Stafford City Shopping Centre, Stafford Rd, Stafford

Anzac Ave, Kippa Ring

McCullough St, Sunnybank

Check out their website by clicking here.

Overview

Australian Multiplex Cinemas came to prominence in the late 1990s and grew to have three locations in Brisbane – Stafford, Sunnybank and Redcliffe.  In late 2010, the Hoyts chain (which didn't have a presence in Brisbane) came in and acquired the cinemas as their own.  Hopefully they won't run them into the ground like past Hoyts cinemas in Brisbane.

The Stafford cinema is the one I frequented most (until I moved into the city in mid-2006). Don't even ask how many films and how much money I have spent there.  The Stafford cinema has 10 screens with Sunnybank and Redcliffe having 8 each.  Currently, only the Stafford and Sunnybank cinemas have a 3D projector.

Movie Quality & Range - 6 out of 10

I always ranked AMC slightly above your standard Event Cinemas in that there are a few art-house films which sneak in from time to time (at the Stafford cinema). I'm not sure we'll see too much of this in the future though given the change in management. 

Cinema Quality & Service - 6 out of 10

As part of the newer brigade of cinemas, you'll find all the latest facilities including nice big seats and retractable arm rests with beverage holders. Like any suburban shopping centre cinemas, the service is standard. Queues also are a major drag on weekends. But thankfully they have separate queues for both tickets and the candy bar which is a time saver (if you aren't buying overpriced snacks).

You'll find plenty of parking being in a shopping centre and I can speak for the well-priced meal deal at the Stafford City cinemas which offers a ticket and a Fasta Pasta dinner.

Price - 5 out of 10

The following pricing information is current as at December 2010.

Ticket Prices

· Tickets can be bought on-line through the Cineplex website for an additional $1 fee.

· Whilst tickets can be booked on-line, there is no reserved seating.  So it's best to get there early to ensure you get a good seat.

· It's disappointing to see that 3D sessions are not discounted on budget Tuesdays.  Further, there are no discounts for day screenings during the week.

· These are on a par with Event Cinemas as the most expensive in Brisbane.

Clubs

· There is a Hoyts reward system whereby you get points based on how much you have spent on tickets and at the candy bar.  These points can then redeemed for tickets and snacks.  It's free to join.  I'm yet to sign up for this system so can't say too much about whether there's any value for money.

To check out my thoughts on other cinemas in Brisbane, click here.