Lights, camera, etc.
Lights, camera, etc.
STREAMING MOVIES
may have become more accessible than ever, but it’s failed to dint the magic of sharing a cinematic experience with a bunch of strangers somewhere other than your own crusty couch.
We’ve pulled back the curtain on five of the world’s most inspiring cinema experiences. Crack open a bag of Maltesers and lose yourself in the magic of the big screen—phone off.
Cinema Paradiso
Ibiza, Spain
Lounging under the stars on a warm Mediterranean night with the soundtrack of gentle waves lapping the pristine beach seems like the opening scene of a classic movie. But at Cinema Paradiso Ibiza, it's the setting for watching both classic and new movies on the big screen.
Set in various stunning outdoor venues around the island, this open-air cinema provides a unique blend of breathtaking locations and cinematic wonder. It also takes private bookings, so you can throw the ultimate home movie night with a private screening at your place. Skip the partying for a night.
Cinema star power
1. local talent
2. Rising Star
3. hollywood favourite
4. blockbuster hero
5. legendary icon
I see dead people
California, USA
By day, tourists visit the graves of movie icons at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. At night, locals bring their picnic baskets and rugs to nab the best vantage point in front of the west wall of Cathedral Mausoleum, which is where Cinespia digitally projects iconic movies.
There’s something surreal and very Hollywood about watching timeless classics while surrounded by the ghosts of legends like Judy Garland or Mel Blanc, the man behind the voices of beloved Looney Tunes characters (Blanc’s tombstone is inscribed with the famous signoff, "That's all folks”). But there’s more to this experience than just a movie with food trucks, themed photo booths and occasional fireworks making it a night to remember...for those that are still alive.
Cinema star power
1. local talent
2. Rising Star
3. hollywood favourite
4. blockbuster hero
5. legendary icon
BUNK UP
UK & Europe
Looking for a more intimate viewing experience? You can’t get much cosier than Sol Cinema, the world’s smallest movie theatre. Operating out of a converted vintage caravan, the mobile cinema can only seat eight adults, or 12 children, at a time, but this small space hasn’t led to skimping on its cinematic experience. The seats are plush, the carpet red, and the ushers ridiculously cheerful.
The Sol Cinema is powered by solar panels and plays at festivals and private events throughout the UK and Europe. But don’t supersize your snacks—the free films only last seven minutes.
Cinema star power
1. local talent
2. Rising Star
3. hollywood favourite
4. blockbuster hero
5. legendary icon
Sparks fly
LONDON, ENGLAND
During the Golden Age of Cinema, when advancing technology brought sound and stars like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly to the big screen, London’s Electric Cinema was right there in the front row. Established in 1910, this Notting Hill gem is one of the oldest working cinemas in the UK, and its funky Edwardian Baroque interior sees it serve up vintage charm along with bar snacks and alcohol.
The eclectic film schedule ranges from indie flicks to mainstream hits, but the best part is the seating plan with five rows of plush red seating sandwiched between the front row of double beds, and the back row with two-seater couches.
Cinema star power
1. local talent
2. Rising Star
3. hollywood favourite
4. blockbuster hero
5. legendary icon
You can’t beat the classicS
UTAH, USA
At first pass, you wouldn’t expect the tiny town of Escalante, a town that spends two days a year celebrating the ‘wild potato’, to make the list of great cinematic experiences. But it’s when the sun goes down that the drive-in theatre at the luxury RV park and glamping resort Ofland really ramps up.
The screen is massive, the sound system is state-of-the-art, and the darkness of the remote setting makes the movies pop. Hunker down in the front seat of one of nine restored classic cars to watch an epic movie against the even more epic landscape of the American Southwest.
Cinema star power
1. local talent
2. Rising Star
3. hollywood favourite
4. blockbuster hero
5. legendary icon
get in the know The most expensive film ever made is thought to be Star Wars: The Force Awakens, costing a whopping US$477million back in 2015.
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