Event Cinemas Queen Street — Attraction in Waitematā

After reading other reviews and hearing so much about this cinema, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, I was left utterly disappointed. Other reviewers may have never been to a decent cinema before and were easily wow'd by a mega screen.

Complex Appearance: The complex felt eerily abandoned and had an outdated ambiance. It's evident that it lacks maintenance, which is a stark contrast to the cleanliness and modern feel of other cinemas like Hoyts EntX in Christchurch. They could totally shoot a scene from a horror movie here...

Navigation: Once inside, it was challenging to find our way around due to the lack of proper direction and signage.

Seating: The seats were far from comfortable. Legroom was insufficient, making for an uncomfortable viewing experience. I was happy to leave and stretch my legs.

Picture Quality: Contrary to the claims on their website, the picture quality left much to be desired. It's quite possible that the descriptions online haven't been updated in a while, probably like 10 years lol.

Restroom Facilities: This was perhaps the worst part of the experience. The toilets were in a deplorable state. An overpowering odor of urine could be detected from the hallway, and upon entering, the situation was even worse. My partner confirmed that the female toilets were equally unpleasant. Couldn't even breathe.

Overall: I cannot in good faith recommend this cinema. There are far better options available where the overall experience is more enjoyable and where basic hygiene is...

I actually think Queen St is one of the best cinemas in Auckland, if not the best from what I have visited.

A few years ago, this venue undertook a complete overhaul in all 12 theatres but somehow missed IMAX. Since then, prices have increased significantly but it is a much better experience as a result.

Cinemas 1-6 are the larger cinemas which can be found on one level, three of which now have reclining chairs. Also on that level are the two gold class theatres which improve the experience even more.

Cinemas 7-12 are on the top level and are smaller. These rooms all have standard chairs but honestly, they are extremely comfortable and luxurious. Rooms 9 and 10 are way too small for my liking but the rest are fine.

Toilets are still a major problem as there is only one cubicle if you are a male, which can be found on level 4. It is old but again, so is the building. Hygiene levels are a major disappointment as far as the bathrooms are concerned.

The ticketing area remains on level 3 and this has not really changed much. However, I am not complaining. I cannot really comment on prices for food and drink as I do not really order it.

The entire building is unfortunately run down and closed off due to the impacts of COVID but the cinema has survived luckily.

Besides the expensive prices for cinema tickets, especially recliners and gold class, I highly recommend EVENT Cinemas Queen St. I would say it is one of the best in Auckland since the renovations.

(photos attached are...

I’ve been a long-time IMAX supporter and was genuinely excited to rewatch Superman in 3D at Queen Street. To my surprise, the 3D IMAX screening was scheduled only for a weekday afternoon (Wednesday at 3:40pm), rather than over the weekend when most people are available.

I contacted the cinema to inquire about the scheduling logic. The response I received was, frankly, disappointing—not just in content, but in tone. I was told that “our programming department have a lot of factors to consider” and that they aim to appeal to a “broader audience, not just to ‘most people’.” That specific use of quotation marks around “most people” felt unnecessarily sarcastic and dismissive, especially for a customer who was asking a sincere question.

To add to the impression, the reply also contained basic grammatical errors—such as referring to themselves with a lowercase “i” in a formal message.

While I understand that operational constraints exist, what I didn’t expect was such a lack of respect in how the response was delivered. It left me questioning whether audience feedback is truly valued.

This used to be a cinema I respected deeply, and I genuinely hope Event Cinemas Queen Street will revisit how they approach communication with long-time supporters of cinema—especially those who still go out of their way to attend...