Hoyts Launches Latest APEX LED Screen At Flagship Melbourne Central Cinema

Hoyts has installed a large-format LED cinema screen at its Melbourne Central location, bringing its Hoyts APEX format to Victoria for the first time. The screen measures 21.12 metres wide by 9 metres tall and is powered by more than 17 million pixels.

The deployment follows the debut of Hoyts APEX at Hoyts Karrinyup in Western Australia, which the company describes as the world’s largest LED cinema screen.

Direct-view LED replaces traditional projection

Unlike conventional cinema projection, Hoyts APEX uses direct-view LED technology. The company claims this delivers higher brightness, deeper blacks and stronger contrast than projection-based systems, with a 600,000:1 contrast ratio.

The screen supports DCI-P3 colour gamut, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and high grayscale precision. It has a 160-degree viewing angle, which Hoyts says provides consistent image quality from every seat in the auditorium.

The LED panels themselves are ultra-thin at 3mm, and the screen is curved to reduce edge distortion. It is also micro-perforated to be fully acoustically transparent, allowing sound from a Dolby Atmos system to pass directly through the display and align with on-screen action.

Hoyts frames format as a new benchmark

Damian Keogh, CEO and President of the Hoyts Group, positioned the rollout as a significant step for the chain.

“What sets APEX apart is its combination of a curved LED screen of scale, LED technology delivering true pixel perfection and Dolby Atmos surround sound, bringing every moment to life with clarity and depth,” he explained.

“We’re proud to introduce this new format at Melbourne Central, reinforcing its position as a cinema destination in Victoria.”

Technology partner outlines the specs

The LED system behind Hoyts APEX is supplied by GDC Technology.

Dr Man Nang Chong, Chairman and CEO of GDC Technology, outlined the technical differences between the LED system and traditional cinema projection.

“The LED system behind Hoyts APEX offers 30 times better picture contrast and millions more pixels than traditional cinema projection, resulting in clarity and detail,” he noted.

“The screen itself is acoustically transparent, allowing sound to pass through the movie so audio aligns precisely with what is on screen, creating a level of immersion and precision unlike anything Australian cinemagoers have experienced before.”

Designed with future uses in mind

Beyond standard film screenings, Hoyts says the APEX format has been designed to support future uses including live events and premium content.

The technology represents a broader shift in cinema exhibition, where operators are investing in differentiated formats to draw audiences back to theatres with experiences that cannot be replicated at home.

Now screening

Hoyts APEX at Melbourne Central is now open, with current and upcoming titles on the format including Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Mortal Kombat II (releasing 7 May) and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (releasing 21 May).

Session times and bookings are available at hoyts.com.au.

Last Updated on May 5, 2026 by Nick Ross