Film fans across Ireland and Edinburgh can secure cinema tickets for as little as €4 and £4 on September 5 and 6, during an expanded two-day National Cinema Weekend that follows single-day events. Almost every venue in Ireland and participating Vue cinemas will offer the heavily discounted admission across new releases and classic re-releases.
Expansion to a Full Weekend Follows Success
What started as a one-day outing that regularly drew massive crowds has officially grown. Previous National Cinema Days proved so popular in Ireland, pulling in over 200,000 admissions across a single day, that the film industry made the decision to extend the initiative this year to take in a full weekend. Moviegoers will now have two full days—Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6—to take advantage of the promotion.
The scale of participation matches the ambition. Around 99% of cinemas across Ireland are taking part, with participating locations in every county. In Edinburgh, Vue venues are matching the spirit of the event by dropping prices across all films and seats.
What’s Playing: From Blockbusters to Milestone Re-Releases
The programming spans a wide spectrum of cinematic offerings. Irish audiences can catch high-profile new releases including The Incomer starring Domhnall Gleeson; The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman; Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars; Insidious: Out Of The Further; Coyote vs. Acme and I Want Your Sex starring Olivia Wilde. The lineup also features special preview screenings of Bad Apples starring Saoirse Ronan, alongside music documentaries like Celtic Utopia and Everybody Digs Bill Evans.
Over in Edinburgh, Vue cinemas are highlighting major summer hits such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey and Toy Story 5. Families can also find throwback favorites including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, Cars, and the animated musical David.
Adding a local milestone to the schedule, Cork classic The Young Offenders will be re-released on National Cinema Weekend to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Stars Alex Murphy and Chris Walley shared their enthusiasm for the communal viewing experience.
“We think there’s nothing like the magic of going to the movies.”
Alex Murphy and Chris Walley, via echo live
The actors added that the shared communal experience of enjoying films as they were meant to be seen – on the big screen with a captive audience, is one of our favourite things to do.
Local Venues and Regional Participation
Across Cork, a broad roster of independent and multiplex cinemas are throwing open their doors for the promotion. Participating venues include Arc Cinema Cork, Omniplex Mahon Point, The Reel Picture in Blackpool and Ballincollig, Triskel Arts Centre, and cinemas in Midleton, Clonakilty, and Bantry.
Accessibility remains a core focus of the weekend. Participating locations have arranged additional screenings, including sensory screenings and subtitled and captioned screenings. In Edinburgh, film fans looking for open captioned screenings can look for the OC accessibility attribute before booking.
Upgraded Seating and Premium Screens at Discounted Rates
The pricing structure does not exclude premium viewing formats. In Edinburgh, Vue is applying its £4 flat rate to screenings on its largest screens, known as EPIC by Vue, which features HDR by Barco and Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Moviegoers can also upgrade to ultra-luxurious seating options without paying standard surcharges. The promotion covers Ultra Lux seating, which includes independent leg rests, extra-wide armrests, personal tables, and wine coolers, as well as soft leather Lux recliners equipped with foldaway tables.
Industry Backing and How to Secure Tickets
The nationwide initiative receives major institutional support from Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. Chief Executive Désirée Finnegan emphasized the cultural significance of the event in recognizing local audiences.
“Screen Ireland is proud to support National Cinema Weekend, which is set to be a fantastic celebration of cinema, in recognition of Irish audiences and their continued support for Irish film on the big screen. With such a wide range of films available to choose from as part of the initiative, we hope audiences across the country can find new Irish stories to connect with this year.”
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland, via echo live
This National Cinema Weekend, we want to celebrate the big screen experience by giving back to our audiences, Chester stated.
Tickets for the weekend can be purchased online and directly at box offices. Irish moviegoers can check www.cinemaweekend.ie or their local cinema for specific schedules, while Edinburgh audiences can consult www.myvue.com or the official Vue app.
