Rejoice! At long last cinemas have returned to Melbourne, with venues across the state able to reopen to eligible patrons. To celebrate the good news, we've pulled together a list of blockbusters you can see right now. From the gutsy and spirited Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings to the mysterious sci-fi epic Dune, these films all showcase the work of some very talented Victorians.
Currently ranking #1 in the Australian box office for eight weeks in a row, you need to watch critically-acclaimed Marvel Studio's blockbuster Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. Stunning fans with its fight scene choreography and dazzling VFX, you may be surprised to learn that it was Melbourne-based Luma Pictures and Method Studios—two of Victoria’s most acclaimed and highly sought-after VFX studios—who were behind some of the high-calibre VFX sequences on the release, including this wild bus scene.
Starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, the film follows the martial-arts master as he must confront his past and the mysterious Ten Rings organisation. Featuring an incredible cast including Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's friend Katy, Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, and actors like Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng, the film has been hailed "a superhero movie that justifies the hype".
Film Victoria supported the Melbourne studios to secure VFX packages on the film through the Victorian Screen Incentive, which you can read all about here.
Based on the best-selling books by Frank Herbert, the story of Dune is as intriguing and mysterious as its desert's shifting sands. With a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson and more, the 2021 film is a tour de force of cinematic sci-fi.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve who is known for Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Sicario, and Prisoners, the film also features the excellent work of award-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, who was born in Melbourne and is a notable RMIT alumnus.
Known best for his award-winning work on The Mandalorian, Zero Dark Thirty, Lion, Rogue One, and Vice, Fraser's creative signature and love for virtual production can be felt throughout the colossal trailer.
Marvel Studios' Eternals follows a new team of superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: a group ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind's most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
Directed by award-winning director and filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider), the film brings in local talent through its visual effects; with some of the VFX produced right here in Melbourne at Luma Studios (secured through Film Victoria's Victorian Screen Incentive).
With another major line-up of actors starring Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Kit Harrington, critics are calling it a Marvel movie "like no other".
No Time To Die is Cary Joji Fukunaga’s long-awaited Bond flick, the final instalment featuring long-time lead Daniel Craig. In the film, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his peace is short-lived: accepting a rescue mission that turns treacherous.
While filming locations included Italy, Jamaica, Norway, the Faroe Islands and London, it was Melbourne-founded company XM2 PURSUIT that lent their expert skills and moving camera systems; working on many of the drone shots that captured the epic scenes and sequences within the film.
As XM2 PURSUIT explained, "We utilised the ARRI 235 on No Time To Die. Our team travelled across Europe with the Tango aircraft and worked with main and second units to shoot high-action stunt sequences, chasing vehicles and working in coordination with the aerial teams."
All films are available to watch in Australian cinemas. Please refer to your local theatres for more information on screening and session times. Shang-Chi cover image supplied by Marvel Studios.