Once a year on the foreshore of Glenelg, Openair Cinema graces Adelaide with it's presence bringing you the latest movies and cult classics all under the stars. There is nothing quite like being outdoors sitting in a beanbag, with blanket and a glass of wine. It is just so relaxing and a great opportunity for a family outing! Openair Cinemas are not all about movies though, they also have DJ's and musicians playing during the day. I love that they are using the space in this way! It is almost like it's own little festival. This year we were fortunate enough to be in the Star Class area to see the cult classic Grease! This was a super cool sing-a-long screening with all the words subtitled in cartoon graphics. I think I was laughing more than what I was singing. What a fun idea. So, what is Star Class you say? Well, you get treated like a VIP in the Star Class area! There is a reserved area right at the front and you are offered glass of wine, bean bag, and fluffy blanket to keep you warm. Oh wait for it... if you want a few more drinks for the night there is wait service! All you have to do is put your hand up and a waiter will help you with your request. That is my idea of VIP service. If only there was a massage option as well? The other great thing about Openair Cinema is that you can bring in your own picnic! I love that they invite you to bring in some food. I know lots of people work on budgets, so this is a great option if you want to feed the kids and friends. I was so excited about this; I packed a basket full of cheese, dips, chips, veggies and fruit. I actually made a platter. It was great! The one thing to remember is to dress warm for this event. As the set up is right near the shore, there are some winds at night that are a little chilly. I suggest keeping an eye on the weather and dress comfortably. Otherwise, it is a great night and I look forward to go there again! read more

OpenAir Cinema - Cinema Near Me

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I came here with the sister, brother in law and kids after the sister received free tix to see Despicable Me 2. Thought the location by the beach was amazing especially seeing as the cinema is held outside. The set up was very "beachy" / "summery" with plenty of deck chairs to sit on. Plenty of drink choices to choose from and the Famous Ben & Jerry's ice cream. We arrived whilst their was a dj still playing and the atmosphere was alive with the thought that summer is on her way. The screen was a blow up screen. Almost like a jumping castle but with a screen so that the film could be projected onto it. It was very cool and exciting for the kids to watch it rise especially as it was accompanied by some music. All in all a great fun night out with the family on a warm summers night :) read more

OpenAir Cinema - Despicable Me 2 at Ben & Jerry's Open Air Cinema - Glenelg Beach - Cinema Near Me

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We were lucky enough to score free tickets to the OpenAir Cinema at Glenelg last night. Although we didn't love the movie, we did love the atmosphere & fun that the setup provided. Despite the cooler weather, it still felt summery, with the deck chairs, ice cream & cider, plus a DJ playing some funky tracks to entertain us before the movie started. You are welcome to bring in your own food & drinks (excluding alcohol) & while we chose to bring our own rug & low chairs, there are deck chairs & loungers available to hire at a very reasonable price. The people who had bought the Star Class tickets looked like they were well looked after with great food & drink service. A piece of advice - get there by 7:30pm at the latest if you want to get a good spot on the lawn. There were lots of people turning up after 8pm & struggling to find room for their loungers & rugs especially if they had a few people in their group. The season finishes on the 22nd December, so don't miss out! read more

I'm torn... I really hadn't heard much about the Ben & Jerry's Open Air Cinema until this year. Forgive me please... I was living overseas the year it launched, and to be honest, after years working at a certain foreshore funhouse, I try to steer clear of Glenelg in the summer time. But anyway, back to why I'm torn, I've always been a huge fan of the Moonlight Cinema in the Botanic Gardens, and to me what they offer is 5 stars. I love brining a picnic blanket, getting in early to reserve my group's spot and making an evening of it with a decadent picnic and then snuggling in to watch the movie hours later. Ben & Jerry's Open Air Cinema doesn't seem to encourage that experience. First of all you can't take in your own booze, and all the 'good spots' are taken up by deckchairs (paid), beanbags (paid) and SOOOOOO much sponsored branding that it's a little overwhelming to be honest. As for the actual film watching experience, the projection is great and the sound really top notch (one of the sponsors is a speaker guy of course). But what irked me a little is that the folks on the Glenelg Surf Lifesaving club balcony were not only watching the movie for free... they were also making quite a racket, and given the balcony is right next to the 'cinema' it's just a little frustrating TBH. Would I go back? Yeah if someone invited me to a fave cult classic, or I got free/cheap tix. But I doubt I'd be heading there for full-priced new releases anytime soon. read more

Get on board Adelaide because the season is limited, exclusive and totally worthwhile! Ben and Jerry's Open Air Cinema is making its first appearance in Adelaide this year and they have certainly put together a fantastic affair! The location is second to none and the variety of delicious foods and drinks on offer really puts your regular old candy bar to shame - you can nab a delicious pizza, healthy cold rolls or a tub of illusive Ben and Jerry's ice cream - currently available no where else in our fair city! With a range of comfort options available at an additional cost, you can relax in the lap of luxury, however this does lead me to my one gripe; a majority of the grassed area is taken up with deck chairs which would be great - if they weren't an extra $4 (not a huge cost...) BUT when you've paid around $20 and can't find a piece of grass to settle on and are forced to sit on one of the many empty deck chairs...that's just rude! Us Adelaide-ians are a thrifty bunch and tend to plan ahead - with low lying seats and blankets - so make sure there is room for us to use them guys!! Other than that, a fantastic event that you should get yourself along to - post haste, the season ends December 22nd! Side note: The move itself wasn't great - The Counselor (since you asked) and it's on again on the 22nd...so perhaps avoid that night, however Rush is playing on Sunday the 15th - which is a fan-freakin-tastic movie (Chris Hemsworth makes me a little giddy...in a good way) so perhaps plan your visit around that? Free ice cream on Sundays too, FYI! read more

Absolutely 5 stars and Star Class is the way to go! After receiving complimentary tickets and trying to book in on a night that was sold out, I liaised via FB private message with the Openair cinema team. They were extremely helpful and extended that help and customer service through to the moment they managed to squeeze us in and then throughout the evening. We were made to feel so welcome with many staff members talking to us, explaining things and adding to the atmosphere. As the DJ was playing Ibiza-style, with back drop of sunshine and beachside pine trees, we enjoyed a complimentary Rekorderlig cider. Lucky enough to have a spot in the shade, we eagerly unpacked our picnic onto the provided table and reclined comfortably in our bean loungers. I loved the sunset colours joining in with the atmosphere as the sun started setting. We also loved the complimentary Ben $ Jerry's chocolate brownie ice-cream - what a treat! Then just as the movie was about to start, staff members brought us round blankets. Perfectly timed and much appreciated. Loved the film, The Family. Relaxed evening with everything readily available to make for a very enjoyable night under the stars. Thank you! Loved it! read more

We were really looking forward to this and it was a completely terrible experience. We knew we had to get there early, but we arrived 1.5 hours before the movie started and it was already packed. If you haven't purchased a seat or a bean bag, you will be sitting on the grass at the very back - which is okay if you can find a spot where you can see between the heads of the people in chairs in front of you, but you can't hear ANYTHING. There is no point going to see a film if you can't hear a single word of it. Either turn up the volume, or don't sell so many tickets because past a certain distance you can't hear AT ALL. Also, unlike the Moonlight Cinema in the botanic gardens, the OpenAir cinema does not let you bring your own alcohol in, which is unfortunate, considering how early you need to get there if you actually want to be within hearing distance of the screen. We ended up leaving early and wasting our money because we could barely see and hear anything. NOT WORTH IT. read more

I really enjoy watching movies in outdoor settings, however, the Open Air Cinema in Glenelg is no match for the Moonlight Cinema in the Botanic Park. Although Glenelg itself is a nice location, the Open Air Cinema is right next to the Surf Club which can be distracting if their patrons are noisy. It also can be downright cold with an ocean breeze and there can be problems in finding nearby parking. However, my 2 major complaints are that 1) you are not allowed to bring in your own alcohol and 2) their lounge chairs are not only expensive but uncomfortable. While the Open Air Cinema does have a bar, the selection is limited and their brand choices are not good. You can bring your own chairs or lawn blankets, but since the space is limited, you are lucky to find a place for them most nights. So all things considered, the Moonlight Cinema is a nicer experience and usually cheaper. read more

Two thumbs up for Adelaide's new inflatable outdoor cinema - it is a very atmospheric spot at the Bay, and we were spoiled by an amazing sunset and some groovy tunes before the movie started. Bean bags or deck chairs are pretty much a must, although next time I would bring a cushion for my head as well as hiring a bean bag - I found myself just a bit too horizontal for great screen viewing. We found the ticket process pretty easy - I'd got a deal for four of us, including bean bags, for $90 - I exchanged my printed ticket for wristbands and a bean bag voucher and we were in. Getting there at 7.30 is a good idea (esp since we wanted to sit together) - the bean bags were all set out and it was just a matter of picking a spot. The food options weren't huge - basically pizza and icecream (but IMHO that is two of the essential food groups covered!). A Ben and Jerry's tub is too big for one person (esp if you do pizza first) but if you are with good friends who don't mind sharing a spoon that isn't actually a problem. In fact, as far as problems go, too much Ben and Jerry's is one of the better ones to have :-) We tried the strawberry cheesecake flavour and it was divine... it's both exciting (for tastebuds!) and scary (for waistline!) to think we'll have B&J's available in Adelaide on a regular basis soon. I continued the strawberry theme with a strawberry and lime Rekorderlig cider. It was a perfect summer bevy, the sweetness and the tartness of the two flavours balancing each other out nicely. Oh! And the movie was good too! About Time, Richard Curtis' latest offering - yes, contrived and schmaltzy in parts but ultimately sweet and funny and uplifting. There was a bit of a noise buzz from the nearby balcony of the Surf Club but it didn't interfere for the most part. A great night out - looking forward to the 2014 season already. read more