6 ways to enjoy a movie night in Seychelles

Yes, there’s more to island nights than bonfires and Sega dances. What happens when you pair coconut palms with popcorn? You get a cinematic scene that even Hollywood can’t compete with. Below are the six best places to watch a film (or indulge in cinema‑style vibes) in Seychelles from Victoria’s only theatre to ultra‑exclusive island resorts. This 2025 guide pulls from local news, official tourism sites and first‑hand social media posts, so it’s as current as your Netflix queue.

1. Deepam Cinema (Victoria, Mahé): the OG big screen

The only purpose‑built cinema in the country sits on Albert Street in Victoria. In March 2025 Deepam closed for a three‑month overhaul, installing acoustic panels, renovating the toilets and upgrading its interior.

When it reopened on 9 August 2025 for its 40th anniversary, movie fans lined up for the premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth

• Vibe & details: The refurbished hall has two screens, DTS and Dolby sound and about 247 seats a big deal when you’re used to watching pirated Bollywood films at home. Locals tend to react loudly and chat through tense scenes; it’s all part of the charm. Bringing your own snacks is allowed (the popcorn machine is notoriously unpredictable).

  
  

• Cost: Before the renovation, tickets were about SCR 75, plus a small service charge. A 2025 Google review notes that after reopening, front‑row seats jumped to SCR 125 while most seats are now SCR 100 still cheaper than a cocktail on Mahé.

  
  

• Why it matters: Deepam hosts film festivals (Chinese and Japanese) and occasional arts events. Its central location means you can hop from the bus terminal straight into a blockbuster.

  
  

• Local quote: On the eve of the reopening, one Seychellois Instagrammer excitedly posted that they were “on our way to the Grand Reopening of Deepam Cinema,” capturing the anticipation of locals heading back to the big screen.

2. National Theatre, Mont Fleuri (Mahé) : festivals & foreign films

This 160‑seat theatre morphs from a stage to a cinema during cultural festivals. In February 2025 the Embassy of Japan hosted the 3rd Japanese Film Festival here, screening Iwane: Sword of Serenity and Dancing Karate Kid. The event launched with speeches from Seychelles’ cultural institute and Japan’s ambassador.

• Vibe & details: The hall is modest and intimate. When festivals roll in, volunteers set up a projector and transform it into a movie club complete with paper fans and free sake samples. Seats fill quickly and the ambience is more like a community gathering than a multiplex.

  
  

• Cost: Film‑festival screenings are usually free or priced symbolically (SCR 0–50). Check the National Institute of Culture & Heritage’s Facebook page for schedules.

  
  

• Why it matters: With no regular cinemas beyond Deepam, this is where locals watch art‑house, Chinese or Japanese films. The island’s diverse community comes together here you might sit next to a fisherman, a diplomat and a group of school kids.

  
  

• Local quote: The Seychelles Culture Institute described the 2025 festival’s opening night perfectly:

They added that such events enrich the cultural landscape and strengthen ties between Seychelles and Japan

3. STORY Seychelles (Beau Vallon, Mahé) : beachside cinema for hotel guests

This modern resort in Beau Vallon isn’t just about infinity pools and Creole buffets. Every few weeks the staff drags out a giant screen and sets up beanbags right on the sand.

A September 2025 Instagram post from the hotel captures the vibe:

• Vibe & details: Think barefoot luxury you’re watching a film while the Indian Ocean laps at your feet. Staff circulate with coconut popcorn and cocktails from the resort’s 1502 Bar. Kids are welcome, though the films skew toward family favourites and romantic classics.

  
  

• Cost: Movie nights are complimentary for guests. Rooms at STORY Seychelles start around US $500 (~ SCR 7,000) per night depending on season and view, so consider the cinema an added perk.

  
  

• Why it matters: It’s a rare chance to enjoy a movie on the beach without lugging your own projector. Plus, the resort is a short taxi ride from Victoria, making it accessible for travellers staying elsewhere who want to pop in for dinner and a film (reservations essential).

4. Waldorf Astoria Seychelles: Platte Island

Opened in 2024 on a remote coral island, this ultra‑luxury Hilton resort offers experiences you won’t find anywhere else including a private cinema under the palms. Hilton’s official “Making Moments” page invites guests to enjoy a“private cinema experience in your villa garden with fresh popcorn and island snacks” under the sky.

A travel blogger who stayed here in March 2025 recalls that during their visit the resort organised an outdoor movie night under the stars, complete with complimentary cocktails and mocktail.

• Vibe & details: Picture a canvas screen hung between two coconut trees, deck chairs arranged on the lawn and a butler topping up your glass. You can also request screenings in the privacy of your villa’s garden.

• Cost: Nights at Waldorf Astoria Platte Island start at around US $1,100 (~ SCR 16,500) for a Hawksbill Pool Villa. Transfers by private plane cost €700 per adult, though stays of six nights or more often include the flight.

• Why it matters: With only 50 villas on the island, you’re practically guaranteed a front‑row seat. The resort’s giant tortoise sanctuary and pristine beaches are memorable extras for families or honeymooners.

5. Six Senses Zil Pasyon (Félicité Island) ; cinema on the rocks

Six Senses’ private‑island resort sits among colossal granite boulders on Félicité. Twice a week the property hosts outdoor cinema nights, where guests curl up on oversized lounge chairs and nibble on house‑made popcorn. Private screenings can also be arranged.

An Instagram photo shared by the resort in May 2025 shows a couple watching a film on a deck above the ocean with a fiery sunset as the backdrop; the caption asks:

• Vibe & details: The screen sits at the water’s edge, with the sea breeze acting as natural air‑conditioning. Staff bring blankets when the trade winds pick up. There’s even a kids’ club for young film buffs.

• Cost: Rates on Félicité are steep – a one‑bedroom villa for October 2025 starts around US $2,100 per night (≈ SCR 30,000) according to booking sites. But where else can you watch a movie with waves crashing around you?

• Why it matters: Zil Pasyon mixes luxury with sustainability; the resort sources organic produce and runs an on‑site coral‑restoration program. Movie nights here feel like your own private film festival.

6. North Island : private island movie nights & comedic flair

When Marriott’s management of North Island ended in mid‑2025, residents apparently celebrated. According to luxury travel writer Tom Cahalan, the announcement triggered “dancing, cheering, spontaneous weeping and tortoises snorting cocaine off each other’s shells” a tongue‑in‑cheek way to say guests were thrilled. As part of the island’s return to an all‑inclusive model, stays now include a private movie night under the stars set up once every five nights.

• Vibe & details: North Island has only 11 villas, each with its own beach. Staff roll out a screen on Honeymoon Beach or by your private pool; they pair the film with gourmet popcorn and Champagne. You choose the movie from classics to current blockbusters.

• Cost: The all‑inclusive rates starting 1 July 2025 are eye‑watering: €10,500 per night for a Beachfront Villa and €13,000 per night for the signature Villa North Island. But those rates cover all meals, drinks, activities and – yes – your own cinema under the stars.

• Why it matters: There are no day visitors. If you’re planning a once‑in‑a‑lifetime honeymoon or have deep pockets, North Island offers movie magic in total seclusion.

Seychelles may not have a multiplex on every corner, but that’s precisely why movie nights here feel special. From the community chatter at Victoria’s Deepam Cinema to storybook screenings on remote islands, each venue combines film with island flair.

For budget travellers, Deepam Cinema and the National Theatre deliver big‑screen escapism for under SCR 125. Those seeking romance can settle into a beanbag at STORY Seychelles or splurge on a Waldorf Astoria or Six Senses villa for private screenings with the ocean as your soundtrack.

And if you’ve won the lottery (or a generous inheritance), North Island’s cinematic nights prove that paradise is best enjoyed under the stars with a movie, a Champagne flute and perhaps a giant tortoise waddling by.