The Red ShoesPG

Directed by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger | UK | 1948 | 2h 15m | Starring Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine

A young and ambitious ballerina is taken under the wing of a demanding instructor, who urges her to commit wholeheartedly to achieving the status of the world’s greatest dancer. As her reputation begins to rise, she finds herself caught in a struggle between her unwavering commitment to dance and her yearning for love. An undisputed masterpiece of British cinema, Powell and Pressburger’s visually ravishing fantasia explores the intersection of creativity and obsession.

“This hugely inspired and inspiring film about the magic of art is a firework display of spectacular images. Its extraordinary use of colour and visual effects make it seem like an acid trip you hope will never end.” – Lucile Hadžihalilović

Part of a season of classics curated by filmmaker Lucile Hadžihalilović. Join us for a director Q&A of her film Earwig on Saturday 30th May 5.30pm (click here to book tickets).

Director's Cuts: Lucile Hadžihalilović

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Red Shoes between December 10, 2023 and June 7, 2026.

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Today (Friday 23rd October)
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15:30

The Lost Children of Tuam 12A
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17:45

Digger 15
2h 9m
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20:45

Possession 18
2h 7m
Her-steria Horror Classics
Anna (Isabelle Adjani) leaves her family without explanation. Her husband (Sam Neill) hunts for the truth, uncovering something far stranger than an affair. Andrzej Żuławski's psychological horror won Adjani the best actress award at Cannes and became a cult classic.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 24th October)
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14:00

Hope 15
2h 37m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Police investigate a mysterious creature terrorising the South Korean village of Hope Harbor. Cut off and without backup, it's down to hunters, hapless cops and locals to stop it. A thrilling sci-fi creature-feature from Na Hong-jin (The Wailing).

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17:30

Anyone Can Play Guitar 12A
1h 40m
Narrated by Stewart Lee and featuring exclusive interviews with Radiohead, Foals, Supergrass, Ride and Swervedriver, Anyone Can Play Guitar tells the unheard stories of Oxford's music scene. Screening followed by a conversation with director Jon Spira.

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20:30

Digger 15
2h 9m
The most powerful man in the world is in a frantic race to prove he's humanity's saviour before the disaster he unleashed destroys everything. Tom Cruise heads up an all-star cast in Oscar-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu's sharp comic satire.

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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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