The Christophers15

Directed by Steven Soderbergh | UK | 2026 | 1h 40m | Starring Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, Jessica Gunning, James Corden, Daniel Fearn

A fixture of the London art world since his breakout during the creative surge of the 1960s, Julian Sklar has withdrawn into a cluttered, self-imposed seclusion. When his two estranged children set out to secure their inheritance, they recruit a young painter and occasional forger to infiltrate his household under the guise of a prospective assistant. Her task: gain access to a rumoured series of unfinished works hidden deep within Sklar’s home studio. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, this sharply written comedy unfolds as a darkly funny chamber piece about deception, legacy and artistic value.

Reviews

‘Terrifically exhilirating and funny…Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel are the double act of the year’
★★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Another solidly gripping film from the ever-prolific Soderbergh, this is a terrific two-hander, with Coel and McKellen on fine, fierce form.’
★★★★
John Nugent, Empire Magazine

Book tickets

Thursday 11 June

 8.30pmBook tickets
Friday 12 June

 3.15pmBook tickets
Wednesday 17 June

Descriptive Subtitles

 3.30pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Thursday 11th June)
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20:30

The Christophers 15
1h 40m
A reclusive London artist (Ian McKellen) becomes the target of a scheme by his estranged children, who recruit a young painter (Michaela Coel) to infiltrate his home and uncover hidden works. Steven Soderbergh’s darkly comic chamber piece explores deception, legacy and artistic value.

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Tomorrow (Friday 12th June)
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15:15

The Christophers 15
1h 40m
A reclusive London artist (Ian McKellen) becomes the target of a scheme by his estranged children, who recruit a young painter (Michaela Coel) to infiltrate his home and uncover hidden works. Steven Soderbergh’s darkly comic chamber piece explores deception, legacy and artistic value.

Book here

Find out more

17:45

Backrooms 15
1h 45m
When a patient vanishes through a strange basement doorway of a furniture showroom, his therapist follows him into a disorienting dimension. Expanding Kane Parsons’ cult online series, this feature-length adaptation stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve and bringing “liminal horror” to the big screen.

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20:15

Fairyland 15
1h 56m
Set in San Francisco from the 1970s to 1980s, this drama follows a father and daughter navigating bohemian life and social change as their bond is tested by the AIDS crisis. Adapted from Alysia Abbott’s memoir, it’s a tender coming-of-age story of love and resilience.

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23:00

Army of Darkness 15
1h 21m
To celebrate 10 amazing and chaotic years of Oxford’s underground, gonzo movie night, Cinema Under the Stairs, the gang bring Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness to the UPP for a special evening of midnight movie mania. Book now to avoid disappointment. GROOVY!

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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!

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