Blue Velvet18

Directed by David Lynch | USA | 1986 | 2h 1m | Starring Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Dean Stockwell

A severed human ear is discovered, drawing a clean-cut amateur detective into the dark and twisted underbelly of his seemingly idyllic hometown. As his investigation deepens, he becomes entangled in a dangerous and disturbing relationship between a troubled nightclub singer and a psychotic gangster. After the big-budget disappointment of Dune, David Lynch returned with this subversive melodrama, exposing the sinister secrets lurking beneath the polished surface of suburban America. Marking the first of Lynch’s many collaborations with composer Angelo Badalamenti, Blue Velvet earned Lynch his second Oscar nomination for Best Director and is now celebrated as a landmark of 1980s American cinema.

One-off screening plus a guest introduction. Part of our David Lynch Weekender – click here to purchase a limited Weekend Pass.

Reviews

‘Erotic, neurotic, euphoric and at all times unutterably twisted and bizarre…The film releases a toxic narcosis of fear.’
★★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘Isabella Rossellini’s singer Dorothy is a heart-rending open wound, Dennis Hopper’s Frank Booth one of cinema’s great nutjobs, and Lynch’s control a thing of nightmarish beauty.’
★★★★★
Jamie Graham, Total Film

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Blue Velvet between June 17, 2023 and March 15, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 19th April)

10:00

The Lord of the Rings: Trilogy 12A
11h 30m + Breaks
Join us this Easter for an adventure of epic proportions with for back-to-back screenings of the extended editions of Peter Jackson's monumental, multiple award-winning The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Check the schedule for info on intermissions/breaks.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 20th April)

12:30

Kino Kids Cinema Club: Flow U
1h 25m
After a great flood, a brave cat and a group of animal friends set out to find dry land. This Oscar-winning adventure is a thrilling tale of teamwork, friendship, and caring for our planet. Kino Kids Cinema Club screening.

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14:45

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial U
1h 54m
Steven Spielberg’s iconic sci-fi adventure follows a big-hearted 10-year-old boy who stumbles upon a lost alien. As he forms a deep bond with his extraterrestrial friend, he embarks on a thrilling mission to send him back home before it’s too late.

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17:15

Black Bag 15
1h 34m
When top agent Kathryn Woodhouse is accused of treason, her husband must choose between loyalty to her or his country. Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender ignite the screen in Steven Soderbergh’s seductive spy thriller.

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19:30

The End 12A
2h 29m
In a luxurious bunker, a family clings to normality after Earth becomes uninhabitable. But when a stranger arrives, their fragile world unravels. Joshua Oppenheimer directs this post-apocalyptic musical starring George MacKay, Tilda Swinton, and Michael Shannon.

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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!