Outdoor Cinema 2026

PRICING
Kids $5 | Adults $10 | Family $25
Booking fees additional.  

Outdoor Cinema is back for 2026!

Get cosy for a movie under the stars.

Bring your favourite people, a picnic blanket or chairs, some treats, then settle in as the night sky sparkles and the story unfolds.

Three weekends in April. Two movies each evening at 5pm and 7pm. 

Arrive early to secure your spot. You’re welcome to bring food, non-alcoholic drinks, cushions, blankets and low beach chairs. Refreshments available from Arts Centre foodtrucks The Chippy and Gelato Dolce in the North Quad. Bar open selling beer, wine and a range of non alcoholic beverages (card only). No BYO alcohol. Tickets are per movie. Book in advance; door sales (card only) if available.

Screenings are weather dependent. In the event of cancellation due to the weather, refunds are available.

Sponsored by Meadow Mushrooms.
Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre wishes to acknowledge Christchurch City Council for the use of the movie screen.

WEEKEND 1 

FRIDAY 3 APRIL

5pm: Shrek (2001)

It ain't easy bein' green - especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot - a wisecracking donkey.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended. Low Level Violence, Low Level Course Language
Year: 2001
Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Genre: Animation, Family, Comedy
Runtime: 90 min

Book Shrek tickets

 

7pm: Jurassic Park (1993)

During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok.

Rating PG-13: Parental guidance recommended. Intense science fiction terror.
Year: 1993
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Runtime: 125 min
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Book Jurassic Park tickets

 

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SATURDAY 4 APRIL

5pm: Matilda (1996)

Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended. Elements of exaggeRated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language
Year: 1996
Director: Danny DeVito
Genre: Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Runtime: 98 min

Book Matilda tickets

 

7pm: Footloose (1984)

When teenager Ren and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small town in the West, he's in for a real case of culture shock.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Violence. 
Year: 1984
Director: Herbert Ross
Genre: Drama, Romance
Runtime: 107 mins

Book Footloose tickets

 

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SUNDAY 5 APRIL

5pm: Rise of The Guardians (2012)

When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Coarse Language.Year: 2012
Director: Peter Ramsey
Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Runtime: 97 min

Book Rise of the Guardians tickets

7pm: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the rock opera of the same name, based on the last weeks before the crucifixion of Jesus. The film was directed by Norman Jewison. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson were nominated for two 1974 Golden Globe Award for their portrayals of Jesus and Judas, respectively.

Rating G: Suitable for general audiencesYear: 1973
Director: Norman Jewison
Genre: Musical, Drama, History
Runtime: 103 min

Book Jesus Christ Superstar tickets

 

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WEEKEND 2 

FRIDAY 10 APRIL

5pm: Shrek 2 (2004)

Shrek, Fiona and Donkey set off to Far, Far Away to meet Fiona's mother and father. But not everyone is happy. Shrek and the King find it hard to get along, and there's tension in the marriage. The fairy godmother discovers that Shrek has married Fiona instead of her Son Prince Charming and sets about destroying their marriage.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended. Adult Themes
Year: 2004
Director: Andrew Adamson
Genre: Comedy, Family
Runtime: 92 min

Book Shrek 2 tickets

 

7pm: The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle—a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Coarse language.Year: 2005
Director: Roger Donaldson
Genre: Drama, New Zealand
Runtime: 121 min

Book The World's Fastest Indian tickets

 

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SATURDAY 11 APRIL

5pm: Paddington (2014)

A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a new home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family.

Rating G: Suitable for general audiencesYear: 2014
Genre: Adventure, Family, Comedy
Runtime: 95 min

Book Paddington tickets

 

7pm: Grease (1978)

Australian good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance despite their eccentric friends?

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Coarse Language & Sexual References.
Year: 1978
Director: Randal Kleiser
Genre: Musical, Romance
Runtime: 108 min

Book Grease tickets

 

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WEEKEND 3 

FRIDAY 17 APRIL

5pm: Shrek 3 (2007)

The King of Far Far Away has died and Shrek and Fiona are to become King & Queen. However, Shrek wants to return to his cozy swamp and live in peace and quiet, so when he finds out there is another heir to the throne, they set off to bring him back to rule the kingdom.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Low Level Violence.
Year: 2007
Director: Chris Miller
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Family
Runtime: 93 min

Book Shrek 3 tickets

 

7pm: The Princess Bride (1987)

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Violence.
Year: 1987
Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Runtime: 96 min

Book The Princess Bride tickets

 

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SATURDAY 18 APRIL

5pm: Encanto (2021)

The tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family's last hope.

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. 
Year: 2021
Director: Jared Bush
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Runtime: 102 min

Book Encanto tickets

 

7pm: Dirty Dancing (1987)

Rating PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers. Year: 1987
Director: Emile Ardolino
Genre: Musical
Runtime: 95 min
Cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey

Dancing to the beat of their hearts, heart-throb Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey star in this electrifying and sensual film. A vivid love story, Dirty Dancing is set to pounding rhythms and vibrant dance - guaranteed to be the time of your life! It's summer 1963, Baby (Jennifer Grey), 17 years old and all idealistic innocence, is vacationing with her parents. Here she meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze), the hotel dance instructor, as experienced as Baby is naive. Mesmerized by the sexy beats and uninhibited movements of dirty dancing, Baby soon becomes Johnny's prize pupil - in dance and love.

Book Dirty Dancing tickets