One of my favourite things about watching a movie at home is snuggling up on the lounge with my dog. But what about if you’re wanting to head out to a cinema? Luckily, there’s a wide range of dog-friendly cinemas across Australia that welcome dogs, from outdoor cinemas and drive-ins, plus even a regular cinema for some special sessions. Plan that movie night now!
#1 Moonlight Cinema
Locations: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
One of the longest running outdoor cinemas in Australia is the Moonlight Cinema, which sets up every summer in five cities across the country. And best of all, four of its locations are dog-friendly: next to the Botanic Gardens in Adelaide, the Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and Centennial Park in Sydney. The only exception is Perth.
Dogs are allowed in all sections at the Moonlight Cinema, including the premium areas that come with beanbags. They naturally need to be kept on a short leash plus remain quiet during the movie. Don’t bring a dog who is likely to bark! The full rules for dogs are here.
The Moonlight Cinema season runs each summer between late November and either February or April, with different dates at each location. I recommend checking the website for more details from November, with the full program of movies released progressively throughout the season.
Also check whether there are any special dog-related promotions. At the Moonlight Cinema in Sydney it’s currently possible to hire dog-friendly bean bags (unless they’ve run out) and buy Lyka goodie bags. Sometimes there’s also canine-themed movies.
#2 The Sunset Cinema
Locations: Abbotsford (Melbourne), Bondi Beach (Sydney), St Kilda (Melbourne)
Another outdoor cinema with multiple locations throughout Australia is the Sunset Cinema. Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed at the Sunset Cinema in Canberra, North Sydney and Wollongong, due to venue restrictions. However, if you’re heading to the Sunset Cinema at Abbotsford Convent, Bondi Beach or St Kilda, you’re in luck!
At these three venues dogs are welcome to join you at any screening. Just remember to keep your dog on a leash and clean up after them. Also keep in mind that a noisy and crowded cinema environment may not be suitable for all dogs.
The dates for the summer 2025-26 season differ for each venue. In Melbourne, the season runs at Abbotsford runs from early December to early January, then moves to St Kilda until late March. At Bondi Beach, get in quick for the short season from mid November until just before Christmas.
#3 Mov’in Bed Cinema
Location: Barangaroo (Sydney)
This summer, the most luxe outdoor cinema in Sydney is the Mov’in Bed Cinema. With comfy inflatable beds set up on a sandy beach at Barangaroo, it’s the ultimate spot to lie back and enjoy a movie outdoors next to the harbour.
Dogs are provided with their own bed (big enough for large dogs) and a bowl, when you make a booking for the My Dog & Me Bed Class. A dog bed is also available as an add-on when you splurge for the VIP Bed Class. Note that dogs aren’t allowed on the main beds for hygiene reasons.
The season at Mov’in Bed Cinemas started in late November and will continue through to February. There’s a mixture of new releases, Christmas movies and other favourites. Best of all, the sound is provided through noise-cancelling headphones – meaning no-one will notice if your dog lets out a stray bark. (They’ll probably snooze through most of the movie…)
#4 Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema
Location: New Farm (Brisbane)
If you live in Brisbane, there’s also another dog-friendly outdoor cinema option, that isn’t just limited to the summer months. At the Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema in New Farm, dog-friendly screenings are held most Sunday evenings, year round.
Make sure you access the list of dog-friendly screenings through the special page, so you don’t accidentally book a screening where dogs are not permitted. Dogs must be kept on a short leash and be well behaved, and it’s best to bring their own water bowl. However, dog treats from Fur Kids Bakery are available for purchase.
#5 Sun Theatre
Location: Yarraville (Melbourne)
Melbourne is also home to another dog-friendly cinema, this time indoors, meaning the show will still go on even if it’s raining outside. This option is the Sun Theatre in Yarraville, which helds multiple Doggy Days screenings a year.
Sign up to find out when a screening is announced, as the tickets are snapped up quickly. There’s the option to either just book one seat, with your dog on your lap or the floor next to you, or also book an extra seat for your dog. There’s a a limit of one dog per human, to keep things manageable.
The volume is turned down lower for these sessions, with the emergency doors also remaining open for if your dog needs a quick break, including of the bathroom type. Also skip bringing along long-lasting treats at these screenings, to prevent fights between dogs.
#6 Drive-In Cinemas
Locations: Blacktown (Sydney), Charters Towers (North Queensland), Coober Pedy (Outback South Australia), Mareeba (Far North Queensland), Yatala (Brisbane)
A final option for watching a movie with your dog is a drive-in cinema. There’s not many left around Australia, with the Tivoli Drive-In Theatre near Ipswich just recently closing, but many of the remaining locations are dog-friendly. Check out these options:
Skyline Drive In Blacktown: Operated by Event Cinemas, this drive-in cinema in western Sydney has two screens with two movies screened most nights, including the latest blockbusters and selected classics. Stay clear of the Gold Grass area and the diner area with your dog, who should be leashed outside of your vehicle.
Coober Pedy Drive-In: The dog-friendly opal mining town of Coober Pedy is home to the only remaining drive-in theatre in all of South Australia. Movies are shown every Saturday night, plus some Friday nights, with a break over the hot summer months from mid-December. Previous visitors have mentioned that dogs are allowed.
Yatala Drive-In: This drive-in is located on the southern edge of Brisbane. There’s three fields screening the latest blockbusters, with the option to upgrade to a double feature. Pets are welcome to join you, as long as they stay on leash and with you at all times.
Tors Drive-In Cinema: The drive-in is located on the northeastern edge of Charters Towers, inland from Townsville. There’s two screens in operation, usually screening a double feature each night on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Quiet dogs are welcome for no extra charge.
Mareeba Drive-In Theatre: This drive-in on the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland welcomes dogs to join you, as long as they are leashed and stay with you. A double feature is shown most Friday and Saturday nights, with the option to camp overnight afterwards if you’re in a campervan or caravan.
Tips for Visiting a Cinema with Your Dog
When visiting any cinema with your dog, make sure you always follow the rules set by the venue, so that dogs continue to be welcome. For starters, at a minimum keep your dog leashed and clean up after them.
I recommend taking your dog for a toilet stop before entering the cinema. Especially for the outdoor cinemas, there’s usually a park outside where you can take your dog for a quick walk, to minimise the chance of an accident inside. A longer walk to tire them out might also be a good idea!
Unless a water bowl is provided inside, it’s a good idea to bring one along for your dog (and a water bottle). I also tend to bring a long-lasting treat for my dog, to distract him from stealing my popcorn or ice-cream.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.