History of the UPP – Free TalkU

Dream Palaces: A history of the Ultimate Picture Palace and early cinema in Oxford

When the Oxford Picture Palace (now the Ultimate Picture Palace) opened in 1911 it was Oxford’s first purpose-built ‘electric theatre’. The technology of projecting moving images on to a screen was still in its infancy, but the ‘cinematograph’ had become wildly popular and a wave of new cinemas quickly followed, offering thrilling entertainment to both Town and Gown.

Join local historian Liz Woolley (www.lizwoolley.co.uk) for this FREE talk and find out more about this fascinating aspect of Oxford’s history. Booking essential.

Arrive early to claim a FREE tea or coffee.

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed History of the UPP – Free Talk between March 17, 2025 and March 22, 2025.

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

What else is on?

Tomorrow (Sunday 25th May)
Find out more

15:00

Mirror U
+ Intro
1h 47m | Russian w/ English subtitles
Classic Season: Dreamscapes
Tarkovsky’s dreamlike, deeply personal masterpiece exploring memory, identity, and Soviet life. Through poetic imagery and nonlinear storytelling, a dying man revisits childhood, war, and family in a haunting reflection on time. A landmark of world cinema.

Book here

Find out more

17:30

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.

Book here

Find out more

20:00

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.

Book here


Monday 26th May
Find out more

15:45

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

Find out more

18:15

Mirror U
1h 47m | Russian w/ English subtitles
Classic Season: Dreamscapes
Tarkovsky’s dreamlike, deeply personal masterpiece exploring memory, identity, and Soviet life. Through poetic imagery and nonlinear storytelling, a dying man revisits childhood, war, and family in a haunting reflection on time. A landmark of world cinema.

Book here

Find out more

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.

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