Cinemas in South Australia

The 15 cinemas here fall into two camps. The chain multiplexes sell comfort and scale: HOYTS Tea Tree Plaza in Modbury pushes its 3D XtraSupreme format for animated films and runs birthday packages, HOYTS Norwood pairs recliners with an XtremeScreen and, reviewers say, half-price Tuesdays and four hours of free parking, and Event Cinemas Marion relies on V-Max recliners spacious enough to keep restless kids seated through a long film. Reading Cinemas Elizabeth has a luxury recliner tier and a layout reviewers find calm for a first cinema visit; Reading Cinemas West Lakes adds in-seat meal service, though a few electric recliners have had faults. HOYTS Salisbury draws notes about worn seats and sound bleed between screens, while at HOYTS Arndale reviewers advise skipping the daybed premium because the seats do not recline.

The other camp is older buildings with character. The volunteer-run Capri Theatre in Goodwood has a Wurlitzer organ before select sessions and Rocky Horror and candlelight nights aimed at tweens and teens. Odeon Star Cinema in Semaphore offers classic programming and full-sized choc-tops with basic seating, The Regal Theatre in Kensington Park mixes live performances with film and has a crying room for toddlers, and The Piccadilly in North Adelaide brings in-seat service and praised birthday hosting, with paid street parking only.

Between the two sit Wallis Entertainment Mitcham, notable for lift access and armrests that fold flat, Wallis Cinemas Glenelg, where free parking is validated with a ticket, and the two Palace Nova sites. Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas offers private screenings for up to 18, and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas smaller, cold-running rooms; the School Holiday Movie Guide lists the St. Ali Italian Film Festival at both and a Labyrinth anniversary screening at Eastend.