Merlin Redcar November/December 2025

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

LOVE GREAT FILMS?

CHECK OUT THE CINEMA CLUB ON PAGE 28

A SLEEPOVER WITH SPONGEBOB AND SHARKS!

See page 26 to find out more

RALPH FI ENNES

WELCOME

Pandora, Oz, Bikini Bottom, Zootropolis, and more... unwrap a festive season of cinema magic with presents perfect for all.

James Cameron’s epic sci-fi saga blazes into its next chapter, lighting up the big screen with Avatar: Fire And Ash. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return with soaring vocals in Wicked: For Good, the emotional and enchanting conclusion to the untold story of the witches of Oz. Set sail with SpongeBob and friends in a brand-new animated voyage packed with laughs, sea monsters, and unforgettable movie memories. Danger slithers into Zootropolis as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde face their wildest case yet as Disney takes you to allnew corners of their all-animal world.

Paul Rudd and Jack Black run into snake trouble on a giant scale in Anaconda, after Predator: Badlands and The Running Man get the adrenaline pumping. Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar are locked in a seductive game of secrecy in The Housemaid, and the Four Horseman return with some fresh faces and fresher tricks to conjure more movie magic in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. British brilliance shines bright as Ralph Fiennes leads the uplifting wartime drama The Choral, while the director of Bend It Like Beckham brings Dickens’ classic to life with a sparkling cast and musical flair in Christmas Karma. Who could say “Bah! Humbug!” to all that?

Lee Curtis Editor ROLL

MERLIN CINEMAS

YOU WILL BE CHANGED

WICKED: FOR GOOD

IN CINEMAS 21 NOVEMBER

Director Jon M. Chu / Starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum / Genre Family, Fantasy, Musical

Last year’s global cinematic sensation reaches its epic, electrifying, and emotional conclusion. Directed by awardwinner Jon M. Chu and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Academy Award-nominated superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged, each grappling with the consequences of their choices. Elphaba, now demonised as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, still fighting for Oz’s silenced Animals and desperate to expose the truth about The Wizard. Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness, basking in fame and popularity at the Emerald City palace under the guidance of Madame Morrible and betrothed to Prince Fiyero. When a girl from Kansas arrives and chaos erupts in Oz, the former best friends must find a way to come together to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants

IN CINEMAS 20 DECEMBER

Director Derek Dryman / Starring Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Regina Hall, Ice Spice, Mark Hamill / Genre Animation, Adventure

SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends are setting sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever. Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious, swashbuckling ghost pirate –on a wild, seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the Underworld, the deepest, most dangerous depths of the deep sea... where no Sponge has ever gone before.

THE BEGINNING OF RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN. THE END OF RODGERS AND HART

BLUE MOON

IN CINEMAS 28 NOVEMBER

Director Richard Linklater / Starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott / Genre Biography, Drama

In the heart of New York’s famous Theatre District, Sardi’s Restaurant has been a beloved Broadway institution for over a century. A legendary pre- and post-show haunt for theatre insiders, it’s woven into the very fabric of Broadway history and famously served as the birthplace of the Tony Awards.

On another landmark night in musical theatre history, specifically March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his groundbreaking hit musical Oklahoma!

BAFTA-winning filmmaker Richard Linklater reunites with his longtime collaborator Ethan Hawke – star of his Before trilogy and Boyhood – for this portrait of a tormented Hart. Through the haze of heartache and bourbon, Hart reflects on a once-brilliant creative partnership and the melodies that defined him: “The Lady is a Tramp,” “My Funny Valentine,” and the timeless title track, “Blue Moon.”

Over a bittersweet evening, Hart finds solace in Margaret Qualley’s Elizabeth, trades barstool banter with Bobby Cannavale’s Eddie, and braces for a reunion with Rodgers. Andrew Scott completes the cast as the composer, on the night his iconic partnership with Oscar Hammerstein begins.

Zootropolis 2

IN CINEMAS 28 NOVEMBER

Rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are thrust on the twisting trail of a great mystery when pit viper Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootropolis and turns the animal metropolis upside down in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new animated sequel. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.

A PAW Patrol Christmas

IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Your favourite pups star in a heartwarming hour-long holiday special, filled with original and classic songs. When construction-savvy Rubble finds out that Santa is sick, he sets out on a mission to save Christmas.

Christmas Karma

IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Director Gurinder Chadha / Starring Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter / Genre Fantasy, Musical

The director of Bend It Like Beckham transforms Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol into a joyous, colourful, feel-good musical that celebrates modern London and all of its communities and cultures. Boasting an all-star cast, an eclectic soundtrack, and a bold, original voice, this is a new festive British classic for our times, and for generations to come, with a strong message to be kind, choose love, and celebrate the present.

Anemone

IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Director Ronan Day-Lewis / Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley / Genre Drama

After announcing his retirement eight years ago, three-time Academy Awardwinner and four-time BAFTA-winner Daniel Day-Lewis roars back to the big screen. Under the direction of his son Ronan Day-Lewis – making his directorial debut from a script they wrote together – he stars as a man at war with his past in a poignant and haunting exploration of the complex and profound ties between brothers, fathers, and sons.

UNLOCK THE ILLUSION

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t

IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Director Ruben Fleischer / Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher / Genre Crime, Thriller

The Four Horsemen – Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher – return for their most high-stakes heist yet. Their target: Rosamund Pike’s Veronika Vanderberg, a powerful and deadly diamond heiress with ties to arms dealers, traffickers, and warlords. Aided by their legendary mentor, Morgan Freeman’s Thaddeus, they recruit three rising illusionists, as Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith, and Dominic Sessa join the franchise. Two generations of magicians must overcome their differences to outwit a cunning and dangerous adversary in a magic-fuelled spectacle packed with the franchise’s signature twists, turns, and jaw-dropping reveals, and some of the most thrilling illusions ever captured on film.

The Choral

IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Director Nicholas Hytner / Starring Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allum, Mark Addy / Genre Drama, History, War

1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee turns to a new chorus master, Ralph Fiennes’ Dr Henry Guthrie, who teaches the community to heal by making music together in a feel-good wartime drama written by BAFTA and Tony-winning playwright and screenwriter Alan Bennett.

EMBERS OF A NEW WORLD

Avatar: Fire And Ash

IN CINEMAS 19 DECEMBER

Director James Cameron / Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver / Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Legendary filmmaker James Cameron transports audiences back to the breathtaking world of Pandora in an epic, new adventure with Marine-turned-Na’vi leader Jake Sully, Na’vi warrior Neytiri, and the Sully family. After the events of The Way Of Water, the Sullys leave the picturesque reefs behind to travel with the Tlalim clan, peaceful nomadic air-travellers known as the Wind Traders. But their journey is cut short when they’re ambushed by the Mangkwan clan, aka the Ash People. Led by Varang, they’re vengeful Na’vi who were forever changed by the volcanic destruction of their home. As a new enemy rises and the next RDA attack looms, the Sullys must fight to protect Pandora and each other.

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE VENGEANCE HAS A NAME

IN CINEMAS 21 NOVEMBER

Director Jalmari Helander / Starring Jorma Tommila, Richard Brake, Stephen Lang / Genre Action, Thriller, War

Jorma Tommila and Stephen Lang reignite their feud in the explosive sequel to 2023’s original sleeper hit – primed to be one of the most ferocious, wall-to-wall cinematic action events of the year. Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, “the man who refuses to die” dismantles it, loads it onto a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honour. When the ruthless Red Army commander who killed his family returns, hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues – a fight to the death, packed with clever, unbelievable action set pieces.

Train Dreams IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Keeper IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Eternity IN CINEMAS 5 DECEMBER

Eleanor The Great IN CINEMAS 12 DECEMBER

Silent Night, Deadly Night IN CINEMAS 12 DECEMBER

Lurker IN CINEMAS 12 DECEMBER

Predator: Badlands

IN

CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Director Dan Trachtenberg / Starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning / Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

The director of 2022’s Prey returns to the iconic sci-fi franchise to evolve it into a bold new beast. Set in the future on a remote planet, a young Predator named Dek is cast out from his clan and forced to survive alone on a savage alien world. There, he finds an unlikely ally as he embarks on a perilous journey in search of the ultimate prey. As the hunt intensifies, it begins to redefine what it truly means to be predator... and prey.

Marty Supreme

IN CINEMAS 26 DECEMBER

Director Josh Safdie / Starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion / Genre Comedy, Drama, Sport

Timothée Chalamet is Marty Mauser, a young man chasing a dream that no one believes in. Driven by obsession, defiance, and the pursuit of greatness, his journey to become a ping-pong star takes him through hell and back. From the co-director of Good Time and Uncut Gems, this electrifying original sports saga also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.

Five Nights At Freddy’s 2

IN CINEMAS 5 DECEMBER

Director Emma Tammi / Starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Mckenna Grace, Matthew Lillard / Genre Horror, Thriller

In 2023, Blumhouse’s box-office horror phenomenon based on the blockbuster game series became the highest-grossing horror of the year. Now, a shocking new chapter of animatronic terror begins… and they’re not just at Freddy’s anymore. One year has passed since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The stories of what transpired there have been twisted into local legend, but former security guard Mike and police officer Vanessa have kept the truth from Mike’s eleven-year-old sister, Abby. When Abby sneaks out to find Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, she sets into motion a terrifying chain of events, revealing dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleashing a long-forgotten horror.

Anaconda

IN CINEMAS 25 DECEMBER

Director Tom Gormican / Starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton / Genre Action, Comedy

Jack Black and Paul Rudd star as two best friends who have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favourite movie: the cinematic “classic” Anaconda. When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they head deep into the Amazon to start filming. But when an actual giant anaconda appears, their comically chaotic movie set turns into a very real and deadly situation.

The Running Man

IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Director Edgar Wright / Starring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo / Genre Action, Sci-Fi

In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television where contestants known as Runners must survive thirty days while being relentlessly hunted by professional assassins. Every move is broadcast to a bloodthirsty public, and each day brings a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, Glen Powell’s Ben Richards is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer to enter the game. Against all the odds, Ben’s spirit makes him an unexpected fan favourite – and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger. Now, Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but an entire nation that’s addicted to watching him fall.

EVIL HAS LEFT THE BUILDING HUNT HIM DOWN

Ella McCay

IN CINEMAS 12 DECEMBER

Director James L. Brooks / Starring Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden / Genre Comedy, Drama

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them. Academy Awardwinning writer-director James L. Brooks’ first film in fifteen years features an all-star cast that includes Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall, Albert Brooks, and Woody Harrelson.

Song Sung Blue

IN CINEMAS 1 JANUARY

Director Craig Brewer / Starring Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson / Genre Biography, Musical, Romance

Based on a true story that dares you to dream huge, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as Mike and Claire, two down-on-their-luck musicians who form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band. Drawn together by a shared love of Diamond’s music, they embark on a life changing journey by taking to the stage as Lightning & Thunder – proving it’s never too late to find love, rediscover your purpose, and follow your dreams.

The Housemaid

IN CINEMAS 22 DECEMBER

Director Paul Feig / Starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone / Genre Thriller

Bridesmaids and A Simple Favour director Paul Feig plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. Trying to escape her past, Millie accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous – a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end. Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar star in a wildly entertaining psychological thriller based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel.

Christy

IN CINEMAS 28 NOVEMBER

Director David Michôd / Starring Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Katy O'Brian / Genre Biography, Drama, History, Sport

Sydney Sweeney stars in the remarkable true story of Christy Martin, a small-town woman who became one of boxing’s most controversial trailblazers. Fuelled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, Christy takes the world of boxing by storm under the guidance of her trainer and managerturned-husband, Jim. But while she flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside of it.

Nuremberg

IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Director James Vanderbilt / Starring Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon / Genre Biography, Drama, War

In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, the Allies have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a U.S. Army psychiatrist is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with Hitler’s notorious second-in-command. Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe stars as former Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, locked in a battle of minds with Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, portrayed by fellow Academy Award-winner Rami Malek. Michael Shannon commands as the unyielding chief U.S. prosecutor, Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, with Leo Woodall, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks, Mark O’Brien, John Slattery completing the ensemble for this chronicle of the historic Nuremberg trials.

RITE OF PASSAGE

In a galaxy where only the fiercest survive, a young exiled hunter fights to reclaim his honour, forge his legend, and earn the name… Predator. WORDS AARON POTTER

Predator: Badlands

IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Director Dan Trachtenberg / Starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning / Genre Action, Sci-Fi

After his bold reinvention with 2022’s Prey and recent animated anthology Killer Of Killers, it’s fair to say director Dan Trachtenberg has become an authority on all things Predator. Now, he returns to expand the universe once more with a wild spin on the iconic action villain. Predator: Badlands marks the seventh film in the franchise, but it’s the very first to put the titular alienhunting badass front and centre. This time, the laser sights are locked on Dek, a young, less experienced member of the Yautja tribe, who’s tasked with proving his skills by hunting down the ultimate adversary on a dangerous remote

planet after being rendered an outcast. Joining him is Elle Fanning’s Thia, a young female android created by Weyland-Yutani, who seemingly intends to help him complete his mission – though anyone familiar with the company knows their synthetics can’t always be trusted. Even more curious, Fanning pulls double duty by playing a second, yet-to-be revealed role.

Like its predecessors, Badlands promises to be another glowingblood-soaked action romp, but one that digs much deeper into the lore than ever before, with giant otherworldly creatures, multiple Predator variants, and subtle ties to the Alien franchise.

In other words: the most dangerous – and unpredictable –hunt is about to begin.

Bio Mask

Arguably as iconic as the face beneath it, the Predator’s bio-mask is more than just protection. It enhances vision with infrared and telescopic modes, and even mimics the vocal patterns of any target it tracks.

Gauntlet

A cornerstone of any Predator’s arsenal controls cloaking, projects holographic maps, and conceals an array of deadly tools – from retractable blades to high- yield explosives. Designs may vary, but all share one brutal feature: a built- in self-destruct for when all other options fail.

The Ultimate Hunter Laser Sword

The latest – and potentially greatest –addition to the arsenal in Predator: Badlands is the laser-edged sword. Superheated at the user’s command, it slices through enemies with devastating ease, bringing a whole new level of carnage to the hunt.

Pandora Natives Omatikaya Clan

The most recognisable Na’vi and focal point of the first film, the Omatikaya take Jake in as their own… and the rest is history.

Metkayina Clan

Introduced in The Way Of Water, this tribe lives peacefully on Pandora’s reefs, offering refuge the Jake and Neytiri when the RDA threat returns.

Mangkwan Clan

After a volcanic eruption destroyed their home, these Na’vi known as the Ash People, reject Eywa’s ways and live in the name of vengeance.

Tlalim Clan

Known as Wind Traders, the Tlalim make use of wind-borne species for transport. This peaceful clan bring balance to the aggressive Ash people when we meet them both in Fire And Ash.

JOY TO THE WORLD

Famous faces and a genre-blending soundtrack bring the Charles Dickens’ classic to life like never before in a big Bollywood-inspired celebration of Christmas and British spirit. WORDS CHLOE HOWARD

Christmas Karma

IN CINEMAS 14 NOVEMBER

Director Gurinder Chadha / Starring Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, Boy George, Danny Dyer / Genre Family, Fantasy, Musical

Bah! Humbug. That’s what Mr Sood would say to that.

The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar stars as our modern-day Scrooge, whose humbug attitude is about to be turned upside down. When he’s visited by the ghost of his late business partner – an eerily unrecognisable Hugh Bonneville as Jacob Marley – the enchanting journey toward redemption begins.

Soon, he’s joined by the three ghosts of Christmas, brought gloriously to afterlife by Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George. Each spirit guides him through Christmases of the past, present, and future to teach him the error of his greedy and selfish ways.

It’s a timeless Dickens tale everyone knows, but as you’ve never seen it before – reimagined by Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha and set in the heart of modern-day London, bursting with multicultural colour and festive joy.

Leo Suter, Pixie Lott, Charithra Chandran, and Danny Dyer as a cheeky

cabbie with a heart of gold are in for some festive fun, too. Together, the sensational cast welcomes you on a magical mission to melt the coldest heart in town and rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.

Musical magic from Take That’s Gary Barlow and a host of global performers spreads cheer with a spectacular soundtrack featuring bhangra, gospel, pop, and, of course, Christmas carols.

Scrooged

Bill Murray brings a sackful of laughs as a cynical TV exec in this Americanised retelling. Packed with dark humour and unexpected turns, it’s a modern comic spin that still warms the heart.

The Muppet Christmas Carol Michael Caine and all your favourite Muppets... what more could you want from a Christmas film? Kermit and the gang warm a cold, miserable, Dickensian London with heart, music, and Muppet mayhem.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol

With bold graphics and a haunting atmosphere, Disney’s visually striking 3D animation starring Jim Carrey brings the magic – and the ghosts –to life like never before.

HISS-TERIA

Hop back into Zootropolis for another wild ride as unlikely crimefighting duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are on the tail of their slipperiest foe yet. WORDS JIM ROBERTS

Zootropolis 2

IN CINEMAS 28 NOVEMBER

Directors Jared Bush, Byron Howard / Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan / Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy

A new villain is on the loose in Zootropolis… Officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde better be ready!

Nine years after the Oscar-winning original smashed box offices, Disney returns to the bustling, all-animal metropolis we fell in love with. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprise their roles as the city’s favourite odd couple – the everearnest rabbit cop and her sly fox sidekick, now fully fledged partners in crime-fighting.

Their latest case? Track slithering rogue Gary De’Snake – voiced by Ke Huy Quan – through new parts of the vibrant anthropomorphic world, from misty marshlands to sun-drenched desert sands.

Never-before-seen corners of Zootropolis means new characters to encounter, and it’s a lineup more diverse than Noah’s Ark – from aardvarks to zebras and almost everything in between! Fans will be delighted by the return of Chief Bogo, Mr Big, Fru Fru, Duke Weaselton, Flash the sloth, and Officer Clawhauser among other favourites. Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard are back, too, with more smart social commentary, relatable characters, and stunning visuals. This time, the mystery runs darker, the animation richer, and the stakes even higher. It’s a race against time, a battle of wits, and a whole lot of furry fun, but will this be the case that slips out of Judy and Nick’s grasp?

Go Wild

Gary De’Snake

It’s like he’s in everything everywhere all at once, now Ke Huy Quan slithers into villainy as a smooth-talking pit viper outwitting Judy and Nick at every turn.

Nibbles

Brace yourself for big laughs as Fortune Feimster voices a tough-talking beaver who’s all about laying down the animal law.

Dr Fuzzby

Quinta Brunson voices a cheerful quokka therapist with a heart full of wisdom. (FYI: quokkas are tiny Aussie marsupials)

Bushron

Jean Reno lends his voices as grizzled goat cop patrolling the wild edges of the Outlands.

Gazelle

Shakira returns as the city’s superstar singer, but with a bigger role and fresh pop tracks to get tails wagging and feet tapping.

SOUND OF DEFIANCE

As the Great War rages and conscription looms, Ralph Fiennes’ unconventional choirmaster teaches a generation to find their voice – and help a community to heal. WORDS ROBB SHEPPARD

The Choral

IN CINEMAS 7 NOVEMBER

Director Nicholas Hytner / Starring Ralph Fiennes, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong / Genre Drama, History

Set in a small Yorkshire town in 1916, Alan Bennett’s first original screenplay in over forty years introduces a community losing its men – and a choir losing its sopranos, altos, and tenors – to the front line.

In an act of desperation, the choir’s committee takes an ambitious gamble on the local youth and a marvellous, yet unorthodox choirmaster to lead them.

Ralph Fiennes stars as the stern, atheist, and, most concerning of all to the local community, Germanspeaking Dr Guthrie, who begins shaping the choir from those too young to join up.

In anyone else’s hands, this could be a gloomy affair. But in Bennett’s inimitable style, there’s humour beneath the bleakness as Dr Guthrie challenges conventions and strives against stereotypes in a stirring celebration of British spirit and the power of music.

Director Nicholas Hytner is well-versed

in Bennett’s work and in their fourth cinematic collaboration again balances the wit, heart for history, and emotional heft to ensure this new story sings.

As always, Bennett’s script attracts a chest of national treasures, with Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, and Simon Russell Beale skilfully rounding out the supporting cast.

In today’s turbulent times, The Choral serves as a heartwarming reminder that no matter the time period, there’s always light to be found if you know where to look for it.

Just keep calm and carry on singing.

The Best Of Bennett

The Madness Of King George

This Oscar and BAFTAnominated historical comedy sees the King’s court scheme to remove him from power due to his increasingly bizarre behaviour. With Bennett’s signature wit and an allstar cast, it’s a right, royal rib-tickler.

HistoryTheBoys

An eccentric teacher pushes his gifted students towards Oxbridge, teaching the other staff a thing or two in the process in a coming-of-age classic that launched the career of one James Corden.

The Lady In The Van

Laughs and life lessons abound when Bennett himself befriends a transient woman, portrayed by the late, great Maggie Smith, who decides to move in… onto his driveway. Perfect Sunday viewing.

ONLY IN CINEMAS DECEMBER 12

IT JUST GOT REAL

Jack Black and Paul Rudd swap fantasy games, building blocks, and ant besties for something more slippery, a wildly comic reimagining of the 1997 cult “classic.”

Anaconda

IN CINEMAS 25 DECEMBER

Director Tom Gormican / Starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Selton Mello Genre Action, Comedy, Horror

– with a very real giant snake. Cue hilarity, horror, and high-stakes action set pieces on this perilous passion project.

PetGoneProjects Wild

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Two of cinema’s most beloved goofballs are teaming up to take on their biggest foe yet: a giant anaconda. If only Steve’s survival skills and Ant-Man’s powers stretched to reptiles!

Jack Black is Doug. Paul Rudd is Griff. Childhood best friends, bonded by their love of their favourite film from the nineties, who have dreamed of remaking it ever since.

Armed with a shoestring budget, a shaky script, and a couple of equally diehard and just as out of their depth friends, they head deep into the rainforest to shoot their Anaconda. But when fiction slithers into reality, the DIY monster movie they’re dying to make becomes a fight for survival

If Rudd and Black aren’t enough for you, there’s supporting turns from Thandiwe Newton as Griff’s co-star Claire, Steve Zahn as frazzled cameraman Kenny, and Selton Mello as a snake handler suddenly getting to grips with a monster.

From the director of 2022’s unexpected hit The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent – yes, the one where Nic Cage and Pedro Pascal fall in love with Paddington 2 – this wild riverboat ride has all the makings of a surprise Christmas number one.

He’s the best there is. Actually, he’s re-e-e-eally the only one there is. Jim Carrey’s side-mouth laughing, eccentrically haired, Hawaiian shirtladen detective hunts for a dolphin to save the Super Bowl.

Eight-Legged Freaks

Horror and comedy collide as David Arquette and Scarlett Johansson see their small town overrun by giant spiders in this throwback to 1950s horror films with a wicked sense of humour.

Keanu

Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key embark on a dangerous mission to infiltrate an underground drug gang to rescue their stolen kitten, who’s voiced by Keanu Reeves. Yes, it’s exactly as silly as it sounds.

FROM EDGAR WRIGHT THE DIRECTOR OF BABY DRIVER

LIFE HITS HARD. LEGENDS HIT HARDER

GIANT

IN CINEMAS 9 JANUARY

Director Rowan Athale / Starring Pierce Brosnan, Amir El-Masry, Toby Stephens / Genre Biography, Drama, Sport

From executive producer and big-screen boxing legend Sylvester Stallone comes a new British drama based on the remarkable real-life story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion and nineties icon Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed.

Charting his inspiring rags-to-riches underdog tale from his humble beginnings in Sheffield to becoming champion of the world and a global sporting icon in the 1990s, Giant explores the unlikely and tender relationship between Naz and his Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle; and the instrumental role that Ingle plays on his road to success.

With exhilarating and visceral scenes in the ring, coupled with deeply moving, intimate, and equally hard-hitting moments behind the curtain, Giant is an inspiring biopic of one of the greatest showmen the sporting world has ever seen – the untold true story of the boy behind The Prince.

Written and directed by filmmaker Rowan Athale, the film stars Amir El-Masry – the rising star of Netflix’s The Crown and BBC’s SAS: Rogue Heroes – as Naseem Hamed, with screen legend Pierce Brosnan as Brendan Ingle. The supporting cast features Toby Stephens as boxing promoter Frank Warren, among other famous figures from British boxing, including Johnny Nelson, Kell Brook, and more.

GOAT

IN CINEMAS 13 FEBRUARY

Directors Tyree Dillihay, Adam Rosette / Starring Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nicola Coughlan / Genre Animation, Adventure, Sport

Will, a small goat with big dreams, gets a once-in-alifetime shot to join pros and play roarball – a highintensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest and fiercest animals in the world. Will’s new teammates aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, but Will is determined to revolutionise the sport and prove that “smalls can ball" in an all-star original action-comedy set in an all-animal world from the studio behind the Spider-Verse.

28

Years Later: The Bone Temple

IN CINEMAS 16 JANUARY

Director Nia DaCosta / Starring Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman / Genre Horror

Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland – but turning on its head – Nia DaCosta directs a bold continuation of the epic story. Dr Kelson is drawn into a shocking new relationship, while Spike’s encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the changing world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival. It’s the survivors, and the inhuman choices they make, that redefine terror.

IN CINEMAS 9 JANUARY

Director Chloé Zhao / Starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal / Genre Biography, Drama, History

From Chloé Zhao, the Academy Award-winning writer-director of Nomadland, comes the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. The film stars Jessie Buckley as Agnes “Anne” Hathaway and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, a couple grappling with the devastating death of their only son. Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn round out a stellar British and Irish cast in this hauntingly lyrical portrait of love, grief, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Wuthering Heights

IN CINEMAS 13 FEBRUARY

Director Emerald Fennell / Starring Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif / Genre Drama, Romance

Margot Robbie is Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi is Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s take on the Emily Brontë 1847 classic. Directing from her own adapted screenplay, the bold retelling of the story of passionate, forbidden, and ill-fated romance from the Academy Award and BAFTA-winning writerdirector of Promising Young Woman and Saltburn also stars Hong Chau, Owen Cooper, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell, with original songs by Charli XCX.

Rental Family

IN CINEMAS 16 JANUARY

Director Hikari / Starring Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman / Genre Comedy, Drama

Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser stars as a struggling American actor in Tokyo whose job with a “rental family” agency, playing stand-ins for strangers, sparks a surreal journey of discovery.

Return To Silent Hill

IN CINEMAS 23 JANUARY

Director Christophe Gans / Starring Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Evie Templeton / Genre Horror, Mystery

A mysterious letter draws James to a once-familiar town now consumed by darkness. Back in Silent Hill, he’s pushed to the edge of sanity in the iconic horror franchise’s chilling return.

Scream 7

IN CINEMAS 27 FEBRUARY

Director Kevin Williamson / Starring Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Courteney Cox, Mckenna Grace / Genre Horror, Mystery

Neve Campbell returns as iconic final girl Sidney Prescott in the seventh chapter of Scream, helmed by franchise architect Kevin Williamson, who penned Wes Craven’s 1996 slasher.

WIN A SLEEPOVER WITH SPONGEBOB AND SHARKS!

Arrr you ready? SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t-miss cinematic event ever.

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants reunites the series’ voice cast as SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr Krabs, and the rest of your Bikini Bottom favourites hit the big screen. Mark Hamill voices The Flying Dutchman, with Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, George Lopez, and Ice Spice completing the exciting ensemble cast.

Ahoy mateys! The Search For SquarePants is on, in cinemas this Christmas, and we’re giving you the chance to snag a treasure fit for the fiercest pirate.

Fancy sleeping with the sharks? This is a brilliant and unforgettable opportunity for children and their grown ups to see what happens underwater as the sun sets! Create special memories and immerse yourself in the world of marine life and of SpongeBob and his pals in a fun and educational evening that’s not to be missed.

Package for a family of 4 includes*:

∞ Twilight tour of the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth

∞ Games and big screen movie in front of the Eddystone Reef tank

∞ Midnight snack

∞ Sleep in our Eddystone Reef Exhibit

∞ Breakfast at the Wave Café

∞ Additional night B&B style accommodation sharing a family room with breakfast

∞ Dinner pre-sleepover

∞ SpongeBob teddy, pyjamas, and goody bags (children only)

∞ £150 travel allowance

∞ Cloud Nine Winner Management

Love great films? Enjoy 10 of the best at HALF PRICE!

7 NOV 2025

Let’s talk about The Cinema Club

If you love seeing fantastic films in the cinema then this is the club for you!

Every year we will select 10 of the best films set to hit the big screen and our members will be able to see them at half the standard adult ticket price.

Our aim is to surprise and delight you with unforgettable films - some that you’re looking forward to and some that you never knew you wanted to see!

Membership costs £14.95 for a season covering 10 films.

You can use The Cinema Club membership at participating cinemas nationwide - check the website for a full list of locations.

EVENT CINEMA STAGE TO SCREEN

RBO 2025-26: The Royal Ballet La Fille Mal Gardée from Wednesday 5 November

Exhibition On Screen: Caravaggio from Tuesday 11 November

John Cleese Packs It In from Thursday 13 November

RBO 2025-26: The Royal Ballet Cinderella from Tuesday 25 November

NT Live: The Fifth Step from Thursday 27 November

André Rieu: Merry Christmas from Saturday 6 December

RBO 2025-26: The Royal Ballet The Nutcracker from Wednesday 10 December

for

further information, and bookings.

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