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 28th March)

15:30

Four Daughters 15
Deaf/HOH Subtitles
1h 47m | Arabic & French w/ English subtitles
Fact and fiction mix in this documentary reconstructing the story of a Tunisian mother and how her two eldest daughters were radicalised by Islamic extremists. Winner of Best Documentary at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Book here

18:00

Showing Up 12A
1h 48m
Michelle Williams stars as a sculptor grappling with the stresses of work and family life as she prepares for a potentially career-changing exhibition in this exploration of life as an artist by Kelly Reichardt (First Cow).

Book here

20:30

Red Island 12A
1h 57m | French w/ English subtitles
An eight-year-old boy gradually becomes aware of the complex world surrounding him in Robin Campillo's (120 BPM) semi-autobiographical exploration of life in 1970s Madagascar as France's empire crumbles.

Book here


Tomorrow (Friday 29th March)

15:30

Driving Mum 12A
1h 53m | Icelandic w/ English subtitles
Hilmar Oddsson's quirky dark comedy goes on a cross-country road trip across the rugged Icelandic scenery, as a middle-aged man drives his recently deceased mother to her final resting place.

Book here

18:00

Drive-Away Dolls 15
1h 24m
Written and directed by one half of the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski), this riotous road-movie caper follows two young women crossing paths with a gang of inept criminals.

Book here

20:00

Dune: Part Two 12A
2h 47m
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh, director Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated sci-fi sequel is packed with grand visual spectacle, intricate narrative, and gigantic sandworms.

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!