Stop Making SensePG

Directed by Jonathan Demme | USA | 1983 | 1h 28m

Big songs. Even bigger suit! Director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) captures the intoxicating experience of New York art-rockers Talking Heads performing live at the peak of their powers in 1983. Beginning with frontman David Byrne performing a solo rendition of ‘Psycho Killer’, members of the band join the set one-by-one, song-by-song to create one of the most legendary and joyous live music experiences put to film. Newly restored in 4K to coincide with the film’s 40th anniversary, it is now considered by critics and fans to be the greatest concert documentary of all time.

Join us for a Byrne’s Night double-feature screening of Stop Making Sense alongside David Byrne’s 1986 directorial debut True Stories on Saturday 25th January. Click here to book your double-feature tickets.

Reviews

‘The energy of Jonathan Demme’s 1984 film defies categorisation, and David Byrne in the ‘Big Suit’ is the Chuck Berry of new wave art-rock’
★★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘And even now, how fresh it seems. For all the reverence and influence, how unique as well. The greatest concert movie ever made? Whether truth or fact, it is.’
★★★★★
Danny Leigh, The FT

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Stop Making Sense between October 13, 2023 and January 31, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Wednesday 26th August)

17:30

Love Me Tender 15
2h 14m | French w/ English subtitles
After her divorce, writer Clémence begins dating women, exploring her sexuality for the first time. When her ex-husband finds out, he cuts off access to their son, sparking a custody battle. Adapted from Constance Debré's novel, starring Vicky Krieps.

Book here

20:30

David Byrne's American Utopia 12A
1h 46m
David Byrne, former Talking Heads frontman, reflects on human connection in this concert film based on his Broadway show. Directed by Spike Lee, it blends music and dance into immersive cinema, featuring solo work and Talking Heads classics.

Book here


Tomorrow (Thursday 27th August)

15:00

The Summer Book PG
1h 35m
Eight-year-old Sophia spends the summer with her father and grandmother on their family island in Finland's Gulf, all three grieving her mother's recent death. Directed by Charlie McDowell and starring Glenn Close, this quiet drama adapts Tove Jansson's novel.

Book here

17:45

The Summer Book PG
1h 35m
Eight-year-old Sophia spends the summer with her father and grandmother on their family island in Finland's Gulf, all three grieving her mother's recent death. Directed by Charlie McDowell and starring Glenn Close, this quiet drama adapts Tove Jansson's novel.

Book here

20:00

The Odyssey 15
2h 52m
Odysseus, King of Ithaca, journeys home after the Trojan War, confronting vengeful gods and monstrous trials along the way. Christopher Nolan adapts Homer's epic, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.

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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 only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!