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.

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What else is on?

Today (Thursday 23rd January)
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12:30

Conclave 12A
Parent + Baby Screening
2h
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15:00

The Remains of the Day U
2h 14m
Merchant Ivory Classics
In 1930s Britain, the ordered life of a head butler is disrupted by the arrival of a housekeeper who develops feelings for him. Elegant adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Booker Prize-winning novel starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

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18:00

Honouring Jean-Luc Godard 18+
75m | French w/ English subtitles
The Cultural Programme at Oxford University presents a special screening honouring the late works of French New Wave icon Jean-Luc Godard, including a Q&A with Godard's close collaborator, filmmaker and cinematographer Fabrice Aragno.

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21:00

Nickel Boys 12A
2h 20m
In 1960s America, two young Black men form a friendship while in a corrupt reform school. Director RaMell Ross adapts Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as an immersive exploration of America’s buried history.

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Tomorrow (Friday 24th January)
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15:15

We Live in Time 15
1h 47m
Almut and Tobias meet in an unexpected encounter that forever alters their lives. But a challenging truth emerges that threatens to upend everything they’ve built. Uniquely structured rom-com starring Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.

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17:45

Nosferatu 15
2h 12m
Evil plagues a small town in 1830s Germany as sinister vampire Count Orlok becomes dangerously infatuated with a young local woman. Director Robert Eggers (The Witch) breathes new life into one of cinema’s most iconic monsters.

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20:45

Better Man 15
2h 15m
Pop icon Robbie Williams has experienced a fame-filled roller coaster like no other. Inventive and unexpectedly poignant retelling of his life exploring the highs and lows of stardom – with Robbie portrayed, intriguingly, as a chimpanzee.

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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!

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