Event Cinemas St Lukes

Bog standard event cinema with poor service but decent screens. Convenient because of the parking and online booking system. But leave a few minutes to get through the queue even if you have booked online because they don’t have the automatic machines like Event on Queen street.

This cinema is literally a two minute walk from my house which is why we tend to go here. But if it wasn’t, this probably wouldn’t be my first choice. For starters, the pedestrian access here is absolutely crap. If you go to a movie when the mall is closed, it’s an absolute maze of poorly lit stairways and dodgy little walkways until you get to the back entrance. Or you have to walk through the middle of a carpark which has few to none pedestrian crossings. Also, it plays very mainstream movies, there’s never something a little off the wall or artsy here, they’re all Hollywood blockbusters. I don’t mind this but considering the number of theatres they have in this complex they could diversify a little a show something a bit different. Finally it’s badly in need of a revamp. The walkway you can take down to the carpark is pretty gross. The walls are covered in cigarette burns and weird substances smeared across the faux velvet walls. Yuck. So not my favourite but it is super convenient!

The best thing about Event Cinemas is this crazy little air hockey table they have which just shoots out dozens of small little pucks at the same time — so instead of a slow trying to aim game, you just go mental attacking the other player.
As far as the cinemas go, Event is pretty sweet — they have 3d, gold class, and best of all, V-​MAX– a super widescreen cinema with extra loud dolby digital surround sound. So you can groan at Rhys Darby in high definition.
They probably also have whatever other add-​ons have been thought up over the last couple of years. There is heaps of parking — especially if you come when the mall proper is closed, in which case you have probably a square kilometre or more of parks.

I went to St Lukes last night to FINALLY see Life of Pi. Due to my boyfriend moving to Westmere, it’s now one of my go-​to cinemas. I like it because it’s different to my usuals in that it is inside a mall. If you’re early or waiting for friends just go for a stroll around the shops and you won’t feel so awkward waiting. It also means there is heaps of parking and great dinner or lunch options pre or post your movie.
I think the fact that it’s in a mall is also why I don’t like it though. I’m not sure why, it just seems a little cheap or something? But you forget this as soon as you get into the cinema.
The staff are pretty standard as is the food and drink availability. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a cinema complex. And it shows 3D films.
A good clean cinema.

Event cinemas St Lukes is my go to cinema. First of all the location is great, you can shop around the mall before your movie or grab a quick bite. Secondly the fact that it’s at the mall means loads of parking spaces, although it can be a bit of a hustle to find it.
Plus the cinema screens a variety of movies which range from 3D movies to those that can be screened in the Vmax theatre. I always enjoy going to St Lukes just to have a look at the set up they have.
Another added bonus is the arcade in the cinema, if you have spare change, a lot of spare time and a winning spirit! You can take a few moments to win your lovely date a teddy bear, a phone or even candy! Do it.

Yeah so we all know about the two big players in Auckland’s movie market. Thankfully we still have quite a few lovely little boutique theatres but for those must-​see box office busters you can’t beat Event Cinemas at St Lukes. The parking is plentiful (long stay is best on the roof), there’s one of those generic coffee shops right outside that everyone complains about but still can’t resist, and you can squeeze in some shopping too with your movie. Bonus.
There’s eight cinemas here including 3D so we use this place a lot over school holidays when everyone wants to seee the same flicks.
There’s a foodhall downstairs too so if your movie is near a meal-​time I would suggest booking your tickets online to save yourself the queue time, then grabbing a refreshment of your choice to take window shopping.