KEY POINTS:
Cinema patrons at one of Auckland's plushest complexes escaped injury after a ceiling tile crashed to the floor in the middle of a performance.
Water then streamed through the hole in the ceiling at Hoyts' Sylvia Park $30 million complex, which boasts the world's biggest cinema screen and a funky half-pipe theatre with bean bags.
Sarah Maloney was watching Pan's Labyrinth in the Director's Lounge cinema on Thursday night when one of the ceiling tiles fell.
"But, fortunately, it didn't fall on the seated area because it would have clocked someone pretty badly," she said.
She said none of the staff was aware of the problem nor was anything done about it. About 15 minutes later, water started leaking through the hole left by the fallen tile.
"At first, it was a bit incredible because it's a brand new cinema and you see a tile falling down but when the water started coming through I thought 'this isn't great for my movie'. "The cinema was a really nice set-up and it had a nice bar, a coffee machine and you could sit in this comfy seat, chill out and have a glass of wine."
Ms Maloney approached the theatre staff who promptly offered her a refund and a complimentary ticket.
"I looked at them to say 'isn't this a safety issue and aren't you concerned about everyone else in there?"'
"I don't know what the outcome was as there seemed to be a surprised but disinterested calm.
"However, as I left they were discussing what to do as the cinema was three-quarters booked for the next showing."
Hoyts NZ marketing director Elizabeth Trotman said some problems could be expected with the new cinemas but was adamant they had been fixed.
"It's a new complex and a new building so there will be some teething problems," she said.
"It's not ideal and we certainly apologise for what has happened and our building contractors would have been looking at it first thing this morning."
When asked if the audience was safe at the cinema, Ms Trotman replied: "Absolutely so."
Ms Maloney said she would go back to the movies at Sylvia Park.
"But it would be nice not to have the ceiling fall on your head while you're watching the film."
