Cinema in Manchester and the North

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

Christmas is coming, you just have to look at the film listings at your local cinema. From HOME’s nostalgia-inducing new film season, to CULTPLEX’s Christmas mash-up and FACT’s mouthwatering festive feast, there’s no mistaking the fact that Santa’s on his way.

As mentioned, HOME are appealing to 90s kids this year, with a set of films that includes everything from Home Alone to Jurassic Park to Hook. Meanwhile, at Manchester’s CULTPLEX, they’ve set out to prove that “Christmas film” is a broad church, with snowbound zombie flicks, sat alongside yuletide classics and The Office Christmas Specials. Over in Liverpool, FACT get festive with a season of food on film that captures the spirit of the season without laying on too much tinsel.

There’s also a bit of old Hollywood glamour in the air it seems. In Sheffield, Showroom brighten up the winter darkness with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in Charade. Need more star wattage? In Leeds, Hyde Park Picture House have two Marilyn Monroe musicals scheduled to ring in the New Year.

Our top picks

Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell and Pressburger at HOME

Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell and Pressburger at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 14 December 2023, from £9.15 - Book now

HOME joins cinemas across the country in a UK-wide, BFI-backed celebration of the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Highlights include a discussion with triple Academy Award-winner Thelma Schoonmaker, who will talk about her late husband Michael Powell’s life and career.

HOME

Out of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein at Manchester Jewish Museum

Out of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein at Manchester Jewish Museum, Manchester, 3 December 2023, from £11.00 - Book now

Head to Manchester Jewish Museum to see the multi-award winning documentary film tracing the extraordinary life of the pioneering street photographer.

Out of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein at Manchester Jewish Museum
Image courtesy of Fred Stein Photography.

Christmas Film Season at CULTPLEX

Christmas Film Season at Cultplex, Manchester, 2–30 December 2023, from £6.00 - Book now

CULTPLEX take a thrillingly broad approach to their Christmas film programme, with everything from The Office Christmas Specials, to Die Hard and Cocaine Bear for you to choose from.

CULTPLEX

Back to the 90s: A Christmas Season at HOME

Back to the 90s: A Christmas Season at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 9–22 December 2023, from £9.15 - Book now

HOME court the millenial nostalgia market with this cosy selection of 90s classics.

HOME

A Festive Feast at Picturehouse at FACT

A Festive Feast at FACT, Liverpool, 10 December 2023–1 January 2024, from £8.00 - Book now

Festive films without the tinsel. Gorge yourself on this mouthwatering season of food on film in Liverpool.

Picturehouse at FACT

Charade at Showroom Cinema

Charade at Showroom Workstation, Sheffield, 17 December 2023, from £10.30 - Book now

Charade is an early Christmas treat scheduled as part of Showroom’s Spotlight series featuring some of the cinema staff’s favourite films.

Charade

It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME

It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 17–23 December 2023, from £9.15 - Book now

It’s a tradition for a reason. Jimmy Stewart is back again this year in this stone cold Christmas classic.

Image courtesy of HOME

NYE Double Bill with Marilyn at Hyde Park Picture House

NYE Double Bill with Marilyn at Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds, 31 December 2023, from £15.00 - Book now

Ring in the New Year with Hollywood royalty at Hyde Park Picture House.

Hyde Park Picture House

More cinema events

CinemaLiverpool
Charade at Showroom Cinema

Over in Sheffield this December, Stanley Donen’s Charade is an early Christmas treat scheduled as part of Showroom’s Spotlight series.

from £10.30
CinemaManchester
It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME

This ultimate feel-good, festive favourite, from Oscar-winning director Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as despairing businessmen George Bailey. HOME present their annual screenings.

from £9.15
Spotlight on

Things to Do in Cumbria

Our guide to the best things to do in the Cumbria and the Lake District, including Penrith, Kendal, Carlisle, Keswick and Cockermouth.

Take me there

Cinema in Manchester and the North

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Now back open with a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

The Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield
Gallery
The Hepworth Wakefield

Winner of the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is easily one of the leading cultural highlights of the North.

Culture Guides

Music in Manchester and the North

Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.