The Cook, The Thief, His Wife 
& Her Lover18

Directed by Peter Greenaway | UK | 1989 | 2h 4m | Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Gambon, Richard Bohringer, Alan Howard, Tim Roth, Ciarán Hinds

A ruthless mobster purchases a gourmet restaurant in London, regularly dining there with his long-suffering wife. However, when the cook, a thief, the mobster’s wife, and her secret lover all come together, a shocking torrent of sex, food, murder, and revenge is unleashed. Set to Michael Nyman’s score and featuring Jean Paul Gaultier’s costumes, Peter Greenaway’s notorious and stylish crime drama presents a disturbing feast reflecting Britain’s social, moral, and political decay.

Reviews

‘Greenaway’s stunning “designer dream” is sick, sexy and rude in about equal provocative proportions and totally unforgettable.’
★★★★
Alan Jones, Radio Times

‘Many people will be profoundly offended by this film… but some may appreciate it for what it certainly is: the most startling depiction of intellectual cruelty and evil for many years.’
★★★★
John Mount, Empire Magazine

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Cook, The Thief, His Wife 
& Her Lover between May 5, 2024 and May 6, 2024.

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What else is on?

Today (Thursday 29th January)

15:15

Hamnet 12A
Descriptive Subtitles
2h 6m
Shakespeare and his wife endure the devastating loss of their young son, straining love and family bonds. Chloé Zhao’s (Nomadland) poignant adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel captures grief, creativity, and resilience, with moving performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

Book here

18:00

Exhibition on Screen: Caravaggio 12A
1h 41m
This documentary explores Caravaggio’s life and genius, revealing the mysteries behind his masterpieces. Phil Grabsky and David Bickerstaff present a comprehensive cinematic journey through his bold, dramatic art and turbulent life, combining historical insight with artistic insight.

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20:30

Marty Supreme 15
2h 30m
1950s New Yorker Marty Mauser dreams of becoming a table tennis legend while juggling ambition, love, and personal turmoil. Timothée Chalamet shines in Josh Safdie’s (Uncut Gems) electrifying tale of fame, obsession, and the intoxicating lure of the American Dream.

Book here


Tomorrow (Friday 30th January)

15:45

The Voice of Hind Rajab Cert-TBC
1h 30m | Arabic w/ English subtitles
A girl trapped under Israeli fire reaches Red Crescent volunteers who battle impossible rescue protocols to save her. Kaouther Ben Hania’s harrowing docu-fiction hybrid confronts audiences with children’s suffering in Gaza, earning the Silver Lion and representing Tunisia at the Oscars.

Book here

18:00

Hamnet 12A
2h 6m
Shakespeare and his wife endure the devastating loss of their young son, straining love and family bonds. Chloé Zhao’s (Nomadland) poignant adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel captures grief, creativity, and resilience, with moving performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

Book here

20:45

Marty Supreme 15
2h 30m
1950s New Yorker Marty Mauser dreams of becoming a table tennis legend while juggling ambition, love, and personal turmoil. Timothée Chalamet shines in Josh Safdie’s (Uncut Gems) electrifying tale of fame, obsession, and the intoxicating lure of the American Dream.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!