Remember back to the days when you actually had to leave your couch to catch the latest blockbuster film? While we love the comfort of streaming movies in bed, there’s something super special and nostalgic about catching a flick at the cinema. The super-sized screen, the plush reclining chairs, the obnoxious aircon and the irresistible scent of buttery popcorn – you just can’t beat it.
Right in time for this Sunday’s Oscars, our Global Film Editor has revamped Time Out’s list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world – and three Australian cinemas have been given starring roles.
One of the most cherished institutions in Paris, Le Grand Rex, was the overall top pick – but we’d consider any theatre in the top ten worthy of a leading role. That includes The Astor, Melbourne’s oldest single-screen theatre and the last of its kind in operation, which ranked seventh on the carefully considered list. Dating way back to 1936, this grand Art Deco gem has a past as dramatic as its popular double-bills. The Astor has been under threat of development for decades, but won its most recent reprieve in 2015, when indie chain Palace Cinemas took over the site. The giant auditorium, which seats about 1,600 people across two levels, preserves its old Hollywood-feel with lush red velvet curtains, geometric carpets, a grand piano, ’30s movie posters and euphemistically named ‘cloak rooms’.
Without doubt the grandest cinema in Sydney, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne claimed the 22nd spot on Time Out’s list of the world’s most beautiful cinema. Dating back to 1935, this Art Deco theatre is a stunning step back in time, featuring six glitzy auditoria, each with its own colour scheme and decor. However, the true star of the show is the 744-seat Orpheum, where a genuine Wurlitzer cinema organ rises from a stage pit on weekend evenings, complete with flashing lights and a grinning organist.
The final Australian theatre to make Time Out’s list of the most beautiful picture palaces was Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema and Bar, located in Surry Hills, in position 36. Though it was only converted into a theatre in 2013, this 60-seat basement cinema is dressed like a character from the 1940s. With moss-green velvet, polished wood, and a raised stage beneath its small yet perfectly formed silver screen, it’s a nostalgic nod to cinema's golden era (fun fact: during World War II, the space was used for screenings of newsreels and informational films for the military). The bar is as beautiful as the theatre, featuring handmade choc-tops; smoked almonds; popcorn sprinkled with salt, Sichuan or cinnamon; and a Cameo Cocktail special inspired by a recent flick.
You can check out Time Out's full list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world here.