Empire of Light15

Directed by Sam Mendes | UK | 2022 | 1h 55m | Starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tanya Moodie

In a British seaside town during the early 1980s, a once popular cinema struggles to attract audiences. Cinema manager Hilary also faces her own personal struggles. However, the offer of a special premiere as well as the arrival of new member of staff sparks the cinema – and Hilary – into life. Olivia Colman gives a beautifully moving performance in this stirring ode to cinema, written and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes (American Beauty, 1917).

Join us on Friday 10th February for a special Q&A screening with the film’s producer and Chair of BAFTA, Dame Pippa Harris. Click here to book tickets. 

Reviews

‘An engrossing, poignantly observed and beautifully acted drama about love, life and the fragile art of moviegoing…’
★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘It’s a heartwarming reminder of the joy, comfort and necessity of the big screen experience.’
★★★★
Luke Hearfield, London Evening Standard

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Empire of Light between February 3, 2023 and February 16, 2023.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 16th April)
Find out more

20:00

The Delinquents 12A
3h 10m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
An epic, farcical comedy about a weary bank clerks hare-brained scheme to rob his employer, admit to the crime, and somehow end up with enough money to retire. Argentina’s official entry for the 2024 Academy Awards.

Book here


Tomorrow (Wednesday 17th April)
Find out more

15:30

Baltimore 15
1h 38m
A bold and thrilling psychological portrait based on the true story of Rose Dugdale, an English heiress who rejected her life of wealth and privilege to join an IRA raid on an english country estate.

Book here

Find out more

17:45

Monster 12A
2h 7m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
Three stories, each from a different perspective, untangle the tale of a young boy's behavioural problems in this humanistic and powerful family drama directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters).

Book here

Find out more

20:30

Origin 12A
2h 21m
Oscar-winning director Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th) skilfully transforms Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson’s non-fiction narrative into a compelling and poignant drama about racial discrimination.

Book here


See all upcoming films

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!

Find out more