HairsprayPG

Directed by John Waters | USA | 1988 | 1h 32m | Starring Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono, Divine, Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller

In 1962 Baltimore, teenagers go head-to-head vying for the starring role on a popular dance TV show. Step forward self-proclaimed “pleasantly plump” teenager Tracy who rises to top – making boyfriends and enemies along the way – while pushing for more racial integration on the show. John Waters subversive slice of retro nostalgia dials down his usual grotesquery for this charmingly accessible musical comedy.

Our screening on Friday 22 July will be introduced by comedian Jamie Mykeala as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival.

Classic Season: Oxford Comedy Festival 2022

Reviews

‘It is absurd and jolly, parodying not only the worst conventions of the teen film but also the Sixties social-conscience movie, with an anti-racist sub-plot.’
David Robinson, The Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Hairspray between July 22, 2022 and July 25, 2022.

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What else is on?

Today (Friday 23rd May)
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15:45

Riefenstahl 15
1h 55m | German w/ English subtitles
A complex portrait of pioneering filmmaker and Nazi propagandist, Leni Riefenstahl. This critical documentary interrogates her legacy, exploring the enduring tension between artistry, denial, and complicity in the darkest chapter of cinema history.

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18:15

The Wedding Banquet 15
1h 43m
A green-card marriage plan goes off the rails when a gay man's grandmother unexpectedly arrives in America expecting a traditional Korean wedding. This vibrant remake of Ang Lee’s classic celebrates queer love, family chaos, and cultural identity.

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20:45

The Surfer 15
1h 40m
A father-son surfing trip spirals into paranoia and humiliation when a local conflict escalates dangerously. Nicolas Cage stars in this sun-scorched, hallucinatory thriller blending psychological tension with the anarchic spirit of Ozploitation classics.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 24th May)
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15:45

Two to One 12A
1h 55m | German w/ English subtitles
A hilarious race against time begins when a family finds old East German cash just as it’s losing value. Sandra Hüller stars in this warm-hearted comedy about capitalism, community, and socialist values colliding with newfound consumerist freedom.

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18:15

The Surfer 15
1h 40m
A father-son surfing trip spirals into paranoia and humiliation when a local conflict escalates dangerously. Nicolas Cage stars in this sun-scorched, hallucinatory thriller blending psychological tension with the anarchic spirit of Ozploitation classics.

Book here

Find out more

20:30

The Wedding Banquet 15
1h 43m
A green-card marriage plan goes off the rails when a gay man's grandmother unexpectedly arrives in America expecting a traditional Korean wedding. This vibrant remake of Ang Lee’s classic celebrates queer love, family chaos, and cultural identity.

Book here


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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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