Movie of the Week

• Godzilla Minus Zero

Cinemas

• Wild Horse Nine
• I Play Rocky
• La Bola Negra
• Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint
• Ramayana: Rise of a Legend
• Onwards and Sideways
• Manipulation
• Think of England
• One in a Million
• Amazing Grace

Streaming/On-Demand

• Possible Love
• A Dog’s Perfect Christmas

Re-Releases

• Rocky
• V for Vendetta
• Raise the Red Lantern

CAST: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Jun Kunimura, Miou Tanaka, Sakura Andô, Masami Nagasawa, Min Tanaka, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sae Nagatani

CREW: Takashi Yamazaki (director, writer), Kazuaki Kishida (producer), Naoki Satō (composer), Kōzō Shibasaki (cinematographer), Ryūji Miyajima (editor)

PLOT: In 1949, two years after the giant monster Godzilla laid waste to post-war Japan, former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Kamiki), his wife Noriko (Hamabe) and their adopted daughter Akiko (Nagatani) find themselves facing an all-new catastrophe when Godzilla returns – and this time, he may not be alone…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The legendary movie monster is back in this heavily anticipated follow-up to Toho’s critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning entry Godzilla Minus One
• Not only will be getting plenty more kaiju action in this bigger and more ambitious sequel, but the human drama that won the hearts of audiences everywhere receives all-new layers in this fresh story
• Along with most of his cast, filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki returns to direct, write and supervise the visual effects team that earned the long-running franchise its first-ever Oscar
• It is also the very first Japanese film to have been filmed and formatted for IMAX screens, allowing viewers to truly feel the gigantic scope of the mighty mutated lizard
• The film is set to be an even greater hit for the franchise that has finally rediscovered its groove after more than 70 years of being active

Godzilla Minus Zero is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey, Mariana di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Paola Giannini, Samuel Wayt

CREW: Martin McDonagh (director, writer, producer), Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Anita Overland (producers), Carter Burwell (composer), Ben Davis (cinematographer), Mikkel E.G. Nielsen (editor)

PLOT: In 1973, CIA officers Chris (Malkovich) and Lee (Rockwell) are stationed in Santiago, Chile where they have been assigned to oversee Chile’s imminent military coup d’etat, but their mission starts to go sideways when they decide to spend a week on Easter Island…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Filmmaker Martin McDonagh’s follow-up to The Banshees of Inisherin is yet another brilliantly crafted dark comedy about some of humanity’s grimmest yet unapologetically human minds
• Sam Rockwell, who won an Oscar for his role in McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, reunites with the filmmaker in an equally captivating lead role, but it is John Malkovich who’s earning all the praise for a performance said to be among the veteran actor’s finest
• The unlikely pair find themselves amidst the glorious landscapes of Easter Island, during a point in Chilean history that proved a significant turning point for the country’s politics
• It’s filled with McDonagh’s signature dry wit and poignant human drama, both of which come together to create an uncomfortably funny viewing experience
• With early word suggesting it’s one to look out for during this year’s awards race, this is further proof that McDonagh may be one of our finest creative minds that is currently working

Wild Horse Nine is showing in cinemas from Wednesday 4 November 2026

CAST: Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Stephan James, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Kiki Seto, Robert Morgan, Saul Stein, Trevor St. John, Erik Palladino, Rob Demery, Scot Teller, Dennis W. Hall

CREW: Peter Farrelly (director, producer), Peter Gamble (writer), Christian Baha, Toby Emmerich, Paul Currie and Michele Weiss (producers), Dave Palmer (composer), Sean Porter (cinematographer), Sam Seig (editor)

PLOT: In 1975, struggling actor Sylvester Stallone (Ippolito) is inspired to write the screenplay for a film called Rocky, which earns the attention of producers Irvin Winkler (Byrne) and Robert Chartoff (Kebbell), who are shocked by Stallone’s request that he play the lead role…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Fifty years since the story of Rocky Balboa first won the hearts of audiences everywhere, this exciting retelling of the movie’s development and production is just as much of a winning crowd-pleaser
• Peter Farrelly, the director of the Oscar-winning Green Book, focuses on the underdog story of Stallone himself, as played by Stallone dead-ringer (right down the voice!) Anthony Ippolito
• The film cleverly replicates the original Rocky’s inspiring formula and applies it to the real-life struggles that the actor faced whilst convincing studio heads that he was the only person to play this iconic role
• Audiences and critics have already responded warmly to the movie, with the film coming in as the first runner-up for the Toronto International Film Festival’s coveted People’s Choice Award (see below for the movie that beat it out!)
• It’s the perfect film to watch alongside the original, which is also getting a theatrical re-release this week – see below to read more!

I Play Rocky is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Miguel Bernardeau, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, Antonio de la Torre, Natalia de Molina, Albert Pla, Yenesi Suárez, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Daniel Ibáñez, Julio Torres, Mona Martínez, Nuria Mencía, Hugo Welzel, María Morales, Alberto Cortés, Antonio Dechent

CREW: Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (directors, writers, producers), Jorge Pezzi (producer), Raül Fernandez Miró (composer), Gris Jordana (cinematographer), Alberto Gutiérrez (editor)

PLOT: In 1932, 1937 and 2017, the lives of three gay men – including closeted young Carlos (Quifes), trumpeter turned soldier Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente), and neurotic historian Alberto (González) – become unexpectedly intertwined…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The Spanish phenomenon that has swept the film festival circuit – including its crowning as the People’s Choice Award winner at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival – is a riveting cinematic experience
• Its ambitious multi-year queer narrative is heavily inspired by the works of Federico García Lorca, with the film borrowing its title from the legendary poet and playwright’s unfinished work of the same name
• The cast is full of heavy-hitting talent, including Oscar-winner Penélope Cruz as a vital supporting character, screen veteran Glenn Close in her first Spanish-language role, and musician Guitarricadelafuente who makes one hell of an acting debut as one of the leads
• Filmmaking duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, collectively known as Los Javis, sadly ended their 13-year relationship during the production of this film, which deals with poignant yet heartwarming LGBTQ+ themes
• It’s said to be a major contender during this year’s awards race, so keep an eye out for this glorious epic that’s unlike any other you’ve yet seen!

La Bola Negra is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Richard E. Grant, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Adrian Rawlins, Karl Pilkington, Nigel Planer, Ann Mitchell, Dave Johns, Dustin Demri-Burns, Harriet Webb, Beau Thompson, Jim Broadbent, Alex Macqueen, Chris Boyle-McQuarry

CREW: Jack Spring (director, producer), Chris Boyle-McQuarry (writer), Andy Brunskill (producer), Jeremy James Hunt (composer), Nedria Dmytro (cinematographer), Robin Hill and Ash White (editors)

PLOT: Aubrey Flint (Bradley) is a reclusive artist and lifelong Christmas cynic who is sentenced to community service at a failing retirement home, where he is roped into directing an amateur production of A Christmas Carol…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• It’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, and this winning British festive comedy should do the trick nicely!
• Director and producer Jack Spring brings to live a heartfelt script by actor-turned-screenwriter Chris Boyle-McQuarry, who also has a small role in the film
• There’s a fine collection of acting thespians throughout the rest of the cast, including Richard E. Grant, Celia Imrie, Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, and Game of Thrones veteran John Bradley in the title role
• Just like the classic play that the characters are attempting to bring to life, there’s a powerful story of confronting the ghosts of our past and learning to live for both the present and future
• Now that the countdown to Christmas is officially on, you’ll do no better than to start your journey with a plentiful addition to the festive film line-up!

Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Ranbir Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Yash, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Indira Krishnan, Sonal Jha, Adinath Kothare, Nitish Sharma, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Anupam Kher, Vivek Oberoi, Harish Uthaman, Kunal Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Sheeba Chaddha, Shishir Sharma, Ajinkya Deo, Mukesh Tiwari, Sonia Balani, Riya Kapoor, Surabhi Das, Shobana, Faisal Malik, Parminder Chhada, Saurabh Sachdeva, Kanchan Chetal, Chetan Hansraj, Kiara Sadh, Dishita Sehgal

CREW: Nitesh Tiwari (director, writer), Shreyas Jain and Shridhar Raghavan (writers), Rohan Desai, Namit Malhotra and Merzin Tavaria (producers), James Newton Howard, A.R. Rahman, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and Hans Zimmer (composers), Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye (cinematographers), William Hoy and Huzefa Lokhandwala (editors)

PLOT: Prince Rama (Kapoor), the heir apparent to the kingdom of Ayodha, embarks on an epic quest after being forced into exile following a forbidden marriage…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The classic Sanskrit epic poem is adapted into a massive cinematic event that’s too big for one single movie – this is only part one of a planned two-parter!
• At a total cost of 4,000 Indian crore, which in US dollars amounts to a whopping $415 million, this is by far the most expensive Indian production in history, as well as one of the costliest movies ever made
• Visionary filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari combines groundbreaking effects with a soulful rendition of the timeless story with all the gods and monsters left intact
• It’s a more than worthy companion piece to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and may even outdo that film in terms of its scale and scope
• With the second part already deep into production, there’s more than enough material within this mesmerising first half to appease moviegoers everywhere until its completion

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Rhys Ifans, Laura Linney, Monica Dolan, Rory Kinnear, Leah Byrne, Danielle Galligan, Nicholas Asbury

CREW: John Madden (director), Paul Mayhew-Archer (writer), Hilary Bevan Jones and John Gore (producers), Thomas Newman (composer), Danny Cohen (cinematographer), Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (editor)

PLOT: Tony (Ifans), a British primary school deputy head, and Emma (Linney), an American musician, are strangers who suddenly find themselves simultaneously diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and form a friendship as they struggle with their new condition…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Human connection proves to be immune against the devastating effects of Parkinson’s in this tender drama that takes you on a serious emotional rollercoaster
• Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney are excellent together as they navigate the setbacks of their little understood condition, which they perform with passion without becoming too exploitative
• It’s directed by John Madden, who previously worked on the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel films, and written by The Vicar of Dibley co-creator Paul Mayhew-Archer who has Parkinson’s himself
• A characteristically moving score by film music legend Thomas Newman, who’s done everything from American Beauty to Finding Nemo, helps to refine the feelings you’ll experience throughout
• Whether you’ll laugh or cry (or even both), you’re in for a true gut-punch that sheds light on an under-looked disease

Onwards and Sideways is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Pawel Lawrynowicz, Radoslav Gavlas, Arnaud Binard, Féodor Atkine, Heino Ferch, James Faulkner, Predrag Bjelac, Pawel Delag, Pavlina Nemcova, Pavel Kriz, Anna Ctvrtnickova, Tomas Petracek

CREW: David Balda (director, writer, producer, cinematographer), Marketa Hrubesova (writer, producer), Vladimir Koubenec (producer), Jakub Kudlác (composer), Kaufmanová Olina (editor)

PLOT: After an omnipresent threat is unleashed across the world by an elite underground organisation led by the manipulative Master (Lawrynowicz), former apostle Matteo (Gavlas) teams with investigative journalist Ivan (Binard) to uncover just how powerful the Master has become…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This timely Czech thriller dives deep into the unstoppable forces that are shaping our society comfortably from the shadows
• It’s an impressively ambitious follow-up feature for filmmaker David Balda, whose debut feature Pomsta was made and released when he was only 18 years old, making him one of the youngest directors working today!
• The film hits on eerily relevant modern topics such as surveillance, misinformation, class warfare and general discontent by foreign powers in attempts to destabilise international democracies
• It presents a story that will easily win audiences over with its nail-biting intensity and emotional poignancy
• For lovers of independent cinema, this is one that deserves its grassroots supporters who can help turn it into a big enough hit for the filmmakers

Manipulation is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Ronni Ancona, John McCrea, Natalie Quarry, Jack Bandeira, Ben Bela Böhm, Oscar Hoppe, Ollie Maddigan

CREW: Richard Hawkins (director, writer), Nick O’Hagan and Poppy O’Hagan (producers), Sarah Cunningham (cinematographer), Alexander Snelling (editor)

PLOT: In 1943, a group of disparate people living on a remote Orkney island are assigned a secret mission by the British government to create a series of pornographic propaganda films to boost morale on the battlefield…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The screwball wartime hilarity of Dad’s Army meets the provocative dysfunctionality of Boogie Nights in a unique British comedy that offers something very different
• BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Richard Hawkins directs and writes a raunchy period satire that tickles more than just the funny bone
• Everybody’s Talking About Jamie stage star John McCrea is one of the many lively performers in a mesmerising ensemble cast
• Expect some titillating scenes of nudity (a given, due to its subject matter) alongside heavier themes which highlight some of the most outstanding tragedies of the Second World War
• It’s an unusual comedy that explores an extreme answer as to how far some people will go to serve their country during times of conflict

Think of England is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Israa

CREW: Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes (directors, producers), Will Anderson, Raney Aronson-Rath, James Bluemel and Andrew Palmer (producers), Simon Russell (composer), Will Pugh (cinematographer), Iain Pettifer and Alec Rossiter (editors)

PLOT: A young girl name Israa accompanies her family as they flee war-torn Syria for a new life in Germany, where she faces the next ten years navigating adolescence and cultural identity…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This powerful coming-of-age documentary takes after Richard Linklater’s Boyhood by showing its young central subject grow and develop right in front of our eyes
• Award-winning filmmaker couple Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes capture young Israa as she experiences the highs and lows of her and her family’s refugee status
• The film picked up the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary section at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and has been gaining more and more critical acclaim ever since
• Audiences get to witness the young girl blossom into womanhood amidst a politically charged climate where there are no easy answers or resolutions
• It’s a film which so flawlessly captures life in all its glory, making it something that is, to use its very title, one in a million!

One in a Million is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Hannah Walters, Daniel P. Lewis, James Nelson-Joyce, Chanel Cresswell, Kelly Condron, Debi Doy, Poppie Jae Hughes, Angela Lonsdale, Connor McIntyre, Sonny Walker

CREW: Ruth Carney (director), Daniel P. Lewis (writer, producer), Carley Armstrong, Colin Cromby and Shaun Robinson (producers), Alexander Rudd (composer), Daniel Patrick Vaughan (cinematographer), Russell Beeden (editor)

PLOT: Grace (Walters) is a crisis helpline volunteer who forms an unlikely bond with Walter (Lewis), a deeply isolated man suffering from severe mental health after enduring a life of misery…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This bleak drama tugs at the heartstrings as it explores a tender friendship between two people connected by their shared sense of isolation
• Hannah Walters, the award-winning producer of Adolescence, and Daniel P. Lewis (who also wrote the screenplay) share an emotional on-screen connection where they literally phone in their connection
• As we see the horrific abuse these central characters have been subjected to, you desperately want them to find peace away from their severe troubles
• Lewis’s script tackles heavy themes of abuse, addiction, mental health and the trauma that can result from all of them combined
• If you’re after a good cry, but also something with a vague sense of hope, you’ll find this to be a satisfying kitchen-sink drama with excellent performances and poignant writing

Amazing Grace is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Jeon Do-Yeon, Sul Kyung-Gu, Zo In-Sung, Cho Yeo-Jeong, Jo Yu-Ri

CREW: Lee Chang-Dong (director, writer, producer), Oh Jung-Mi (writer), Lee Joon-Dong, David Levine and Chadwick Prichard (producers), Jung Jae-Il (composer), Kim Ji-Yong (cinematographer), Kim Da-Won (editor)

PLOT: Ho-Seok (Kyung-Gu), a laid-off metal welder, and his wife Mi-Ok (Do-Yeon) are pursued by ambitious documentarian Ye-Ji (Yeo-Jeong) and her wealthy husband Sang-Woo (In-Sung) who want them to be the subjects of her latest film, only for both couples to come face-to-face with the different desires in their lives…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong returns with his first film in six years, after the critically lauded Burning, and it may be his most accomplished feature to date
• It explores the emotionally deep interconnection between two very different yet very similar couples who each find themselves at some unexpected junctions in their relationships
• At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the film was a runner-up for the International People’s Choice Award, and it went home with both the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival
• With it also being South Korea’s entry for the upcoming International Feature Film Oscar, it has a real shot at becoming the first film from that country to be nominated since Bong Joon-Ho’s masterpiece Parasite
• Early reviews have praised the film for its complex themes, powerful performances, and artistic filmmaking that captures the contained drama across its near three-hour runtime

Possible Love is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Thomas Haden Church, Milo Ventimiglia, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Tilly, Mary Steenburgen, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Rebecca Staab, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Lucia Morris, Lisa Chandler, Zac Santiago, Princess Davis, Brooke Lena Johnson, Dean Redman, Filip Fufezan, Ethan Loomis, Denzel Brooks, Kendall Gender, Greta Gloag, Carter Seddon, Oskar Neudorf, Austen Seddon

CREW: Cathryn Michon (director, writer), W. Bruce Cameron (writer), Dan Angel, Jane Charles and Michael G. Nathanson (producers), Igor Jadue-Lillo (cinematographer), Ryan Patrick Brennan (editor)

PLOT: Winstead (Church) is a sage basset hound who witnesses the emotional turmoil of his human family, including patriarch Sander Goss (Quaid), in the lead-up to Christmas…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Christmas is very literally going to the dogs in the latest film adaptation of author W. Bruce Cameron, the creator of A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Way Home
• Once again, a lovable canine is at the centre of a crowd-pleasing story about family and holiday cheer, this one voiced by Oscar-nominated actor Thomas Haden Church
• The human cast includes screen legend Dennis Quaid (who coincidentally also starred in A Dog’s Purpose), Heroes alumni Milo Ventimiglia, and Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen
• Expect loads of festive imagery combined with some sweet-natured scenes that the dog easily steals from under his co-stars’ noses
• Along with this week’s cinematic release Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint, it’s the perfect way to begin the countdown towards December 25th!

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Wednesday 4 November 2026

CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Thayer David, Joe Spinell, Jimmy Gambina, Tony Burton, Pedro Lovell, Stan Shaw, Jodi Letizia, Frank Stallone, Joe Frazier

CREW: John G. Avildsen (director), Sylvester Stallone (writer), Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler (producers), Bill Conti (composer), James Crabe (cinematographer), Scott Conrad and Richard Halsey (editors)

PLOT: Rocky Balboa (Stallone), a working-class boxer in Philadelphia, is given a rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Weathers), which turns out to be life-changing for him…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• One of the most popular sports movies of all time is going the distance once more on the big screen for its landmark 50th anniversary
• Director John G. Avildsen’s film marked the breakout project for actor and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone, whose winning underdog story captured the hearts and minds of audiences across the world
• Made on a significantly low $1 million budget, the film became an instant box office and critical hit (a story which you can watch unfold in and of itself in this week’s I Play Rocky)
• It went on to win three Oscars, including Best Picture which it scored over competing films All the President’s Men, Network and Taxi Driver (what a stacked year that was!)
• Five decades and several sequels, spin-offs and imitations later, it remains a true winner in every sense of the phrase

Rocky is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026

CAST: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Stephen Fry, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinéad Cusack, Natasha Whiteman, John Standing, Eddie Marsan, Clive Ashborn, Guy Henry, Imogen Poots

CREW: James McTeigue (director), Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski (writers, producers), Grant Hill and Joel Silver (producers), Dario Marianelli (composer), Adrian Biddle (cinematographer), Martin Walsh (editor)

PLOT: In a dystopian future London, Evey Hammond (Portman) crosses paths with V (Weaving), a mysterious Guy Fawkes mask-wearing vigilante who seeks to ignite a revolution against the totalitarian government…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Remember, remember, the 5th of November, for that marks the 20th anniversary of the modern dystopian classic which still carries eerie relevance to this day
• Director James McTeigue brought to life the thought-provoking script by The Matrix creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski, adapted from the graphic novel by Alan Moore (who, in typical Moore fashion, declined to have his name attached to the movie)
• Natalie Portman makes a fine audience avatar opposite Hugo Weaving’s V, with the Matrix actor replacing original performer James Purefoy midway through filming
• It became a critical and commercial success, and even inspired waves of anti-establishment activists who used the striking Guy Fawkes mask of its titular hero as a symbol for anarchy against fascism
• Even with all that removed, this is still an entertaining Orwellian thriller with exciting action, smart commentary, and some unforgettable imagery

V for Vendetta is showing in cinemas from Thursday 5 November 2026

CAST: Gong Li, He Saifei, Cao Cuifen, Kong Lin, Zhou Qi, Jin Shuyuan, Ma Jingwu, Cui Zhihgang, Chu Xiao, Cao Zhengyin, Ding Weimin

CREW: Zhang Yimou (director), Ni Zhen (writer), Chiu Fu-Sheng (producer), Naoki Tachikawa and Jiping Zhao (composers), Lun Yang and Fei Zhao (cinematographers), Yuan Du (editor)

PLOT: In 1920s China, nineteen-year-old Songlian (Li) is forced to marry the wealthy Master Chen (Jingwu), who has several other wives whom he regularly decides among them to spend the night with, igniting a fierce battle for his attention…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The revered historical drama by filmmaker Zhang Yimou (who would later make the iconic wuxia pieces Hero and House of Flying Daggers) returns to cinemas for its 35th anniversary
• An adaptation of the novella of the same name by Su Tong, the Chinese-Hong Kong co-production featured an emotionally devastating psychological battle that is brilliantly portrayed by Gong Li in a major breakthrough performance
• It received high critical acclaim upon its release, with the film winning the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival as well as the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language, and was even nominated for the equivalent Oscar
• Today, it is regarded by critics and audiences as being one of the best films to have ever come out of mainland China, with a legacy so strong that it even inspired a stage production by the National Ballet of China
• It’s a gorgeous and complex story filled with fantastic production values, many of which more than hold up to this very day

Raise the Red Lantern is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026