School holidays are almost here, and if your plan is to keep everyone entertained without hearing “I’m bored” every thirty minutes, Ster-Kinekor might have your next few weeks sorted.
This year’s mid-year movie lineup is stacked with family favourites, big-screen spectacles and a few surprises, making cinemas feel like one of the easiest holiday destinations around.
Leading the charge is Toy Story 5, which is now showing in IMAX. Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang are back for another adventure, but this time they’re facing a challenge that feels surprisingly modern: technology. When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet and becomes completely absorbed in the digital world, the toys suddenly have competition for attention.
For South African audiences, there’s also an extra reason to check this one out. Global music star Tyla joins the franchise by lending her voice to a brand-new character, an Inflatable Flamingo that looks set to bring plenty of laughs and personality to the film.
Not long after that, the yellow chaos returns with Minions & Monsters, releasing from 26 June. This latest adventure sounds exactly as ridiculous as you’d expect. The Minions become Hollywood stars, lose everything, accidentally unleash monsters onto the world and then have to clean up the mess. Honestly, that feels very on-brand.
Fans can also expect some extra fun outside the cinema, with a Minions character roadshow visiting selected Ster-Kinekor locations between 27 June and 19 July, bringing photo opportunities and interactive experiences for younger moviegoers.
Then there’s one of the biggest family releases still to come.
Moana (Live Action) arrives on 10 July, bringing the beloved Disney adventure to life on the big screen. Moana leaves her island home and heads into the unknown alongside Maui in a journey that promises adventure, heart and some stunning visuals. If there’s one family movie that feels positioned to dominate the holidays, this could be it.
Ster-Kinekor is also leaning into nostalgia this season through its Throwback Cinema promotion, with tickets priced at just R50.
First up is Stuart Little, returning for a limited run from 26 June, followed by the classic musical Annie from 10 July. Whether you’re introducing younger viewers to older favourites or revisiting childhood memories yourself, it’s a fun addition to the schedule.
Families with younger children can also make use of Ster-Kinekor’s colourful Kids’ Cinema experiences available at selected locations. These cinemas feature brighter spaces and playful extras designed to make movie-going feel like part of the adventure.
And it’s not only younger audiences getting attention.
Teens and movie fans looking for something bigger can look forward to Supergirl arriving from 25 June, while Christopher Nolan’s ambitious historical epic The Odyssey lands in IMAX on 17 July.
Throw in movie deals, loyalty offers and enough variety to fill an entire holiday calendar, and Ster-Kinekor clearly wants the cinema to become the go-to outing this winter.
The only real question now is: what’s first on your watchlist?
