New Zealand's third IMAX cinema is coming to Sylvia Park this December, in time for "Dune: Part Three"

HOYTS has announced it will open new IMAX cinemas in Auckland (Sylvia Park) and Sydney (Wetherill Park) this December, ahead of the release of "Dune: Part Three".

HOYTS Sylvia Park in Auckland will be home to HOYTS' first IMAX with Laser screen in New Zealand, while HOYTS Wetherill Park in Sydney will serve as a new Australian location. An official date for the December opening of the two IMAX cinemas is yet to be revealed.

HOYTS Group CEO and President Damian Keogh said the rollout reflects HOYTS’ continued investment in premium cinema and its commitment to delivering the highest quality experiences for audiences: "We have seen incredible appetite for elevated cinema formats, with audiences seeking out the IMAX experience. IMAX with Laser raises the bar with state-of-the-art projection and precision audio, delivering exceptional clarity, detail and sound. It further strengthens our premium cinema offering and gives audiences even more reasons to choose the big screen.”

“Expanding IMAX across Australia and bringing this offering to New Zealand allows more audiences to enjoy a world-class cinema experience at HOYTS, combining cutting-edge technology, exceptional comfort and compelling content,” Keogh added.

IMAX Chief Commercial Officer Giovanni Dolci highlighted the demand from audiences.

“Record results for The Odyssey show the strength of audience demand for IMAX across Australia and New Zealand. With Dune: Part Three closing out this year and a strong lineup of Filmed for IMAX titles ahead in 2027, this is an excellent moment to bring the IMAX Experience to more HOYTS audiences.”

Last month, we reported that HOYTS is also bringing SCREENX, the 270-degree panoramic movie experience, to Sylvia Park before the end of the year. 

What to expect from IMAX Sylvia Park in Auckland and IMAX Wetherill Park in Sydney?

• Crystal Clear IMAX Laser Projection: 4K laser projection delivers increased resolution, sharper and brighter images, deeper contrast and a wider range of colours to bring filmmakers’ visions to life on screen.
• Next Generation IMAX Precision Sound: Patented sound technology delivers greater clarity and depth, with precisely tuned and evenly distributed audio throughout the theatre.
• For the upcoming IMAX release of Denis Villenueve's "Dune: Part Three" (in New Zealand cinemas from 17 December), the film will be digitally re-mastered specifically for IMAX with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology to take advantage of the increased sharpness, brightness, contrast, colour and other attributes it can deliver. The process enhances the image frame-by-frame and remixes the soundtrack to transport audiences beyond their seat and into the world of the movie.