Event Cinemas Manukau

Event Cinemas Manukau has been a staple in South Auckland for years, and while it still delivers on the core promise of showing all the latest movie releases, it’s clear the cinema has seen better days. The building itself feels quite dated—everything from the carpets to the seating gives off an old-school vibe, and not in a nostalgic way. It’s functional, sure, but lacks the modern polish and sleek design you’ll find at other Event Cinemas locations like Newmarket or Queen Street. The signage is tired, the lighting is dim, and even the foyer area feels a bit neglected. That said, it does have most of the blockbusters and a decent range of session times, which is a big plus for local moviegoers. There’s usually not a huge crowd, so getting tickets is easy and you often have plenty of seat choices. The snack bar offers all the usual cinema treats, though the prices feel steep considering the surroundings haven’t been upgraded in years. The bathrooms and general facilities are serviceable but could really benefit from a refresh. In terms of comfort, the seats are okay but nowhere near as plush or spacious as the recliners in newer Event Cinemas. Don’t expect any luxury options like Gold Class or V-Max here—it’s more of a no-frills, grab-your-popcorn-and-go experience. Staff are generally friendly and helpful, though the overall vibe of the place feels a bit run-down. If you’re nearby and just want to catch a movie without driving into the city, Event Cinemas Manukau does the job. But if you’re looking for a top-tier cinema experience with all the modern bells and whistles, you’re better off heading elsewhere. It’s overdue for a renovation, and until that happens, it’ll remain the go-to by default—not by choice.

The staff were friendly and polite, the man who served us at the counter helped us choose some seats. Lots of games in the arcade here too like Guitar Hero, Time Crisis, Tekken 7, a lot of crane machines and a dance machine plus others. I won a Kuromi toy from one of the machines had such a fun time here.

Shame on the Event Cinema Manukau franchise… we had a movie booked in the dodgy corner Cinema 9. At the entrance we could smell urine from the adjacent toilets, the seats were broken and numbers missing and gaping hole where the drink holder on the seat once existed!!! The screen was so small like in the 1970s!! Even 3rd world countries must have better maintained halls…it’s time current management sold it to other buyers who know the first rule of customers and service. I’m sure the place will have creepy crawlers and rodents too. The escalators are sticky and yucky. Avoid and watch a movie at home rather than sit in someone else dirt and eating stale the Choc-top’ icecream they sell. I challenge the owners of this cinema to have the guts to host our Mayor or maybe even our PM in cinema 9!!!

I visited the cinema today with a friend and had a great experience. The staff were warm and accommodating, making us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The seating was clean and comfortable, and we had no issues throughout the visit. We watched Housefull 5 Version B, and I thoroughly enjoyed the film, it was an entertaining and enjoyable watch.

me and my partner took her little sister (5years old) and my niece (7 years old) . When purchasing our tickets and food we headed upstairs to take photos of her sister and my niece . My partner then noticed a lady running towards us frightening my niece and partners little sister . Tbh had to calm my partner down because she literally ran up to us demanding we show her our tickets and we weren’t allowed to just take photos upstairs without. Manukau Event do better .

I had a lovely experience. From buying tickets to watching the movie, all was simple and easy. The guys at the counter were super nice and helpful. Don't need to print vouchers from AA. Just open from phone and show them and they can scan it.

Went to the VMAX session and was really happy with the experience. The popcorn was delicious with that extra buttery taste. The reclining seats were extra comfy and spacious. I would recommend trying the VMAX sessions. Prices are reasonable as going to the movies these days is expensive.