Festive Movies 2024 Cinemas for one

Key Info: Christmas & the New Year Movies

Main Cinema chains open Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

If you’re stuck for ideas on what you can do to get out there and make the most of the Christmas holidays this year, then you can’t go far wrong by paying a visit to your local cinema and take advantage of a bit of escapism over the long Christmas period.

For a relatively inexpensive ticket price there’s still all sorts of offers around, so it’s a great way to treat yourself and support your local cinema at the same time. Whether it’s a holiday classic, a fast-moving action-adventure film or a romantic comedy, the magic of Christmas films can really help boost your well-being in what can be an overwhelming time of year with all the expectations it can bring.

If you’re going on your own not only do you get to choose exactly what you want to see watch (without having to compromise), but you still get the benefit of a kind of ‘communal experience’. Sharing laughter, tears, or excitement with a room full of strangers during a heartwarming Christmas movie can create a sense of connection and remind you that if you are single, you’re not alone and you never know, you it could be an opportunity to make some new friends.

If you haven’t been to the cinema for a while, prepare to be impressed! Not only is the picture and sound quality superb, comfy seats with plenty of legroom come as standard in most cinemas. Some even have armchairs and a food order service with cinema snacks bought to their seats (although all major chains allow you to bring your own snacks). Some of the small independent cinemas go one further offering a glass of wine with your ticket.

With all sorts of offers running over the Christmas break, some cinemas like the Odeon are offering midweek tickets from as a little as a fiver, representing a chance to get out there and get some good value entertainment.

Here’s some ideas to get you started

BETTER MAN

In this latest film biopic, Robbie Williams is portrayed as a CGI monkey in what is a surreal, unconventional look back at the singer’s life and career. The film which features many of the former Take That star’s biggest hits. Better Man deals with Williams’ life from childhood, through the ‘Take That’ years, to about 2003.
Directed by The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey, the supporting cast also includes Alison Steadman (from Gavin & Stacey fame) and Steve Pemberton.

Released on the 26th December, reviews published so far seem positive, so worth a look.

GLADIATOR II

If you haven’t seen it yet there’s still time to catch the action-packed Gladiator II. From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people. (maybe not a film for those a bit squeamish)

HERETIC

If you’re up for a thriller, Hugh Grant stars in this American horror film where he ratchets the creep factor up to eleven as Mr. Reed, a man whose entire life’s purpose seems to be trapping missionaries in his home of deathtraps, in order to test their faith.

Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East star as the unluckiest missionaries ever when they knock on the wrong door, becoming ensnared in his deadly game and what looks to be a mind-bending, dread-inducing, scare-fest. Enjoy!

COMING SOON – three film releases to look forward to in the new year

NOSFERATU (released January 1st)
A gothic horror tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. A deliciously creepy new spin on the 1922 vampire classic Nosferatu, which was loosely based on Bram Stoker’s ground breaking 1897 novel Dracula. Stars Robert Eggers, Bill Sarsgaard with Lily-Rose Depp amongst the co-stars.

WE LIVE IN TIME (released January 1st)
Described as a weepie romcom, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh cook up serious on-screen chemistry in We Live in Time with a story line that jumps around in time, rather than moving forward chronologically. The film tells the story of a slow burn romance with many ups and downs and how we react in the heat of the moment.

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (released February 14th)
In arguably this long awaited sequel, Renee Zellweger returns to her signature role as the lovelorn, and utterly loveable, Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
With the father Bridget’s on-off love interest Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), now out of the picture., mum Bridget faces the end of her hedonistic singledom as middle-age looms, Hugh Grant’s hilariously caddish Daniel Cleaver is about to re-enter the scene….

WHICH CINEMAS ARE SHOWING WHAT? FIND A CINEMA NEAR YOU

POPULAR CINEMA CHAINS	LOCATIONS
VUE	92 state of the art cinemas with over 876 screens throughout the UK and Ireland
SHOWCASE	16 state of the art cinemas across England, Scotland & Wales
EVERYMAN	45 Cinemas in England, Scotland Wales
CURZON	A chain of 17 cinemas that specialise in art house films, based in London and the south of England
CINEWORLD	More than 99 cinemas in England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland
PICTUREHOUSE	Group of 26 neighbourhood cinemas with mainstream, family, art house, independent, foreign-language, and documentary films across England and Scotland
ODEON	More than 120 cinemas with over 960 screens accross the UK & Northern Ireland
INDEPENDENT CINEMAS	And don’t forget the flourishing network of more than 100 independent cinemas up & down the land with unique history’s, characters & design quirks, some staffed by volunteers, but all needing every bean of our leisure spend to keep going! Well worth backing.