National Cinema Day 2023: US Celebrations and UK Date Revealed
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY (US) - 27 August
For the second year, The Cinema Foundation brings National Cinema Day to US theatres on Sunday, 27 August. Building on last year’s success, National Cinema Day presents $4 discounted admissions for every movie, every showtime and every format (including premium large formats such as IMAX and Dolby) at participating US theatres. Held at more than 3,000 participating locations with more than 30,000 screens across the country, the one-day event arrives on a weekend with something for every moviegoer. New films opening alongside current box office hits such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, include Gran Turismo, Golda, The Hill, Retribution, Bottoms, and in some markets, independent titles such as Scrapper. Recent family hits making a return for the event include The Super Mario Bros. Movie and a Sing-Along version of Disney’s live action The Little Mermaid. Classic re-releases include anniversary titles such as Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, which is celebrating 30 years with a return to cinemas in 3D, and American Graffiti, George Lucas’ coming of age study in early rock ‘n’ roll cruising culture, which turns 50 this year.
“Following the rousing success of the first annual National Cinema Day, we welcome everyone to join us for the communal experience of one of America’s favourite pastimes: moviegoing,” The Cinema Foundation’s President Jackie Brenneman said in a press release. “We look forward to gathering at the movies and celebrating an exciting slate of new releases and classics, from beloved family favourites and outrageous comedies to thought-provoking dramas and thrilling adventures. There’s something for everyone. Let’s all go!”
Owned by the Corwin family since 1923, Los Angeles based Metropolitan Theatres is celebrating 100 years in exhibition. With locations in California, Colorado, and Utah, the chain is ready to welcome guests for National Cinema Day. David Corwin, President of Metropolitan Theatres, shared with Film Review, “We’re excited to be participating in National Cinema Day to bring guests to our theatres for a day that celebrates moviegoing, and offers people the chance to see a new release or a family favourite on the big screen and in the various formats we offer such as IMAX, D-BOX and MXL. It’s a way to rejoice in the cinematic experience as a community, and lets us say thank you to our guests.”
Visit NationalCinemaDay.org/ for a list of participating theatres near you.
For National Cinema Day, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also released an homage to the movie going experience via movies within movies, sharing, “Moviegoing is both a shared experience and one of personal ritual that is so beloved, movies themselves depict it.”
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY (UK) - 2 September
As the US celebrates, UK’s Cinema First announces today that cinemas across the UK will once again offer everyone the chance of a cinema visit for just £3 under the banner of National Cinema Day on Saturday, 2 September. Over 630 venues have signed up to participate in the event, following the hugely successful first edition in 2022. Those participating include all major UK cinema operators and a wide range of smaller cinema operators and venues. Last year’s National Cinema Day, the first in almost 30 years, saw almost 1.5 million admissions, around three times the normal level, as people came together to help celebrate UK cinema-going, the country’s most popular out-of-home leisure activity.
National Cinema Day comes hot on the heels of the phenomenal recent success of Barbie and Oppenheimer, the release of which saw the highest level of weekly UK cinema admissions in over a decade, demonstrating that nothing compares to the sights, sounds and immersive experience of watching a film in the cinema.
Like last year, National Cinema Day 2023 has been developed by the cross-industry body Cinema First and is supported by the Film Distributors’ Association and the UK Cinema Association. Ahead of the event, Iain Jacob, Chair of Cinema First, shared, “There seems no better time than now to celebrate UK cinema-going, one of the nation’s favourite out-of-home leisure activities. Coming off of the back of recent box office successes and the huge profile they have given to the sector, we wanted to give everyone a chance to enjoy the big screen experience. While all the evidence confirms that cinema-going is amongst the most low-cost, best value-for-money leisure opportunities, we also of course recognise that many households are still experiencing significant impacts on their finances and wanted to do our bit to make a trip to the cinema even more affordable for the whole family.”
Vue Entertainment is the largest privately owned cinema operator in Europe, with more than 850 screens across 91 cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. Toby Bradon, the General Manager of Vue UK and Ireland, said: “Nothing quite compares to seeing a film on the big screen, which is why we’re thrilled to see the experience celebrated with National Cinema Day.”
Further information on National Cinema Day, along with details on the UK cinema sites participating, can be found at the National Cinema Day website NationalCinemaDay.uk
Happy National Cinema Day!
CHAD KENNERK
