The World’s Most Interesting Cinema Experiences

Hot tubs, cemeteries and ancient ruins. Now more than ever, movies don’t have to be confined to a cinema. But in a day and age where movies ...

Hot tubs, cemeteries and ancient ruins.

Now more than ever, movies don’t have to be confined to a cinema. But in a day and age where movies can be downloaded to iPhones and watched on the train to work, it is sometimes nice to be reminded that sitting with a group of fellow film-lovers is a beautiful, communal experience. These places in Australia and abroad seek to do it a little bit differently.

1

A movie among the stars

The stars are above and below at Cinespia’s famous open-air movie nights, held in Los Angeles’ remarkable Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The resting place to hundreds of Hollywood luminaries such as directing kingpin Cecil B. DeMille, buxom beauty Jayne Mansfield, and Australian Oscar-winner Peter Finch has hosted the popular al fresco cinema experience since 2002 with films of all kinds being projected against the big white wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum to a crowd of picnicking movie-lovers.

2

Bushland drive-ins

It’s widely believed that only the big metropolitan cities of Australia have the groovy cinema options, but a drive-in movie theatre in the bush is something very unique. The Yatala Drive-In just outside of Beenleigh opened in 1974 and offers clear skies and double features for adults and kids (and you can even bring your dog!) and the chance to have a classic night out. And since drive-ins has a distinctly vintage Americana vibe, the Yatala’s diner is an old fashioned American-style diner with vinyl seats and hot dogs and burgers on the menu.

3

Not quite a hot tub time machine

Sometimes you just have to multi-task! Climb up to a London rooftop and experience Hot Tub Cinema, which blends the relaxing summertime gaiety of enjoying a cold beer in a hot tub with your mates with the traditional good night out indulging in a classic or cult movie on the big screen.

4

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water

Not many places let you show off your beach bod while engaging in your cultural side, but if the hot tubs of London aren’t your thing then maybe floating in open water while Jaws plays is more to your thing. Alamo Drafthouse recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s horror classic by bringing back their beloved Jaws On The Water screenings in a (man-made, shark free) lake in Texas. For your $30 you get a tube for every guest plus bragging rights forever. There are even floating bars and fish tacos for sale.

5

A twist on a movie before bed

At the Olympia Music Hall in Paris, IKEA hosted a special movie screening where audiences didn’t relax on wicker or lounge on a sofa that they had to construct themselves during the pre-film advertisements. No, audiences got to lie on a bed. An entire room full of them. The theme has expanded beyond France though and now the Electric Cinema chain in England has refurbished some of their locations with bed cinemas. Closer to home, Blitz Megaplex theatres in Jakarta offer velvet sofa beds for your cinematic relaxation.

6

Pop up over London

Outdoor cinemas aren’t rare these days throughout summer months, but The Nomad Cinema series of pop-up events are a unique variation on it. Occupying various locations across London including the Brompton Cemetery, one of Britain’s oldest dating back to 1840, Belgrave Square, Paddington Gardens, the Royal Academy of Arts and many more. Best of all is that 100% of their profits go to charity.

7

Bringing Rome to Croatia

Did you know there is an ancient Rome amphitheatre in Croatia? Strange as it may sound, the location is the most famous and important monument in the town of Pula and was constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD at the same time of Rome’s own magnificent colosseum. Among the many events held at the site, the Pula Film Festival is an annual event hosted during summer where fans can fill the centre of the arena and watch Croatian cinema in the same spot that gladiators once fought in one of the most historic and grand locales imaginable.

8

New York, New York (it’s a helluva town)

In New York City, sometimes the very best cinematic experiences aren’t in the biggest halls or the craziest places or on the tallest buildings. To have a true NYC cinema experience you must check out one of the many independent venues show arthouse fare both new and old. Places like UnionDocs in Brooklyn and the Maysles Cinema in Harlem offer simple but unique places that worship at the altar of non-fiction cinema. If you’re after something a bit more hip, then you can’t miss Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema, with its matinée and brunch sessions plus late night cult line-ups to enjoy with a drink, and Videology, which has a bar up front and a screening room at the back while the walls are lined with DVDs that are available to rent.

(Lead photo: Hot Tub Cinema/Facebook)

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