Your Family Movie Guide for School Holidays at EVENT Cinemas

 When a young boy discovers his new pet goat has extraordinary abilities, their bond becomes the key to saving their small town from an unexpected threat. This live-action family adventure delivers exactly what kids crave — physical comedy, an animal sidekick with personality, and an underdog story about unlikely heroes. Early reviews praise the genuine laughs and heartwarming moments, with the goat itself stealing every scene through perfectly-timed antics. Parents appreciate the film's sincerity — it doesn't talk down to kids or rely on cheap jokes. Mild peril and slapstick comedy, but overall warm-hearted family entertainment. Perfect for primary-aged kids who love animal stories and families seeking genuinely funny films everyone enjoys. 

 In a world where rabbits rule society, a young bunny dreams of becoming the world's greatest DJ despite his family's traditional expectations. This vibrant animated adventure combines infectious music, stunning animation, and genuinely clever humour that works for all ages. Preview audiences highlight spectacular visual sequences (the DJ battle scenes are genuinely impressive), catchy original songs kids will sing for weeks, and surprisingly thoughtful themes about cultural identity and finding your voice. Animation quality rivals Pixar — lush, detailed, bursting with colour. Zero scary content, just pure joy and bright colours. Some mild toilet humour but nothing objectionable. Perfect first cinema experience for young children and ideal for music-loving families who appreciate quality animation with substance. 

 Based on Enid Blyton's beloved classic, three children discover an enchanted tree in the forest behind their new home. At the top, different magical lands appear — and when a dark force threatens both realms, the siblings must find courage they didn't know they had. For parents who grew up reading Enid Blyton, this is nostalgia brought to life with respect and magic. Early reviews praise the practical effects and set design — magical lands feel genuinely enchanted rather than overly CGI-reliant. The film balances whimsy with genuine stakes, meaning kids feel tension without being terrified. Some mildly scary moments (dark creatures, perilous situations) might frighten very sensitive under-5s, but absolutely beautiful to look at. Perfect for families who love fantasy adventures (Narnia, Harry Potter vibes) and kids ready for slightly more complex storytelling with emotional depth. 

 Brothers Mario and Luigi are transported from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they must rescue Princess Peach from the villainous Bowser. This is how you adapt a beloved video game franchise — with genuine affection, stunning animation, and enough Easter eggs to delight multi-generational Nintendo fans. The film brilliantly balances nostalgia (power-up sound effects, iconic level designs) with a genuinely engaging story that works even if you've never touched a controller. Chris Pratt voices Mario with heart, Jack Black's Bowser steals every scene (his villain song is an instant classic), and the animation is spectacular. Action sequences involve cartoon peril but it's all game-logic violence — no one gets hurt permanently. Absolutely packed with visual detail, making it worth seeing on the biggest screen possible. Perfect for Mario Kart players, nostalgic parents who grew up with Nintendo, and anyone seeking pure, joyful entertainment. 

If you've got kids 8 and under, you know the cinema struggle: arrive early to avoid the rush, then spend 30 minutes managing restless children who don't understand why they have to sit still before the movie even starts. EVENT Cinemas solved this with EVENT Junior — a dedicated cinema experience designed specifically for young families.

Now open at EVENT Cinemas Macquarie (Sydney) and EVENT Cinemas Shellharbour (South Coast NSW), EVENT Junior features an actual playground built right into the cinema precinct.

What makes EVENT Junior brilliant:

🎠 Purpose-built playground — Designed in collaboration with actual children, featuring slides, a netted climbing gym, digital interactive games, and age-appropriate play equipment

⏰ Arriving early = bonus time — That 20-30 minutes before the movie starts? No longer wasted. Kids play, burn energy, and arrive at their seats actually ready to sit

🎟️ Dedicated space for littles — Everyone here has young kids. The vibe is relaxed, understanding, and genuinely family-friendly

🔊 Adjusted sound levels — Loud enough to be exciting, not terrifying for sensitive ears

💺 Smaller seating — Designed for little bodies so kids can actually see comfortably

The EVENT Junior model recognizes what parents have known forever: young children need to move before they can sit still. The result? Kids who actually watch the movie instead of squirming or asking "how much longer?" fifteen minutes in.

Currently available at:

• EVENT Cinemas Macquarie (Macquarie Centre, Sydney)
• EVENT Cinemas Shellharbour (Shellharbour, South Coast NSW)

EVENT Cinemas has been rolling out significant upgrades across Australia that make family cinema trips genuinely better:

Premium Format Expansion

• IMAX Sydney (Darling Harbour) — Reopened October 2023 after complete rebuilding, featuring 4K IMAX with Laser projection, premium recliner seating, couples' seats, and Private Box options (book a box for up to 4 guests). This is cinema as spectacle.
• EVENT Innaloo (Perth) — Just underwent major refurbishment with IMAX with Laser (opened December 2025), ScreenX 270-degree viewing, upgraded Gold Class, and 4DX. One of Australia's most feature-packed cinema locations.
• EVENT Marion (Adelaide) — Now home to Australasia's largest 4DX screen (opened October 2025), delivering moving seats, wind, fog, water, and scents synchronized with the action.

4DX — Immersive Cinema

First launched at George Street Sydney in 2018, EVENT now operates 7 4DX locations across Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide). The moving seats and environmental effects (wind, water spray, scents) transform blockbusters into theme park rides — perfect for action films and Marvel movies, though maybe skip it for quiet dramas!

Gold Class — Luxury Seating + Service

Available at 30+ EVENT locations nationwide, Gold Class offers fully reclining armchairs, exclusive lounge access, and in-seat waiter service delivering chef-prepared food and drinks. For families celebrating special occasions or wanting to elevate the experience, Gold Class transforms cinema into a genuine luxury outing.

V-Max — Big Screens Done Right

V-Max auditoriums feature 20-meter screens, stadium seating, and ultra-comfortable seats. It's the sweet spot between standard cinema and premium formats — bigger impact without Gold Class pricing.

Recliner Seating Upgrades

Many EVENT locations now offer recliner seat upgrades in standard and V-Max auditoriums — meaning you don't need Gold Class to get comfortable. Choose full recliners or double daybeds when booking online.

Candy Bar Evolution

EVENT has introduced Parlour Lane Company gourmet popcorn (four flavors) and choc tops (five flavors), expanded food menus including healthier options, and crucially — online pre-ordering so you skip queues entirely.

Choose sessions strategically:

• 9-10am weekend sessions = Fresh kids, empty cinemas, easier parking
• Weekday school holiday sessions = Avoid weekend crowds
• After-lunch sessions = Post-nap for toddlers, post-energy-burn for older kids

EVENT Junior hack:

• Arrive 30-40 minutes early
• Let kids play in the EVENT Junior playground for 20-25 minutes
• Grab snacks 10 minutes before session starts
• Everyone arrives at seats calm and ready to watch

Snack strategy:

• Pre-order candy bar items online (skip the queue)
• Choose combo deals for better value
• Accept that cinema popcorn is overpriced and buy it anyway (it's part of the experience)

Seating wisdom:

• Book aisle seats (easier for bathroom runs mid-movie)
• Sit toward the back (less neck strain, easier to leave if needed)
• For EVENT Junior, center seats give best screen view for little ones

Age-appropriate selection:

• Under 5: Keep it under 90 minutes, bright/colourful, familiar characters
• 5-8: Can handle 90-100 minutes, simple plots, clear good vs. evil
• 9-12: Ready for 100+ minutes, complex stories, mild intensity

The reality check: You might not watch the entire movie uninterrupted. Someone will need the bathroom. Someone might get scared. That's okay. You tried, they experienced cinema, and sometimes the popcorn and the outing is the win, not actually seeing the full film.

In an era where every movie eventually hits streaming platforms, why bother with cinema trips? Because the experience itself matters. There's something about the bigness of cinema — the screen, the sound, the communal laughter, the ritual of it all — that streaming at home simply can't replicate.

What cinema gives families:

✨ Shared cultural moments — Everyone sees the new Pixar film together, talks about it at school, references it for months

✨ Undivided attention — No one's checking phones or getting distracted. You're all watching together.

✨ Scale and spectacle — Animation and visual effects are designed for big screens. TV doesn't deliver the same impact.

✨ Event status — "We're going to the movies!" feels special in a way "Let's watch something on Disney+" doesn't

✨ Creating memories — Kids remember cinema trips far more vividly than home streaming sessions

With EVENT Cinemas' improvements — especially EVENT Junior for young families — the barriers that made cinema stressful (arriving early with restless kids, uncomfortable seating, chaotic candy bars) have been addressed. Cinema is becoming genuinely family-friendly again, not just family-tolerant.

For too long, cinemas felt like they were designed for adults who happen to bring kids along. EVENT Cinemas' recent upgrades, especially EVENT Junior, signal a genuine shift: families aren't just tolerated, they're actively welcomed with infrastructure designed for how children actually behave.

The playground before the movie. The age-appropriate seating and sound. The premium format variety. The pre-ordering convenience. These aren't revolutionary concepts — they're common-sense solutions that should have existed years ago. But now they do, and cinema trips with kids have gotten significantly better.