Showtime for Wellington Cinemas

Posted by Ant Stone on Jun 2, 2010 in Attractions, Cinema, Showcase | 0 comments

Cinemas in Wellington are a mixture of flexing multiplexes, historic stalwarts and stoic locals. And so it should be, we’re home to one of the world’s hottest film industries. If you’re looking to escape the real world for an evening at the flicks look no further than this beautiful list of cinemas in the New Zealand capital.

When in Wellywood

Under the guise of Wellywood, Wellington has bloomed as a nucleus for international movies. Local boy and director, Sir Peter Jackson stunned the world with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, giving rise to the local heroes of Miramar special-effects company, Weta Workshop. Two more celebrated Wellingtonians are Academy Award winning screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The former is Jackson’s wife, the latter their next-door neighbour.

Another name to watch out for is homegrown hero, Taika Waititi, a popular director responsible for the cult film Eagle vs. Shark (2007) and Boy (2010), as well as the short films Tama tu (2005), and Two Cars, One Night (2003) which received a string of awards, and an Academy Award nomination.

Other mainstream movies with ties to the capital include Avatar (2010), King Kong (2005), District 9 (2009) and the (rumoured) forthcoming autobiographical tale of a lonely young web writer, scribing his way to poverty on a Wellington tourism website, from behind a city centre bus shelter.

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Cinemas in Wellington

Here’s a list of the cinema’s in and around Wellington, be sure to check out their websites for the latest showtimes.

This monster multiplex in the heart of Wellington is pulsating with blockbusters all year round. They’re on top of all things 3D, and offer myriad specials to seats in their ten modern theatres. Look out for big discounts on ‘Terrific Tuesday’, and drool over a string of great eateries on the doorstep. Reading Cinema Courtenay is the showpiece of a $23m complex stuffed with franchise food chains.
Level 1, 100 Courtenay Place, Wellington | +64 (0)4 801 4601 | Website | Children $10.80, Adult (15+) $16.30, Students £13.80 and Seniors (65+) $10.80

The cinematic pride of the southern suburbs, is Lyall Bay’s Time Cinema. This small cinema is famous for its curio, and regularly screens the films of yesteryear. It’s delightfully offbeat, and will fuel the perfect storyline for your time in Wellington. They remind customers that: “Charges are not made specifically as entry to the cinema itself, but rather to cover costs of catering and other expenses involved with upkeep of the facility.”
191 Sutherland Rd, Lyall Bay, Wellington | +64 (0)4 934 8463 | Website | Children $5.00, Adults (16+) $8.00 (Book ahead!)

Empire Cinema has been a local favourite in Island Bay since 1925. It closed for over forty years before a grand reopening in 2005, to local delight. Moviegoers flock to the art deco picture house’s three boutique theatres. The popular, fully licensed café welcomes you in, while the White Room showcases local artists. Get there early to avoid a cricked neck, and sign up for emails to score $10 tickets before 6pm on weekdays.
214 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington | +64 (0)4 939 7557 | Website | Children $12.00, Adults (15+) $16.00, Students & Seniors (60+) $13.00

The Paramount Cinema has been flickering in Wellington since 1917 and remains the oldest surviving cinema in Wellington. The Paramount regularly features foreign films alongside recent hits, independent films and cult classics in any the main theatre, or two smaller theatres. There’s an open plan licensed café to grab a beer, and look out for regular fundraisers held by local organisations at this central venue or for a small saving visit before 5pm.
25 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington | +64 (0)4 384 4080 | Website | Children $9.00, Adults (16+) $14.50, Students $12.50, Seniors (65+) $10.50

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The grand Embassy Theatre hosted premieres for the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the ripple effect has kept movie fans flocking through the historic today. The cinema’s classic façade has bore its fair share of glam, with giant replicas of LOTR stalwarts such as a Black Rider, Gollum and a Cave Troll escorting cinema goers enter the marble caverns at the electric end of Courtenay Place.
10 Kent Terrace, Mt Victoria, Wellington | +64 (0)4 384 7657 | Website | Children $9.00, Adults (16+) $15.00, Students $12.00, Seniors (65+) $9.00

The four auditoriums of the Lighthouse Cinema light up a central lounge, housing a fully licensed café full of pre-movie treats. The Lighthouse Cinema screens a popular selection of festival films and mainstream, while showcasing some of the world’s most thought-provoking films. Located just off the lively Jackson Street thoroughfare, the Lighthouse offers the perfect reason to leave the bright lights of Wellington city behind, for an enjoyable evening in Petone.
52 Beach Street, Petone, Wellington | +64 (0)4 939 2061 | Website | Children $12.00, Adults (15+) $16.00, Students $13.00, Seniors (60+) $13.00

The projectors of the affable Penthouse Cinema whirr throughout the week below the city’s iconic wind turbine. With three cinemas and the intimate thirty-seater Vogue Suite, the Penthouse is a prime venue for film-lovers. Consider a pre-movie dinner in the Penthouse Café that serves a gourmet selection of freshly prepared meals. Parents and carers should check out the Babes in Arms movie sessions every Thursday at 10am, which are catered for babies and their entourage.
205 Ohiro Road, Brooklyn, Wellington | +64 (0)4 384 3157 | Website | Children $11.00, Adults (15+) $15.00, Students $12.00 (Mon-Thurs), Seniors (65+) $11.00

COMING SOON! The Miramar cinema is due to open in late 2010, and has a wealth of Hollywood oomph behind it. The original Capitol Theatre shut down in 1964 and now Oscar-winning film editor Jamie Selkirk has taken on the challenge to give the suburb back one of its much-missed features. The Miramar will feature two theatres, a cafe restaurant, and continue Wellington’s local picture house theme by echoing the Twenties style.

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If you find yourself in Wellington — the bellybutton of world cinema — we implore you to visit one of the (local, independent) cinemas and absorb the ambience of some of the Antipodes finest picture houses.

While 3D might be sucking our eyeballs closer to the screens, take a minute to look at the ornate ceilings. Feel the plush carpets. Sit back in the spacious seats. Then yawn, slowly, and rest your arm around your neighbour before moving in for a smooch.

[descending image credits: atomicjeep & roboppy]