Lifelike: Puppets, Movies & Magic

Lifelike

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.

Lifelike @ ACMI

Sensory experience guide

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.

Lifelike

When
Fri 20 Nov 2026 - Sun 18 Apr 2027

Where
ACMI, Fed Square

Tickets
Flexi $35
Full $27
Senior $25
Concession $20
Member $19
Child (4-15 years) $17