The Universal Theory15

Directed by Timm Kröger | Germany | 2023 | 1h 58m | German w/ English subtitles | Starring Jan Bülow, Olivia Ross, Hanns Zischler, Gottfried Breitfuss, Ladina von Frisching

Set against the majestic backdrop of the towering Swiss Alps, a brilliant young physicist encounters an enigmatic pianist who inexplicably knows his most closely guarded secrets. What begins as curiosity quickly ensnares him in a web of metaphysical intrigue, murder, and mystery. Shot in stunning black-and-white, Timm Kröger’s award-winning thriller blends Cold War paranoia with mind-bending science fiction.

Reviews

‘A visually dazzling Alpine sci-fi noir…catch it while it is on the big screen, where its widescreen brilliance truly flourishes’
★★★★★
Jonathan Romney, The FT

‘This wonderfully slippery Hitchcockian sci-fi is an elegant puzzle box full of ingenious ideas.’
★★★★
Philip De Semlyen, Time Out

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Universal Theory between January 3, 2025 and January 7, 2025.

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

What else is on?

Today (Monday 5th January)

18:00

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid PG
1h 50m
After a bungled robbery, outlaws Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid flee Wyoming for Bolivia. Featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s iconic partnership, this Oscar-winning Western blends wit, adventure, and Burt Bacharach’s memorable score into a defining late-1960s American cinema classic.

Book here

20:30

Blue Moon 15
1h 40m
On 31 March 1943, lyricist Lorenz Hart drinks alone at Sardi’s as former collaborator Richard Rodgers basks in Oklahoma!’s triumph. While accolades flood in, Hart unravels with bittersweet candour. Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s real-time meditation on art, regret, and legacy.

Book here


Tomorrow (Tuesday 6th January)

18:00

Blue Moon 15
£6 for Members
1h 40m
On 31 March 1943, lyricist Lorenz Hart drinks alone at Sardi’s as former collaborator Richard Rodgers basks in Oklahoma!’s triumph. While accolades flood in, Hart unravels with bittersweet candour. Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s real-time meditation on art, regret, and legacy.

Book here

20:30

Eleanor the Great 12A
£6 for Members
1h 38m
After losing her closest friend, 94-year-old Eleanor moves to New York, seeking connection with her daughter. Accidentally joining the wrong support group, she reveals more than she bargained for, sparking unexpected friendships. Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a tender portrait of family and grief.

Book here


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!