Cinemas in New South Wales

Most of the 39 cinemas here are Event or HOYTS multiplexes inside shopping centres, and across them the format you book matters more than the brand. Event Cinemas George Street is the central Sydney option, but our verdict is that standard seats there are a poor choice and only Boutique or Gold Class deliver comfort. Event Cinemas Burwood has a double daybed that lets a parent lie down with a toddler who drifts off. HOYTS Broadway and HOYTS Wetherill Park both offer recliners in standard sessions, with Broadway's Little Stars sessions aimed at young children. At Event Cinemas Parramatta, Gold Class draws consistent praise while standard auditoriums carry long-running odour complaints, and Event Cinemas - Liverpool is the budget pick with the same trade-off.

The independents suit older kids. Ritz Cinemas in Randwick runs foreign films and classics in art deco rooms, with Ritz Junior weekend sessions for younger children; ellaslist notes its BYO Baby sessions use the largest screen. Dendy Cinemas Newtown is pitched at ages 10 and up, and Cinema 10 is stairs-only. Palace Central Cinemas runs quieter, lower-volume screenings, which our verdict flags as useful for children with sensory sensitivities. For the under-8s, ellaslist reports Event Cinemas Macquarie is currently Sydney's only Event Junior playground location.

For something different, Event Cinemas - Drive-in Blacktown lets restless toddlers move freely in the car, permits BYO food, and works best with well-lit films. Moonlight Cinema Sydney and Mov'in bed are listed as temporarily closed at the time of writing.