The Critic15

Directed by Anand Tucker | UK | 2024 | 1h 41m | Starring Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Lesley Manville, Mark Strong, Romola Garai

A powerful theatre critic, notorious for his brutally honest reviews, suddenly finds himself being censored and threatened by his new employers. In a bid to retaliate, he draws a struggling actress into a blackmail scheme that quickly spirals into a tangled web of deceit and murder. Adapted from the novel ‘Curtain Call’ by acclaimed screenwriter Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal), this darkly compelling and sharp-witted thriller set in 1930s London features an all-star British cast, including Sir Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, and Lesley Manville.

Reviews

‘Put bluntly, [McKellen] is a vicious bastard — but irresistible fun.’
★★★★
Danny Leigh, The FT

‘McKellen, who relishes another devious character to sink his teeth into, devouring every scene, a deliciously caustic turn that will provide him with nothing but the finest notices.’
Benjamin Lee, The Guardian

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Critic between September 27, 2024 and October 9, 2024.

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What else is on?

Today (Sunday 7th December)

17:00

The Thing with Feathers 15
1h 44m
A grieving father’s reality fractures after his wife’s sudden death, and finds himself haunted by a giant talking crow. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a riveting performance in this lyrical, surreal adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning novel exploring love and grief.

Book here

19:30

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

Book here


Tomorrow (Monday 8th December)

16:30

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

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 don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!