DRIVE-IN CINEMA CHRISTCHURCH · LIVE TONIGHT

Christchurch's Drive‑In & Outdoor Cinema Under the Stars

Curated movie nights under the stars across Christchurch & Canterbury, with crystal-clear 88.6FM in-car audio and local food trucks — one of the best things to do in Christchurch this weekend.

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⭐ 4.9/5 from 1,200+ Kiwi moviegoers
🚗 250+ cars per night capacity
📻 88.6 FM Christchurch
🏆 Established 2013 WELLINGTON
🌦️ Kiwi Weather Guarantee
🛡️ Fully Insured Events
🎬 Indoor Cinema Screens Available on Request
⭐ 4.9/5 from 1,200+ Kiwi moviegoers
🚗 250+ cars per night capacity
📻 88.6 FM Christchurch
🏆 Established 2013 WELLINGTON
🌦️ Kiwi Weather Guarantee
🛡️ Fully Insured Events
🎬 Indoor Cinema Screens Available on Request
WHAT'S ON · OUTDOOR CINEMA CHRISTCHURCH

Now showing & upcoming

Drive-in and outdoor screenings across christchurch attractions and event spaces — book your bay before it fills.

🎃 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (R16)
Scream (1996) - Halloween Special (R16) Poster
Scream (1996) - Halloween Special (R16)
📅 Saturday 31 October 2026
⏰ Gates 7:00 PM · Film starts ~8:45 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 Food Trucks + Horror Costume Contest + FM DJ
🎬 R16 RESTRICTED 16+
Book Now More Details
🏎️ ACTION NIGHT (M)
Ford v Ferrari - Action Night Poster
Ford v Ferrari - Action Night
📅 Saturday 21 November 2026
⏰ Gates 7:15 PM · Film starts ~9:00 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 Classic Car Display + Smash Burgers
🎬 M MATURE AUDIENCES
Join VIP Waitlist 🎟️ VIP Alert 🔔
🎄 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (G)
The Grinch - Christmas Special Poster
The Grinch - Christmas Special
📅 Saturday 19 December 2026
⏰ Gates 7:45 PM · Film starts ~9:30 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 Santa Photo Op + Hot Cocoa Carts
🎬 G GENERAL EXHIBITION
Join VIP Waitlist 🎟️ VIP Alert 🔔
💃 RETRO NIGHT (PG)
Dirty Dancing - Retro Sing-Along Night Poster
Dirty Dancing - Retro Sing-Along Night
📅 Saturday 16 January 2027
⏰ Gates 7:45 PM · Film starts ~9:30 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 In-Car Sing-Along + Gourmet Churros
🎬 PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE
Join VIP Waitlist 🎟️ VIP Alert 🔔
💕 VALENTINE'S SPECIAL (G)
Pride & Prejudice - Valentine's Special Poster
Pride & Prejudice - Valentine's Special
📅 Saturday 13 February 2027
⏰ Gates 7:15 PM · Film starts ~9:15 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 Date Night Snack Pack + Mocktails
🎬 G GENERAL EXHIBITION
Join VIP Waitlist 🎟️ VIP Alert 🔔
😂 COMEDY NIGHT (R16)
Step Brothers - Comedy Night (R16) Poster
Step Brothers - Comedy Night (R16)
📅 Saturday 20 March 2027
⏰ Gates 6:30 PM · Film starts ~8:15 PM
📍 Christchurch Showgrounds
🍿 Food Trucks + Retro Comedy Trivia
🎬 R16 RESTRICTED 16+
Join VIP Waitlist 🎟️ VIP Alert 🔔
View Full 2026 Movie Calendar
HOW IT WORKS

Your seamless drive-in night out

From booking to tuning into 88.6 FM — here's how a night at Firefly's drive-in or outdoor screening works.

1

Book your bay

Choose your screening, vehicle size and add snack packs online.

2

Roll up & park

Marshals guide compacts to the front, SUVs to the back for clear views.

3

Tune your FM radio

Turn the key to accessory mode and tune to our private crystal frequency.

4

Sit back & enjoy

Order food to your window, pull up the blankets, and enjoy the show.

LOVED BY KIWIS

What moviegoers are saying

Real reviews from real drive-in cinema and outdoor cinema nights across New Zealand.

Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"It's such an awesome experience for the family or a group of friends."

K
Karen Griffin
Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"Loved the drive-in movie experience! Hadn't been to one since the 1960s in Australia and got to share it with our kids for their first time. Well organised too."

P
Phil Kerslake
Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"Affordable fun for the whole family - totally recommend it you won't be disappointed."

N
Nen Tulloch
Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"Pork pie was fantastic! Very well set up and organised can't wait for the next one in Christchurch. Amazing experience and to share it with my son!"

P
Pam Stark
Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"Awesome! Great meeting some of the cast of Pork Pie... Ashleigh Cummings you were great!"

D
Daphne Peers
Recommends Firefly Cinema
★★★★★

"Brilliant night out under the stars with great sound and delicious food. Highly recommended!"

C
Craig Maguire
Read All Facebook Reviews
✦ SPOTLIGHT EXPERIENCE

Scream (1996):
Halloween Drive-In

Wes Craven's 1996 horror masterpiece under the dark Canterbury sky. High-octane slasher thrills, best horror cosplay prizes, food truck village, and bone-chilling surround sound broadcast straight to your vehicle.

🚗 Best dressed spooky vehicle contest 🔪 Ghostface cosplay prizes 📻 Live Halloween horror FM DJ
Secure VIP Spotlight Passes
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ESSENTIALS & ETIQUETTE

Get comfy, know the rules

Everything you need for a smooth night at New Zealand's favourite open air cinema — from what to bring to how we keep things running safely.

🛋️ What to bring
Warm layersPillows, duvets, and sleeping bags for maximum in-car comfort.
Portable FM radioOptional if you would rather not run your car battery in accessory mode.
A fully charged phoneYou'll need it for your e-ticket QR code and to order food straight to your window.
🚦 House rules
Headlights offPark lights and brake lights off too once the film screening begins.
Smoke-free venueDesignated smoke and vape-free areas to keep air fresh for all.
Walking pace onlyStrict 5 km/h speed limit across all parking and pedestrian zones.
DINNER & A SHOW

Our rotating food truck village

No sad microwave popcorn — real food trucks, real local flavour, every drive-in cinema night across Christchurch and beyond.

Roma Streetfood pink taco food truck with chefs serving moviegoers at Firefly Cinemas Christchurch
🌮 Roma Streetfood
For The Love Of Food truck serving artisan brisket burgers and loaded fries at Firefly Cinemas
🍔 For The Love Of Food
Stella-Kip Delights candy floss sweet treats truck and family fun zone at Firefly Cinemas NZ
🍭 Stella-Kip Delights

Are you a food truck or mobile vendor?

Join our high-footfall movie events across Canterbury and NZ. Guaranteed hungry crowds and simple pitch setup.

Apply to Pitch Your Truck
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT

VIP add-ons & season passes

Upgrade your night at Firefly with front-row bays, flexible season passes and digital gift vouchers.

SEASON PASS

5-Movie Flexible Pass

TBA

Save across the season. Transferrable to friends & family across all 2026 dates.

Buy Pass
MOST POPULAR

VIP Front-Row (Per Car)

TBA

Guaranteed front-centre bay with priority entry and exit.

Upgrade Bay
SNACK BUNDLE

Firefly Retro Snack Bundle

TBA

Gourmet popcorn, classic Kiwi candy & ice-cold drinks delivered straight to your car window.

Pre-Order Snacks
GIFT VOUCHER

Digital Gift Voucher

TBA

Instant email delivery with a custom gift message for birthdays & holidays.

Send a Gift
✦ COMING SOON

Yearly Membership Pass

Locked in for now — priority booking, discounted tickets and exclusive invites are on the way. Keep an eye on the website, or register below to be the first to know.

COMMERCIAL & COMMUNITY

Cinema hire across New Zealand

From school fundraisers to corporate brand nights, we bring outdoor cinema experiences to your audience — nationwide, turnkey, zero technical risk.

SERVICE 01 / 04
🏫

School & Club Fundraising

Turnkey movie nights with 50%+ profit retention and zero technical risk for your PTA, sports club or charity.

Explore Fundraising
SERVICE 02 / 04
💼

Corporate & Brand Nights

Reward staff, host VIP client celebrations, or launch products with custom on-screen branding, gourmet catering, and turnkey event staging.

Explore Corporate Hire
SERVICE 03 / 04
📽️

Dry Equipment & AV Hire

Rent commercial 10m Airscreens, 15,000+ ANSI lumen laser cinema projectors, licensed FM transmitters, and certified sound technicians across NZ.

View Equipment Specs
SERVICE 04 / 04
📺

Cinema Screen Advertising

Engage a high-intent, captive local audience across Canterbury and NZ with premium pre-show advertising spots and full-motion sponsor reels.

Explore Screen Advertising
SERVICE 01 / 04

Turnkey movie nights with 50%+ profit retention and zero technical risk for your PTA, sports club or charity.

Explore Fundraising
SERVICE 02 / 04

Reward staff, host VIP client celebrations, or launch products with custom on-screen branding, gourmet catering, and turnkey event staging.

Explore Corporate Hire
SERVICE 03 / 04

Rent commercial 10m Airscreens, 15,000+ ANSI lumen laser cinema projectors, licensed FM transmitters, and certified sound technicians across NZ.

View Equipment Specs
SERVICE 04 / 04

Engage a high-intent, captive local audience across Canterbury and NZ with premium pre-show advertising spots and full-motion sponsor reels.

Explore Screen Advertising
BESPOKE PRIVATE EVENTS

Your brand, your crowd, our big screen

Bespoke private cinema hire for corporate nights, product launches and client events — tailored entirely to your brand.

🎬 On-screen branding

CEO keynotes, sponsor reels, and custom video presentations before the film.

🍕 Food & bar village

Fully coordinated catering: woodfired pizzas, local craft beers, wine, and barista coffee.

LIVE FEED
YOUR LOGO HERE
4K LASER · FM STEREO
🚗 VIP BAY 1
🚙 VIP BAY 2
🚗 VIP BAY 3
🎙️ Live mic & audio

Wireless mics and pristine PA systems integrated seamlessly with in-car FM broadcast.

📋 Turnkey management

Power, marshaling, council compliance, vehicle spacing, and weather backup.

Request Corporate Proposal
PROFESSIONAL AV HIRE

Outdoor cinema equipment hire

Commercial-grade screens, laser projectors and FM transmission — including our 12m inflatable screen — delivered and set up by our crew.

COMMERCIAL SCREENS

10m Inflatable Airscreens

  • Engineered for winds up to 38 km/h
  • Seamless high-gain projection surface
  • Audience capacity 100 to 3,000+
  • Rapid 30-minute inflation & anchor
HIGH-OUTPUT OPTICS

Laser Cinema Projectors

  • 15,000+ ANSI Lumens brightness
  • True 1080p & 4K Cinema DCI support
  • Long-throw commercial optics
  • Weatherproof mobile projection booth
FM BROADCAST

Certified FM Transmitters

  • Fully NZ-licensed private frequency
  • Crystal clear stereo dynamic compression
  • Zero latency in-car broadcast
  • Backup PA speaker arrays available
CREW & SUPPORT

Certified On-Site AV Crew

  • Lead AV engineer and technicians
  • Full rigging, power distribution & test
  • Live operational support throughout
  • Packdown & site restoration
✦ PROUD SPONSORS

Where sponsorship meets the big screen

The brands and partners who help bring Firefly Cinemas to your community.

WHERE WE POP UP

Drive-in locations across New Zealand

Tune in to your nearest signal — from our founding home in Wellington to the Christchurch hub and our touring stops across the country.

FIREFLY FM
88.6
88.1
95.7
88.6 FM

📍 Christchurch & Canterbury

Regular seasonal screenings at Riccarton Park & showgrounds.

88.1 FM

📍 Wellington

Our founding home since 2013. Pop-up seasons & waterfront events.

95.7 FM

✦ Touring New Zealand

Nelson, Tauranga, Hamilton, Dunedin and regional town centres.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know before your first night at Firefly's drive-in cinema.

How do we hear the movie audio? +
We broadcast crystal-clear stereo directly over a private FM radio frequency into your car's stereo system. In addition, high-power on-site PA speakers are active across the grounds and loud enough for everyone outside your vehicle, or you are welcome to bring a small portable battery-powered radio to tune in from your camping chairs.
What happens if the weather is bad? +
Screenings proceed in light rain. In the event of severe wind or torrential rain that compromises safety, we notify all ticket holders via SMS/Email by 3:00 PM on the day. Your ticket automatically transfers to the rain date or you receive an instant 100% credit/refund.
Can I bring a large SUV, 4WD, or ute? +
Yes! Our traffic marshals park compact sedans and hatchbacks in front rows, while SUVs, 4WDs and vans are positioned in middle/rear rows or designated side bays to guarantee unobstructed sightlines for everyone.
What if my car battery runs flat during the film? +
No worries at all! Our on-site operations crew carries commercial battery booster packs and will jump-start your vehicle immediately at no charge.
Can we bring our own snacks or buy on-site? +
You are welcome to bring snacks, but we strongly encourage supporting our rotating Food Truck Village featuring woodfired pizza, street tacos, gourmet popcorn, craft coffee, and treats!
Are dogs allowed? +
Well-behaved dogs are welcome to stay with you in your vehicle for most screenings. Please keep them inside your car during the film out of consideration for other guests — check individual event listings for any venue-specific restrictions.
How do I redeem a gift voucher? +
Simply enter your voucher code at checkout when booking any screening online. Your voucher balance will be applied automatically — no need to contact us in advance.
How early should I arrive? +
Gates open 1.5 hours before sunset so you have plenty of time to park, grab dinner from the Food Truck Village, and enjoy the pre-show tunes. The movie begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset once natural darkness gives optimal projection quality.
Is there on-site parking? +
Yes — your vehicle bay is your parking spot for the night. Our marshals guide every car into position on arrival, so there's no separate parking area to worry about.
Can I book a private screening? +
Absolutely. We host private and corporate screenings for celebrations, brand activations, and client events. Head to our Corporate & Private Hire section above or get in touch to request a proposal.
FIREFLY CHRONICLES

Latest news & film picks

Behind-the-scenes stories, film recommendations and community fundraising highlights from across New Zealand.

Explore All Chronicles

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screenings & secret pop-ups

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COMMUNITY & MOMENTS

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Live Instagram Reels & drive-in cinema vibes across Christchurch & Canterbury.

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