Meet the Puppets Behind Some of Cinema’s Most Iconic Characters
A brand-new exhibition celebrating the magic of movie puppetry is coming to Melbourne this November.
Lifelike: Puppets, Movies & Magic will make its world premiere at ACMI, taking visitors behind the scenes of some of cinema and television’s most memorable characters.
From Pinocchio, E.T. and Jurassic Park to The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and The Muppets, the exhibition will feature original puppets, concept art, rare sketches and behind-the-scenes material exploring how these much-loved characters are brought to life.
There are plenty of interactive elements too. Visitors can try their hand at puppetry with a Muppets-inspired experience, bring an animatronic Alien Facehugger to life and discover the clever mechanisms, performance and movie magic behind screen creatures.
For those feeling brave, there’s also a Nightmare Room featuring The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky, using sound, shadows, screens and movement to create a much darker experience.
A nostalgic Australian TV section will also feature familiar favourites including Agro, Ozzie Ostrich, Hey Hey It’s Saturday and The Ferals.
Lifelike at ACMI
📍 Where: ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne
📅 When: 20 November 2026 – 18 April 2027
⏰ Hours: 10am–5pm
⏱️ Allow: At least 60 minutes
Tickets:
Adults from $27
Children aged 4–15: $17
Concession: $20
Seniors: $25
Flexi tickets: $35
Some sections include content from horror films and mild to moderate violence, with the overall exhibition content described as similar to a PG rating.
If your family loves movies, puppets and discovering what happens behind the scenes, this looks like a fun one to add to the Melbourne calendar for summer.
Images courtesy of Netflix
Melbourne with Kidz (MWK) 
Leave a comment