For film fans who can’t bring themselves to spend balmy evenings inside air-conditioned cinemas, Sydney is a good place to be in summertime. Every year, our parks and plazas transform into alfresco cinemas, and one old favourite has confirmed that it’s coming back for 2024 – this time complete with 280 tonnes of sand and 160 queen and king sized beds.
Mov’in Bed – the open-air cinema pop up that replaces bean bags with real life beds – first popped up in Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter back in 2016, but took a pause during our lockdown era. Last summer, the outdoor cinema (brought to life by the people behind some of Sydney’s biggest events, including Bastille Festival and Ghost Festival), popped up in an upgraded waterside location, complete with upgraded beds, an urban beach setting and a fresh line-up of pre-screening DJs. Last year’s tickets sold out in weeks, and for 2024, it’s back with a bang for an extended summer season.
With the help of 280 tonnes of sand, Mov’in Bed will transform Barangaroo’s Harbour Park into an urban beach, with 160 queen and king sized beds set up on the sand with views of the 15 metre screen and across to the harbour beyond.
With food delivered directly to the bedside, you can happily stay horizontal for the full screening, though longer movies will include an intermission so you can take a bathroom break without missing the action – leaving zero excuse to stay home for “Netflix and chill”. The setup also includes noise-cancelling headphones, so you won’t need to worry about having your audio experience disrupted by the couple in the neighbouring bed.
This year, to help with the cost of living crisis, Mov’in Bed is offering budget-friendly $12 tickets for people happy to sit on the sand for the screening.
The full program is yet to be released, but you can expect to see this summer’s biggest movies including Wicked, Gladiator II, Joker: Folie à Deux and Fly Me To The Moon. The bed-based, harbourside setup will also play host to festive screenings of Christmas favourites (including Elf and Love Actually) alongside other old family favourites and fun new releases.
Mov’in Bed will open on Friday, November 29 2024 and will run until November, 23 March 2025. You can learn more and book tickets over here.