Your summer of cinema is sorted

Sun Screen

A new Sun Screen season promises cool classics in the cool shade of our air conditioned screens, and launches with the 30th Anniversary release of Clueless (12A; from Sat 12 Jul). Loosely based on Janes Austen’s Emma, a fresh-faced Alicia Silverstone stars in what’s widely considered one of the best teen comedies ever. Razor sharp and highly quotable.

Top Gun (12A; from Fri 18 Jul) was the biggest movie of 1986, world-wide. With Tom Cruise as risk-taking US naval pilot ‘Maverick’ and the late Val Kilmer as ‘Iceman’, the film’s thrilling aerial scenes remain as breathtaking as ever – and where better than to experience them than on the big screen? 

Originally released in 2002,  Gurinder Chadha’s brilliant football comedy/drama Bend It Like Beckham (12A; from Fri 1 Aug) made international stars of both Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, but the movie’s lasting legacy has to be it’s undeniable influence on generations of women footballers (including many, no doubt, currently battling through the UEFA Women’s Euro). Inspiring and entertaining.

When a mask-wearing gang commit a series of audacious bank robberies, the FBI suspect members of the local surfer community in 1991’s Point Break(15; from Fri 15 Aug). The fourth feature from director Kathryn Bigelow, Point Break quickly became a cult hit, thanks to the visceral action sequences – from skydiving to surfing – and the on-screen tension between Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze (the latter still on a high from the previous year’s Ghost).

Wrapping up Sun Screenis the 50th Anniversary edition of Steven Spielberg’s seminal Jaws (12A; from Fri 29 Aug). With that riff from composer John Williams, and stunning set pieces, it’s a still-thrilling cultural landmark that redefined ‘the monster movie’ genre; much copied, never beaten.

Favourite Family Films

Running in parallel, our Favourite Family Films season features four delights for all ages, beginning with Pixar's sci-fi themed Elio (PG; from Sat 19 Jul). The cosmic misadventure introduces the 11-year-old Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession, whose call-out to the universe is miraculously answered.

Savages (aka Sauvages; cert tbc; from Fri 1 Aug) is a charming tale of two children and a rescued orangutan who stand against the threat of deforestation. The second film from Claude Barras (My Life As A Courgette), it’s a captivating slice of stop-motion animation with a message.

A group of young friends stumble upon an old treasure map in the 40th anniversary re-release of The Goonies (12A; from Fri 15 Aug). An enduring family adventure, it’s continued to grow in statue over the years, having lost none of its wide-eyed charm.

Finally, winner of the Best Animated Feature Award 2024 Oscar, Robot Dreams (PG; from Fri 22 Aug) follows the blossoming friendship between a lonely city-dwelling dog and his robot companion, whose relationship looks set to end in tragedy when Robot is becomes trap at the beach. It maybe dialogue-free, but it speaks volumes. 

And there’s more ...

In addition to the Sun Screen and Favourite Family Films seasons, our three cinema screens will also be showing the latest blockbusters and art-house/ indie hits, as well as several other classics. 

Among them are dino adventure Jurassic World: Rebirth (cert 12A; from Wed 2 Jul); the James Gunn helmed reboot of Superman (cert 12A; from Fri 11 Jul) starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan as Lois, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex; retro-futuristic Marvel Cinematic Universe chapter The Fantastic Four: First Steps (cert tbc; from Thu 24 Jul); Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War masterpiece Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut(15; from Tue 15 Jul) along with the equally extraordinary behind-the-scenes documentary, Hearts of Darkness (15; from Sat 12 Jul); and a new 4k restoration of Miloš Forman’s multi Oscar-winning biopic, Amadeus (from Fri 25 Jul).

To book tickets, and find out more about all the films heading to our screens this summer, explore our Cinema What's On page.