Lifelike
Puppets, Movies & Magic
Tickets
| Flexi | $35 |
|---|---|
| Full | $27 |
| Senior | $25 |
| Concession | $20 |
| Member | $19 |
| Child (4-15 years) | $17 |
| Companion Card | FREE |
| Blak Member | FREE |
When
This November, Lifelike makes its world premiere at ACMI: a major new exhibition celebrating the magic of movie puppetry in all its forms.
Beloved, eerie and unforgettable characters, from Pinocchio and E.T. to the wild imagination of Jim Henson’s workshop, have shaped how we experience movies. These iconic hand-crafted creatures spark wonder, joy, nostalgia, fear and fascination.
Explore the craft, performance and invention that bring unforgettable screen characters to life, from ingenious handmade mechanisms and animatronics to contemporary digital wizardry.
Explore original puppets, concept art and behind-the-scenes materials from iconic films including Pinocchio, Anomalisa, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, plus Australian TV classics. Get up close to rarely seen sketches and uncover the craft and creative ingenuity behind some of cinema's most memorable puppets and creatures.
Roll up your sleeves and try your hand at puppetry: recreate a Muppets-inspired sequence or bring an animatronic Alien Facehugger to life.
The bravest visitors can venture inside a nightmarish encounter with The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky, where familiar figures twist into something darker and the line between screen and reality thrillingly blurs.
Joyful, surprising and deeply human, Lifelike invites you to rediscover the wonder of puppets and why you can’t help believing they’re alive.
This exhibition features large-scale film and video installations, object displays and interactive elements related to puppetry. Sound levels vary throughout the exhibition and can be loud in some spaces.
The exhibition includes dark spaces, flashing imagery, and loud or bass-heavy sound. Some works feature mild strobe effects, mature themes and mild coarse language. An optional section of the exhibition explores the horror genre, including films rated R and MA15+, with content suitable for a more mature audience.
Visitors who are sensitive to sensory stimuli may wish to take care or speak to staff for guidance. More detailed content warnings are available within the gallery.
There are many viewing experiences in this exhibition that are primarily visual rather than dialogue based. Where works contain spoken word subtitles are available on screen in English.
Written exhibition and artwork information is available in English within the gallery. Translated introductory text for each section of the exhibition is also provided in Simplified Chinese, Hindi and Punjabi in the gallery.
Audio description and Auslan interpretation are not available in the gallery however, Access tours will be offered on dedicated dates early 2027.
The exhibition is wheelchair accessible, and lift access to the gallery is available.
Seating is available throughout the exhibition.
Some interactive elements require fine motor control. Staff are available to assist – please speak to a team member if needed. ACMI staff are available throughout the exhibition and can provide assistance at any time.
Where
Ground Floor
ACMI, Fed Square
Suggested duration
Allow at least 60 minutes.
Content warning
Some clips in this exhibition come from horror films, or include mild to moderate violence. The exhibition content is similar to a PG rating.
