Puppets from E.T., Jim Henson and Chucky are coming to Fed Square — here’s what families need to know before booking.
ACMI’s new exhibition Lifelike opens at Fed Square this November, and it’s a big one. It’s a world premiere celebrating the craft of movie puppetry, with real puppets, props and behind-the-scenes material from films like Pinocchio, E.T., Jurassic Park and The Dark Crystal, alongside Jim Henson’s creations and a few Australian TV favourites.
It’s also not a straightforward kids’ exhibition, and that’s worth knowing upfront. Alongside the wonder and the hands-on puppetry stations, there’s a section built around horror puppets — think Chucky, Annabelle and The Babadook — with content that leans older. We’ve spoken to the team and dug through ACMI’s own visitor information to work out exactly what’s on offer, who it suits, and what to check before you book.
What to Expect
Lifelike runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 18 April 2027, on the ground floor of ACMI in Fed Square. It’s open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and ACMI suggests allowing at least 60 minutes to get through it.
The exhibition traces how puppetry has shaped the way we watch films, from handmade mechanisms through to animatronics and digital effects. Visitors can see original puppets and concept art from films including Pinocchio, Anomalisa, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, plus rarely seen sketches and props from Australian screen history.
There’s a strong hands-on element too. Kids and adults alike can try puppetry themselves, recreating a Muppets-style scene or bringing an animatronic Facehugger (from Alien) to life.
Highlights for Kids
- Real puppets up close. Seeing the actual puppets used in famous films is a different experience to watching them on screen — the detail and craftsmanship tend to land well with kids who love how things are made.
- Hands-on puppetry. The interactive stations let children have a go at performing, not just looking.
- Familiar faces. Younger fans of E.T. and Jim Henson’s characters will recognise plenty here, which helps hold interest through a gallery-style exhibition.
- A genuine world premiere. This isn’t a touring show that’s been through a dozen other cities first — Melbourne gets it first.
What Parents Need to Know
The horror section isn’t for everyone
This is the most important thing to flag. According to ACMI’s team, part of the exhibition takes visitors into what it describes as a nightmarish encounter with Chucky, Annabelle and The Babadook, where the content shifts noticeably darker.
ACMI’s sensory guide notes the exhibition includes dark spaces, flashing imagery, mild strobe effects, loud or bass-heavy sound, mature themes and mild coarse language, and that an optional section draws on horror films rated R and MA15+.
ACMI’s overall content warning describes the exhibition as broadly similar to a PG rating, but given the horror content sitting within it, we’d treat that as a floor rather than a ceiling — sensitive younger children, or kids who scare easily, may want to skip that section or the exhibition altogether.
Staff should be able to point out where that section starts if you’d rather steer around it.
Ages and suitability
There’s no fixed minimum age listed, and ACMI’s general family policy applies: kids under 13 need to be with a parent or guardian throughout.
Given the sensory intensity and horror content in parts of the exhibition, we’d suggest it suits primary-school-aged kids and up who don’t spook easily, with younger or more sensitive children better served sticking to ACMI’s free permanent exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, instead.
Tickets and prices
- Flexi: $35
- Full: $27
- Senior: $25
- Concession: $20
- Member: $19
- Child (4–15 years): $17
- Companion Card: free
- Blak Member: free
A $1 online booking fee applies per order. ACMI members skip the booking fee, and pre-sale access is available for members ahead of the general on-sale.
Getting there and parking
ACMI sits inside Fed Square, right opposite Flinders Street Station, and it’s within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone if you’re coming in by tram. There are two entrances — one on Flinders Street and one in the Fed Square plaza — both step-free.
Wilson Parking at 172–192 Flinders Street is the closest paid option, directly opposite the Flinders Street entrance. ACMI members get a discounted $12 parking rate on weekdays after 3pm and all weekend.
Toilets, prams and access
Toilets and baby change facilities are on the Ground Floor and Level 1, near both entrances. Prams are welcome throughout the building, though ACMI may ask you to leave them in the cloakroom if a particular gallery gets busy.
The exhibition itself is wheelchair accessible with lift access to the gallery, and seating is available throughout. Some interactive elements need a bit of fine motor control, but staff are on hand to help if needed. Captions for spoken content appear on screen in English, with translated introductory text available in Simplified Chinese, Hindi and Punjabi. Audio description and Auslan aren’t available in the gallery day-to-day, though ACMI is planning dedicated access tours in early 2027.
Food nearby
ACMI Cafe + Bar is on site, and Fed Square has a good spread of options within a couple of minutes’ walk if you want more choice.
Shop the Lifelike merch
The ACMI Shop has put together a Lifelike range, both in store and online, and it’s worth a browse before or after your visit. Kids will likely gravitate towards the Sesame Street plushes (Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar, Grover and more), the Alien Egg & Facehugger mug, or the tiny Alien finger puppets. Muppets fans can pick up a Loungefly crossbody bag or mini backpack, and Labyrinth devotees will find the soundtrack on vinyl alongside a hardcover book and bestiary.
The horror side gets its own shelf too — Chucky merch includes a talking action figure, a Child’s Play board game and a Loungefly bag — so keep that in mind if you’re avoiding the darker themes with younger kids. Everything purchased supports ACMI’s exhibitions and education programs.
Our Experience
We visit ACMI regularly with our kids, and it’s one of our go-to spots for a city day out. The exhibitions are consistently engaging, we’ve done ACMI’s preschool program before, and the free permanent exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, is always worth a stop in even if you’re mainly there for something else. We’ve also taken the kids to a few sessions at ACMI Cinemas.
The central Fed Square location is a big part of the appeal — it’s easy to get to, easy to combine with other things, and there’s no long trek involved if the kids run out of steam.
Make a day of it
We’d always pair an ACMI visit with a stop at Artplay playground at Birrarung Marr, right behind Fed Square on the Yarra, and ArtPlay itself if there’s a session on. It’s an easy way to let the kids burn off energy before or after the exhibition, without adding much to the day.
Is It Worth Visiting?
For families with puppet-mad kids aged roughly 7 and up, yes — this looks like one of ACMI’s more hands-on exhibitions, and getting to see real film puppets up close is hard to replicate anywhere else.
The hour ACMI suggests feels about right, maybe more if your kids want a proper go at the interactive stations.
For families with younger or easily spooked children, it’s worth a bit more caution. The horror-themed section is genuinely aimed at an older, braver audience, and it sits inside the same ticketed space as the rest of the show. If in doubt, ask staff at the door how the exhibition is laid out before you commit to the full loop.
FAQ
When does Lifelike open at ACMI? Lifelike opens on Friday 20 November 2026 and runs until Sunday 18 April 2027.
Is Lifelike suitable for young children? Much of it is family-friendly, but one section is built around horror puppets like Chucky and The Babadook, with content aimed at an older audience. We’d suggest it suits kids around primary-school age and up, and that families with younger or sensitive children check with staff on the day.
How much are tickets to Lifelike? Child tickets (4–15 years) are $17, with adult pricing from $20 (concession) to $35 (flexi). A $1 online booking fee applies.
How long should we allow for the visit? ACMI suggests at least 60 minutes.
Is ACMI pram and wheelchair accessible? Yes. The building has lift access throughout, and prams are welcome except in galleries where they may need to go in the cloakroom.
Where can we park? Wilson Parking on Flinders Street, opposite ACMI, is the nearest paid option. ACMI members get a discounted rate.
