Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney is a film lover’s paradise. From the moment you arrive, it feels like stepping into Hollywood’s golden age. From the iconic neon blue sign with angular Art Deco lettering to the classic old-school letterboard teasing upcoming films, this place screams 1930s razzle-dazzle. With stars like Quentin Tarantino and Kate Winslet having graced its seats, it’s one of our favourite Sydney cinemas for good reason. And this season, this grand movie theatre is hosting more than just the usual movie screenings…
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney: a historic six-screen cinema with vintage charm
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace was designed by Sydney architect George Newton Kenworthy and built in 1935. The entire building is a total Art Deco triumph—the grand two-level auditorium features sleek geometric lines and plush red velvet seats, while the jazzy zigzags, chevrons and sunburst patterns dotted around scream old-school glamour.
There are six screening rooms in total, each with its own colour scheme and name, like The Lounge Cinema and The Virgona. Inside, expect screenings of the latest Hollywood blockbusters as well as indie flicks and cult classics. In the last few months, they’ve held special 4k restoration screenings of The Doors, American Psycho and The Breakfast Club.
Unsurprisingly, a cinema as majestic as this one is no stranger to hosting star-studded movie premiers. Past visitors include A-list actors like Nicole Kidman, John Boyega, Cate Blanchett and Samuel L. Jackson as well as legendary director Quentin Tarantino who described the Hayden Orpheum as “amazing” at the premier of The Hateful Eight in 2016.
What else is on at Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace?
Throughtout the year, the cinema hosts special Q&A events and panel discussions, cabaret performances, comedy shows and monthly themed screenings like sing-alongs.
This season, you can also catch The Jury Experience — a series of immersive live theatre shows that drops you in the heart of a thrilling courtroom showdown. It’s a 60-minute thrill fest where you get to watch intense witness interrogations, examine crucial evidence and then cast your vote to decide the verdict. From a scandalous robbery to a death caused by AI, there are loads of thought-provoking cases to choose from. Pick your trial, take your seat inside Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace and make the final call—guilty or not guilty?