From bike-flying adventures and brilliant little rule-breakers to kitchen dreams, courtroom confidence and show-stopping sing-alongs, The Galileo Open Air Cinema is serving a week of pure feel-good escapism under the stars.
Expect some out-of-this-world magic of E.T., the clever charm of Matilda, culinary inspiration courtesy of Ratatouille, iconic bend-and-snap confidence with Legally Blonde and all the razzle-dazzle of The Greatest Showman – perfect for family outings, friend dates and anyone chasing a little cinematic joy this week.
So book your spot here, swing by when the doors open, grab your snacks and soak in golden-hour picnic vibes and lawn games before getting cosy in front of the silver screen after sunset (±8:30pm) with your fellow film fanatics.
Here is what’s on the silver screen this week:
29 December: E.T.
The Extra-Terrestrial (or simply E.T.) is a 1982 American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton and Dee Wallace.
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy names Elliott (Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret.
Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.
- Day: Monday
- Location: Kirstenbosch Garden
- Time: Gates open at 5:30pm, and the movie starts at 8:30pm
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Age restriction: PG
- Tickets: Webtickets
30 December: Matilda
Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy film, starring Mara Wilson as the title character, with DeVito himself (who also served in a dual role as a narrator and Harry Wormwood), Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz and Pam Ferris in supporting roles.
The film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s work tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). Worse, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal at Matilda’s school, is a terrifyingly strict bully.
However, when Matilda realises she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull’s wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.
- Day: Tuesday
- Location: Kirstenbosch Garden
- Time: Gates open at 5:30pm, and the movie starts at 8:30pm
- Genre: Comedy Family
- Age restriction: A
- Tickets: Webtickets
1 January: Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy-drama directed by Brad Bird, and starring the voices of Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Lindsey Collins and Peter Sohn.
Remy dreams of becoming a great chef, despite being a rat in a definitely rodent-phobic profession. He moves to Paris to follow his dream, and with the help of hapless garbage boy Linguini, he puts his culinary skills to the test in the kitchen, but he has to stay in hiding at the same time, with hilarious consequences.
Remy eventually gets the chance to prove his culinary abilities to a great food critic, but is the food good?
- Day: Thursday
- Location: Kirstenbosch Garden
- Time: Gates open at 5pm, and the movie starts at 8:30pm
- Genre: Animation Comedy
- Age restriction: PG
- Tickets: Webtickets
2 January: Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde is a 2001 American comedy film based on Amanda Brown’s novel, and starring Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber and Jennifer Coolidge.
Elle Woods has it all. She wants nothing more than to be Mrs Warner Huntington III. But there is one thing stopping him from proposing: She is too blond.
Elle then rallies all of her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back.
- Day: Friday
- Location: Kirstenbosch Garden
- Time: Gates open at 5:30pm, and the movie starts at 8:30pm
- Genre: Romance Comedy
- Age restriction: 10 L
- Tickets: Webtickets
3 January: The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman is a biographical musical about young Phineas T. Barnum’s life as a child, entrepreneur, museum owner, circus producer and entertainment producer.
The film celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
- Day: Saturday
- Location: Lourensford Wine Estate
- Time: Gates open at 5pm, and the movie starts at 8:30pm
- Genre: Musical
- Age restriction: 10-12 PG PV
- Tickets: Webtickets
Also read:
Looking for weekend plans in the Winelands? Try The Galileo!
Picture: Supplied
