchers can often be purchased online. Check your local motoring association, telephone company or websites offering group deals and coupons for discounted movie vouchers.
If you are keen to head to the movies but worried about affordability then read our locals guide on How to Save Money at the Movies.
Child-Friendly Sessions
Nowadays many movie theatres have designated movie sessions designed specifically for the littlest members of the family. Discounts can be had when attending a ‘family session’ where all tickets are sold at a lower price. There are also certain days of the week when students can take advantage of cheap tickets (if you can produce a student ID).
If you want to watch a movie, but have a baby in tow, fear not, cinemas often hold special sessions where you can ‘bring your baby.’ The cater for the little ears and eyes, sound and lighting are modified at these sessions.
Each movie theatre will vary on what they offer and when, so it is best to check out their website before planning your next visit.
To Eat or Not to Eat
A trip to the movie theatre can be a costly activity, especially if there is many people in your group. Adding food purchased at the cinema on top of ticket prices can greatly increase the cost of your outing, so why not save money where you can.
To avoid watching a movie on an empty stomach make sure everyone has had something substantial to eat before arriving. The promise of a treat at the movies may be enough to get them to eat their sandwiches or salad.
Speaking of treats, there is nothing worse than someone next to your nosily unwrapping a lolly or rustling in a bag of chips, so to save yourself, and those around you from getting annoyed, give each person in your group their own ziplock bag of treats, that way there will be no passing bags backwards and forwards and if someone finishes the contents of their bag before the previews start, then they have no one to blame but themselves. Don’t forget to pack your water bottles, because salty and sugary food can make you thirsty.
Just remember, some movie theatres don’t take kindly to patrons bring in their own food and drinks, so be discrete and don’t go over the top.
Scheduling Toilet Breaks
You can be guaranteed someone will need to use the toilets at some stage during the movie. It is always best to the toilet before you enter the movie, but if you don’t, make sure you know exactly where the bathrooms are so you are not wasting time looking for them during the movie.
If you can, bring another adult, or enjoy the movies with friends and their children, so one adult can stay with those children not needing the toilet. If you are the only adult attending the movies with several children, discuss what will happen if one child needs to visit the facilities during the movie, so they are not confused when you ask them to leave halfway through the climax of the movie.
For more information on kids movies please check our Brisbane Cinema Calendar and search for movies in the search bar!
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