Empire Cinema Island Bay: Showtimes, Tickets, Schedule

If you’ve been driving past Island Bay wondering what that cinema on The Parade is actually like, you’re not alone. Empire Cinema & Eatery has quietly become one of Wellington’s more interesting independent venues — pairing current releases with a fully licensed bar and food menu. I spent some time going through their schedule, ticketing options, and eatery setup so you don’t have to guess what’s on and how to get a seat.

Address: 214 The Parade, Island Bay 6023 · Phone: 04 939 7557 · Features: Luxury seating, licensed bar and eatery · Booking site: empirecinema.nz

The table below summarizes essential contact and venue details for Empire Cinema & Eatery.

Empire cinema island bay schedule

The current roster at Empire Cinema & Eatery spans everything from family-friendly adventures to the 10th anniversary re-release of a New Zealand classic. You can pull up their full schedule directly on Empire Cinema NZ (the official source), or catch a secondary listing on Flicks for broader context.

Current session times

• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: 9:50AM, 2:05PM, 6:15PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• Hoppers: 10:20AM, 1:30PM, 5:40PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• GOAT: 11:20AM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• The Magic Faraway Tree: 11:55AM, 3:30PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• Project Hail Mary: 12:30PM, 7:50PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• The Drama: 3:40PM, 8:10PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople 10th Anniversary: 4:10PM with $10 tickets (Empire Cinema NZ)
• Reminders of Him: 5:50PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)
• Ready or Not 2: Here I Come: 8:20PM (Empire Cinema NZ Showtimes)

How to view full schedule

Head to empirecinema.nz/now-playing/ for the most current lineup. The site updates as new films land, and you can also cross-reference with Flicks (New Zealand’s cinema aggregator) for showtime comparisons across venues.

Empire cinema island bay tickets

Booking a seat at Empire Cinema is straightforward if you know where to look. Unlike some smaller venues that still rely on walk-ups only, this one gives you the option to secure tickets before you leave the house.

Online booking process

The primary ticketing route runs through empirecinema.nz (the official cinema website), where you can select your film, time, and pay in advance. For secondary availability, Flicks also lists Empire Cinema showtimes alongside ticket links where available.

In-person purchase

If you prefer to pay on the day, call 04 939 7557 to check seat availability before heading down. The venue is open for walk-up sales, though popular screenings—especially weekend matinees—can fill up quickly given Island Bay’s relatively compact cinema footprint.

Empire cinema island bay showtimes

Showtimes at Empire Cinema span a wide spread across the day, from early morning sessions to late-night finishes. The pattern reflects what you’d expect from a cinema that serves both families (early afternoon) and evening-only audiences alike.

Today’s showtimes

As of the latest update from Empire Cinema NZ, showtimes run from 9:50AM through 8:20PM, with films like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie offering the earliest options and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come finishing late. The 10th anniversary screening of Hunt for the Wilderpeople at 4:10PM stands out as a $10 matinee event.

Upcoming films

• You, Me & Tuscany — opens April 09 (Empire Cinema NZ)
• Lee Cronin’s The Mummy — opens April 16 (Empire Cinema NZ)
• Michael — opens Wednesday April 22 (Empire Cinema NZ)
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 — opens April 30 (Empire Cinema NZ)
• SGT. Haane — opens April 30 (Empire Cinema NZ)

The April rollout is notably busy, with two films opening on April 30 alone. Fans of New Zealand cinema will want to note SGT. Haane as a local release worth circling.

Below is the complete showtime matrix for all currently playing and upcoming films at Empire Cinema.

Moviegoers checking the table should verify times directly on the Empire Cinema NZ website before visiting, as schedules shift as films cycle through the venue.

Empire cinema island bay ticket prices

Here’s where things get less straightforward: Empire Cinema NZ does not list standard ticket prices on their website. The approach seems to be “contact us” or “book and see,” which is common among smaller venues that adjust pricing based on format, time, and special events.

Standard pricing

While exact figures weren’t available from the official site, several patterns emerge from the research. The Hunt for the Wilderpeople 10th Anniversary screening is explicitly advertised at $10 (Empire Cinema NZ), which suggests standard adult pricing likely sits in the $15–20 range for regular sessions based on comparable New Zealand independent cinemas.

Discounts and specials

The $10 anniversary screening is currently the standout deal. Beyond that, the official website is your best bet for any promotional pricing or loyalty program offers they may run seasonally.

Empire cinema island bay menu

The eatery side of Empire Cinema & Eatery is part of what sets it apart from a pure cinema experience. Rather than just candy and soft drinks, they’ve built out a food and beverage program that includes full meals alongside your ticket.

Eatery offerings

The Empire Cinema NZ website lists three distinct menus: Brunch Menu, Drinks Menu (Page 1 and 2), and Pizza Menu. This suggests a kitchen that goes beyond standard cinema fare — something comparable to venues integrating a proper café or restaurant with their screens.

However, visitor feedback adds some nuance. A TripAdvisor reviewer described the menu as “underwhelming,” citing options like burger, fish and chips, pasta, and a $20 veggie option of broccolini and beans with burnt halloumi. The reviewer’s assessment: “Really, is that it?” This represents a tier-3 source (user review) and reflects one opinion rather than a consensus, but it flags that the eatery may not yet be operating at the level some visitors expect.

Bar and drinks

The venue is fully licensed, which is a meaningful differentiator in Wellington’s suburban cinema landscape. The Drinks Menu (listed as two pages) indicates a proper bar program, not just a counter with cans. For pre-film drinks or a glass of wine during your movie, this covers the bases.

How Empire Cinema Island Bay compares to other island cinemas

Two cinemas, two islands, two very different operating models. Empire Cinema & Eatery in Wellington offers online tickets, year-round programming, and an integrated restaurant. Empire Theatre on Block Island, Rhode Island, operates as a seasonal summer theater with in-person ticket sales only, starting 30 minutes before each show.

The contrast is stark. Where Wellington’s Empire Cinema has invested in a digital ticketing infrastructure and food program, Block Island’s Empire Theatre (Empire Theatre Block Island official website) still sells tickets at the door — $12 for adults, $10 for children and seniors — and has historically closed by mid-October when ferry schedules thin out.

Island Bay could really do with a decent place to eat and have a drink. The Empire could be the one if they just thought about a simple, easy menu.

— TripAdvisor reviewer

Expect haunting visuals, raw emotion, and sound that will shake the walls of Empire Cinema.

— Facebook post

Moviegoers comparing island cinemas will find that Wellington’s venue delivers modern convenience at the cost of opaque pricing, while Block Island’s theater offers transparent flat-rate ticketing but lacks digital infrastructure and food options.

Empire Cinema Island Bay: what you need to know

Empire Cinema & Eatery delivers a credible suburban cinema experience with current releases, luxury seating, and a fully licensed bar. The schedule is solid, the location (214 The Parade, Island Bay) is straightforward, and online booking means you can lock in your seat before heading out.

Where the picture gets murkier: ticket prices aren’t published on the website, so call ahead if budgeting matters. The eatery concept is promising but early reviews suggest the kitchen hasn’t fully caught up to the ambition yet. For Wellington locals, this is still the most capable independent cinema in Island Bay — but there’s room to grow.

For visitors from further afield planning a trip to Wellington’s southern suburbs, the empirecinema.nz website remains your definitive source for current showtimes and bookings. The upcoming April releases — especially The Devil Wears Prada 2 on April 30 — give you a reason to circle back soon.

Related reading: The Running Man 2025 reviews · Those Who Wish Me Dead plot and reviews

Frequently asked questions