Please note that the following info is current as of April 2008.  The next update will be in April 2009.

Click here to find a list of all Brisbane cinemas with a link to their respective websites.

Overview

This used to be Brisbane’s only IMAX cinema but struggling sales saw it close.  It was then bought in 2003 by the owners of the Hawthorne/Balmoral cinemas for $6m and they haven’t looked back.  With Brisbane’s biggest single screen (a 25m monster), it’s become one of the city’s most popular places to be.  There are also four other smaller screens which are only a few years old themselves and still in good condition.

Movie Quality & Range - 6 out of 10

The cinema usually only shows the big Hollywood blockbusters but I concede there is the occasional “quality” release.  Also on the positive side is the fact that they usually show the week’s best film on the 25m screen.  If it’s loud and full of special effects, this is where you want to be on opening weekend.

Cinema Quality & Service - 6 out of 10

Well you won’t find a finer screen than the 25m one.  Unfortunately, their major cinema is also a major pain to get in and out of.  The rows are enormously long so if you’re sitting in the middle, prepare to clamber over about 30 or so people if you’re looking to head to the bathroom.  The other 4 cinemas are much more comfortable (but of course you only get the standard screen).  Service is reasonable but I do wonder why all popcorn is served a tub wrapped in a plastic bag?  In our environmentally conscious era, this can’t be a good thing and I don’t understand why they do it. 

Parking at Southbank can be a serious rip-off so if you see a movie, you’ll be happy to know you get 4 hours parking for just $2 when you see a movie.  There’s a host of restaurants in the area.  The cinema has a small café itself on the upper level known as The Meeting Place but I have never sampled it myself.

With their low-low prices, queues are your biggest problem here.  Many a weekend and evening session are sold out so if you’re not there early, prepare to miss out and be very, very annoyed.

Price - 9 out of 10

Ticket price

·     Weekends, evenings & pub hols - Adults: $7.90, Students $5.70, Pensioners & Children: $4.00.

·     Weekdays until 5pm - Adults: $6.00, Students $5.00, Pensioners & Children: $4.00.

·     Tuesday is discount day and prices are as per the before 5pm rates.

Candy bar

·     Small coke: $2.10, medium coke: $2.60, large coke: $3.40.

·     Small popcorn: $2.00, medium popcorn: $2.50, large popcorn: $4.50.

Other comments

·     Along with the Balmoral / Hawthorne, they are the cheapest cinemas in Brisbane.

·     Cost of a full-price ticket, medium popcorn and medium coke: $13.00.