Our Land

NOW SHOWING

Our Land

Save the UPP

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Save the UPP

Hokum

NOW SHOWING

Hokum

Earwig + Lucile

SCREENING + DIRECTOR Q&A

Earwig: Lucile Hadžihalilović

Blade Runner

UPP 30th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Lucile

CLASSICS SEASON

Director's Cuts: Lucile Hadžihalilović

The Christophers

COMING SOON

The Christophers

35mm: Films on Film

CLASSICS STRAND

35mm: Films on Film

Kino Kids Cinema Club

FAMILY CLASSICS EVERY OTHER SUNDAY

Kino Kids Cinema Club

Oxford’s home of independent cinema

The Ultimate Picture Palace is Oxford’s oldest independent cinema. Founded in 1911 and community-owned since 2022, we show a mix of independent, international, and classic films all in our cosy single-screen auditorium. Find us on the Cowley Road in East Oxford.

Oxford cinema The Ultimate Picture Palace

What's on

Today (Thursday 28th May)

17:45

Frida Kahlo 12A
1h 41m
This documentary explores Frida Kahlo’s life and art, from her iconic self-portraits to the passion and pain that shaped her work. Featuring exhibition footage, expert insight and her own letters, it offers an intimate portrait of the revolutionary Mexican artist.

Book here

20:15

The Barnabáš Kos Case 12A
+ Intro w/ Peter Strickland
1h 32m | Slovak w/ English subtitles
A timid triangle player is unexpectedly promoted to Musical Director, but soon becomes corrupted by power. Peter Solan’s darkly comic satire exposes absurd hierarchies, sharply skewering state bureaucracy and the fragile egos behind positions of authority.

Book here


Tomorrow (Friday 29th May)

15:30

Our Land 12A
1h 31m
Across England, the Right to Roam movement stages “mass trespass” events to reclaim access to the countryside, clashing with landowners over ownership and stewardship. Orban Wallace’s documentary explores this timely conflict, questioning who has the right to access nature.

Book here

17:45

Hokum 15
1h 47m
When novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is unsettled by rumours of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Damian McCarthy’s atmospheric psychological horror blends folklore, grief and eerie supernatural mystery.

Book here

20:15

Romería 15
1h 52m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
Aspiring filmmaker Marina travels to Galicia to uncover her family’s past, following her late mother’s diary. As buried truths emerge, she confronts grief, identity and belonging in Carla Simón’s (Summer 1993, Alcarràs) warm, autobiographical drama about memory and emotional inheritance.

Book here


Coming soon

A young woman stands in a lake, getting ready to jump in.

Have a Gd Trip presents Skateboard Film Club

Sunday 4 June
A skate film night featuring the Oxford premiere of Polar’s latest full-length You Got It My Boy Jamie.., alongside work from Skateboard Café, Pass~Port and Krooked. Curated by Keen Distribution with Skateboard GB, it showcases leading modern skate filmmakers and brands. Tickets just £6.

Black and white image of a man in a suit overlaid with textured psychedelic imagery.

Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair

19 to 25 June
Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair is an annual film festival showcasing some of the greatest works of cinema from across the globe that venture into the darkest sides of humanity and the bleakest points in human history. Our selections include Oldboy, Gummo, The Ascent and more.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Peter Jackson Earth Day 2023

Director’s Cuts: Lucile Hadžihalilović

30 May to 17 June
Our second Director’s Cuts series features French filmmaker Lucile Hadzihalilovic curating a season of her favourites, alongside a screening of her own Neo-noir horror Earwig, including a Q&A with Hadzihalilovic and screenwriter Geoff Cox.

Become a member

Our community of UPP members get exclusive discounts including 2 free tickets, a free drink at our cosy bar and £2 off the price of tickets. 

UPP News

Find out the latest news and updates from the UPP and our community

The Magnificent Ambersons: Welles’ butchered sophomore effort

The Magnificent Ambersons: Welles’ butchered sophomore effort

The Magnificent Amberson's is showing as part of our 35mm Films on Film season on Saturday 9th May at 3pm. Citizen Kane screens on ... Read more

Ruskin School of Art students’ short films at UPP

Ruskin School of Art students’ short films at UPP

The Ultimate Picture Palace are delighted to partner with Ruskin School of Art, to exhibit a selection of their students’ short films. ... Read more

Director’s Cuts: New series begins with Peter Strickland

Director’s Cuts: New series begins with Peter Strickland

We're delighted to announce a new regular series we're calling Director’s Cuts.  Inviting filmmakers we admire to curate a screening ... Read more

Hire the cinema

Our unique art-deco venue is the perfect place for private screenings, children and adult birthday parties, fundraisers, premieres, presentations, community events, film festivals and more.

Find out more