From the widest colour range, and the latest in cinema screen innovation, Melbourne’s movie scene just got better.
Picture yourself sitting in a darkened cinema. The lights dim, and suddenly you’re not just watching a movie anymore.
The image is so sharp it feels like you could reach out and touch it. The colours pop with an intensity you didn’t know screens could produce. The sound wraps around you from every direction, making your chest vibrate with each explosion and whispers reach your ears with perfect clarity.
That’s the reality at Village Cinemas Fountain Gate, which will open its new IMAX with Laser screen on 19 November with an advanced screening of Wicked: For Good.
IMAX at Village Cinemas Fountain Gate
- One of the most advanced cinemas in the world is opening in Fountain Gate
- Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, 352 Princes Hwy, Narre Warren
- IMAX with Laser will open on 19 November with Wicked: For Good
- Find out more about the screenings here
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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Safe to say, this isn’t your standard cinema upgrade.
Village Cinemas Fountain Gate has introduced IMAX with Laser, a next-generation cinema experience. Powered by IMAX’s 4K laser projection system with a custom optical engine that delivers crystal clear images, increased resolution, and deeper contrast. The colour range available to filmmakers is the widest ever seen on cinema screens, creating visuals that feel genuinely lifelike. The emerald greens of Oz will pop with unprecedented vibrancy, while the intricate costumes and set designs will appear with razor-sharp clarity.
The audio is equally impressive. IMAX precision sound technology brings patented 12-channel audio that delivers striking clarity and depth throughout the entire theatre. Every seat gets evenly distributed sound, meaning there’s no bad spot in the house. The system offers greater dynamic range and precision, creating an audio immersion that matches the visual experience.
The musical numbers benefit enormously from the precision sound system, with vocals cutting through orchestral arrangements with perfect clarity. For fans of the musical who’ve been waiting for this sequel, seeing it on IMAX with Laser means experiencing the story in the most immersive format possible.
From stadium seating designs to bespoke remasters
The technology behind IMAX with Laser includes stadium seating designed for clear sightlines from every position, custom screens optimised for the brightest possible images, and built-in image calibration linked to IMAX’s 24/7 network operations centre. This means every screening maintains optimum performance, show after show.
Each film shown on the IMAX with Laser system goes through digital remastering using proprietary IMAX DMR technology. This process enhances images frame-by-frame and remixes the soundtrack specifically to take advantage of the increased sharpness, brightness, contrast, and colour the system can deliver. It’s designed to transport audiences beyond their seats and into the world of the film.
Village is constantly redefining what cinema can be
Village Cinemas has been shaping Australia’s moviegoing culture for over 70 years, introducing premium experiences like Gold Class, Vmax, and IMAX offerings. The Fountain Gate location continues that tradition of pushing boundaries in theatrical entertainment. The venue combines cutting-edge technology with comfort and hospitality, creating a benchmark for Australian cinema experiences.
The IMAX with Laser system represents a significant investment in how we experience films on the big screen. It’s about creating an environment where technology serves the story, where every technical element works together to make audiences forget they’re in a cinema at all. Instead, they’re transported directly into whatever world the filmmakers have created.
For moviegoers in Melbourne’s south-east, this means access to one of the most advanced theatrical experiences available anywhere. Whether it’s the latest Hollywood blockbuster that’s been specifically formatted for IMAX or an independent film taking advantage of the system’s capabilities, the technology is there to serve the story and immerse the audience completely.
The opening with Wicked: For Good, with its vibrant world of Oz, emerald cities and fantastical landscapes, provides the perfect showcase for what IMAX with Laser can do. With a bumper line-up of blockbusters arriving in cinemas in the next month including Zootopia 2, The Odyssey, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, it’s an exciting time to experience this new technology and watch worlds be brought to life with unmatched clarity, colour and immersion.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Village Cinemas.
