Blow Out18

Directed by Brian De Palma | USA | 1981 | 1h 48m | Starring John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis Franz, Curt May

A sound technician accidentally records evidence of a political assassination while working on a low-budget horror film. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy. With its stylistic flourishes and a gritty portrayal of early-1980s Philadelphia, De Palma’s Hitchcockian take on Antonioni’s Blow Up is both a paranoid thriller reflective of its political era and a devilish meditation on the art of filmmaking.

Reviews

‘A horror movie, a paranoid political drama and a serial killer flick all at once.’
★★★★★
Kevin Maher, The Times

‘A movie which continues [De Palma] practice of making cross-references to other movies, other directors, and actual historical events, and which nevertheless is his best and most original work.’
★★★★
Roger Ebert

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Blow Out between July 6, 2024 and July 8, 2024.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 12th October)

15:15

Megalopolis 15
2h 18m
A visionary artist seeking to guide humanity toward a utopian future faces opposition from regressive, greedy politicians. 40 years in the making, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited philosophical sci-fi epic finally arrives on the big screen.

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18:15

After Hours 15
1h 37m
Legendary American director Martin Scorsese's frantic screwball comedy following an uptight office worker's late-night odyssey on the streets of New York as he tries to get home with no money.

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21:00

The Substance 18
2h 21m
In a bid to revive her career, a former TV star takes a black-market drug that transforms her into a younger version of herself. Demi Moore gives a career-best performance in this award-winning body horror critiquing toxic industry beauty standards.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 13th October)

14:00

Lee 15
1h 57m
Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a former model turned renowned photographer, captured some of the most iconic and haunting images of the Second World War. In this captivating biopic, Oscar-winner Kate Winslet brings Miller’s extraordinary story to life.

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16:45

The Goldman Case 12A
1h 56m | French w/ English subtitles
An electrifying dramatisation of the trial of left-wing activist Pierre Goldman, who was accused of armed robbery and murder in 1970s France. Winner of Best Actor (Arieh Worthalter) at the 2024 César Awards.

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19:30

Megalopolis 15
2h 18m
A visionary artist seeking to guide humanity toward a utopian future faces opposition from regressive, greedy politicians. 40 years in the making, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited philosophical sci-fi epic finally arrives on the big screen.

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!