WELCOME
MARCH / APRIL 2026
It’s spring, where magic is in style and
The fashion world trembles. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt return to settle the score on who rules Runway in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The makers of Fisherman’s Friends are back, too, brewing another feel-good hit with Mother’s Pride. Disney and Pixar go wild with Hoppers, then Nintendo and Illumination take things interstellar, rocketing all of your favourites – plus some new players – into a nextlevel adventure in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Ryan Gosling goes galactic on a crazy, out-of-this-world adventure in Project Hail Mary, while Michael brings the most famous moonwalker’s story to the big screen, with Jaafar Jackson starring as the King of Pop.
Step into the impossible as Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s tales come alive in The Magic Faraway Tree, with a cast so star-filled it feels like pure make-believe.
Another literary classic gets twisted into something wickedly new as Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale star in The Bride! Reminders Of Him becomes the next Colleen Hoover novel to leap from page to screen, after It Ends With Us and Regretting You, while romance gets even more complicated for Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in The Drama. This season, the runway leads straight to the cinema, where style meets spectacle – and there’s so much you must see.
Lee Curtis Editor
7 WHAT’S ON The unmissable new releases hitting the big screen in March and April.
ROLL CREDITS:
Astoria Cinema, Ayr Capitol, Bodmin New Central, Torquay Embassy, Ilfracombe Flora, Helston Kings, Kingsbridge Merlin, Thurso New Carlton, Okehampton Phoenix, Falmouth Regal, Redruth Movieplex, Cromer Pavilion Cinema, Galashiels
Cinema, Weston-super-Mare Royal, St Ives Savoy, Penzance Scala, Prestatyn Strand Cinema, Rhyl Studio, Coleford The Regent, Redcar The Ritz, Penzance Tivoli, Tiverton Wellesley, Wellington www.merlincinemas.co.uk
4 2
The eyes have it! Name the eight famous faces that appear in an upcoming film. ANSWERS 1 3 7 ? ? 5 6 8
1. Ryan Gosling / 2. Meryl Streep / 3. Mario (Chris Pratt) / 4. Nicola Coughlan
5. Jaafar Jackson / 6. Elijah Wood / 7. Margaret Qualley / 8. James Buckley
Let’s talk about The Cinema Club
If you love seeing fantastic films in the cinema then this is the club for you!
Every year we will select some of the best films set to hit the big screen and our members will be able to see them at half the standard adult ticket price.
Our aim is to surprise and delight you with unforgettable films - some that you’re looking forward to and some that you never knew you wanted to see!
You can use The Cinema Club membership at participating cinemas nationwidecheck the website for a full list of locations.
CLUB
THE UNMISSABLE NEW RELEASES
A FAMILY WITH A PINT TO PROVE
MOTHER’S PRIDE
IN CINEMAS 6 MARCH
Director Nick Moorcroft / Starring Martin Clunes, James Buckley, Mark Addy, Gabriella Wilde / Genre Comedy, Drama
The fine folk who brought you Fisherman’s Friends and Finding Your Feet are raising the bar once again with another fresh, frothy British crowdpleaser, Mother’s Pride.
Writer-director duo Nick Moorcroft and Meg Leonard reunite for a heady, heartfelt story of the Harley family, who, after losing their beloved matriarch, must come together to save their pub and village through the art of beer-brewing.
The feel-good film brings together an ensemble cast overflowing with beloved favourites from British film and television, including Doc Martin’s Martin Clunes, The Inbetweeners’ James Buckley, Better Man’s Jonno Davies, Poldark’s Gabriella Wilde, The Full Monty’s Mark Addy, A Street Cat Named Bob’s Luke Treadaway, and comedianactors Miles Jupp and Josie Lawrence, among many others.
Hoppers
IN CINEMAS 1 MARCH
What if you could talk to animals and understand what they’re saying? In Disney and Pixar’s all-new animated comedy adventure, scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! Animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use this technology and uncovers mysteries within the animal world far beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
The Land Of Sometimes
IN CINEMAS 20 MARCH
After summoning the mysterious Wish Collector, twins Alfie and Elise are whisked away on a magical, musical journey. Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Alisha Weir, Asa Butterfield, Mel Brooks, and Terry Jones all feature in the animated adventure’s all-star voice cast.
THE PERFECT HEIST NEEDS THE PERFECT DISTRACTION
FUZE
IN CINEMAS 3 APRIL
Director David Mackenzie / Starring Aaron Taylor Johnson, Theo James, Sam Worthington / Genre Action, Crime, Thriller
Central London is thrown into panic by the discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb on a construction site. Under the cover of a chaotic, widespread evacuation, a gang of criminals lies in wait, ready to execute an audacious heist.
From David Mackenzie, the acclaimed director of four time Oscar nominated Hell Or High Water, comes an original, non stop action thriller that fuses the nerve wracking, edge of your seat tension of a bomb disposal drama with the pulse pounding excitement of a classic heist thriller.
Aaron Taylor Johnson stars as Major Will Trantor, a war veteran and bomb expert called in to support police efforts. Opposite him, Theo James is Giorgos “G” Karalis, a member of a criminal gang determined to exploit the crisis. Fuze sets two electrifying British talents on a collision course, though far more is unfolding beneath the surface. Also caught in the chaos, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Saffron Hocking, Elham Ehsas, and Sam Worthington complete the explosive ensemble.
IN CINEMAS 1 MAY
Twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily, and Nigel, they’re back! Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the even sleeker offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation.
Midwinter Break
IN CINEMAS 20 MARCH
A trip to Amsterdam becomes life‑changing for a long‑term couple when old memories resurface in a stirring exploration of faith, commitment, and enduring love, starring Academy Award and BAFTA‑nominees Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds.
The Bride!
IN CINEMAS 6 MARCH
Director Maggie Gyllenhaal / Starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal / Genre Horror, Romance
A lonely Frankenstein’s Monster travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr Euphronious to create him a companion. Together, they resurrect a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. What follows is wilder, darker, and far beyond what they ever imagined in a bold new take on one of the world’s most famous stories. Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale ignite the screen as outlaw lovers in a wild, combustible romance!
Michael
IN CINEMAS 24 APRIL
Director Antoine Fuqua / Starring Jaafar Jackson, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo / Genre Biography, Drama, Musical
From the director of Training Day and the producer of Bohemian Rhapsody, comes the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. See Michael Jackson as never before in a film that charts his rise, from the discovery of his extraordinary talent to the visionary artist whose creative ambition drove a relentless pursuit to become the world’s greatest entertainer.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
IN CINEMAS 1 APRIL
Directors Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic / Starring Chris Pratt, Anya-Taylor Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Brie Larson, Benny Safdie / Genre Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Family
From Nintendo and Illumination – the powerhouse behind Despicable Me, Minion, Sing, The Secret Life Of Pets, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie – comes the highly-anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all-time. With the Mushroom Kingdom saved and Bowser contained, the all-star voice cast reunites as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad blast off on a cosmic adventure where they’ll encounter otherworldly new friends and foes. Rosalina, Birdo, Bowser Jr, and Yoshi are among the beloved Nintendo characters joining this next-level adventure. There’s a whole galaxy just waiting to be explored. Let’s-a go... again!
Project Hail Mary
IN CINEMAS 14 MARCH
Directors Phil Lord, Christopher Miller / Starring Ryan Gosling / Genre Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As memories return, he begins to recall his solitary mission: figure out what’s causing the sun to die out and save everything on Earth from extinction. But in the loneliness of deep space, an unexpected friendship means that he may not have to do it alone.
The Magic Faraway Tree
IN CINEMAS 27 MARCH
Director Ben Gregor / Starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie, Rebecca Ferguson, Jennifer Saunders / Genre Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Adapted from Enid Blyton’s best-selling children’s classic by Simon Farnaby, the beloved story follows Polly, Tim, and their three children – a modern family forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. As they adapt to their new lives, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot, and Saucepan Man. At the top of the tree, they’re transported to spectacular and fantastical lands and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learn to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.
THE GALAXY AWAITS THE MAGIC WILL BE REVEALED
LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY WHAT HAPPENED TO KATIE?
IN CINEMAS 17 APRIL
Director Lee Cronin / Starring Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, Veronica Falcón / Genre Horror
Hot off the record-setting resurrection of Evil Dead Rise, acclaimed writer-director Lee Cronin joins forces with the studio behind Weapons and producers James Wan and Blumhouse to unleash a terrifying new vision of one of the most iconic horror stories ever told. In the audacious, twisted retelling, the young daughter of a journalist vanishes into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she’s returned to them... yet what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
How To Make A Killing
IN CINEMAS 13 MARCH
Glen Powell stars as a working-class outsider disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family. In this darkly comic thriller, he will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives are in his way.
The Good Boy
IN CINEMAS 20 MARCH
A man goes to extreme lengths to reform a local hooligan in a razor-sharp, twisting psychological thriller starring Stephen Graham, Anson Boon, and Andrea Riseborough.
Hokum
IN CINEMAS 1 MAY
When a reclusive novelist retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he’s drawn into a nightmare sparked by the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting it.
Reminders Of Him
IN CINEMAS 13 MARCH
Director Vanessa Caswill / Starring Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Lauren Graham / Genre Drama, Romance
After seven years behind bars, Kenna returns home hoping to reunite with the daughter she’s never known. When all of her attempts are blocked, she finds unexpected comfort in former NFL star turned bar owner, Ledger. As their secret romance deepens, Kenna is pulled toward the second chance she longs for in the latest adaptation of a book by Colleen Hoover, the bestselling author of It Ends With Us and Regretting You.
Scarlet
IN CINEMAS 13 MARCH
Director Mamoru Hosoda / Starring Mana Ashidam Masaki Okada, Kôji Yakusho / Genre Animation, Fantasy
Scarlet, a sword-wielding princess from a war-torn medieval kingdom, sets to avenge her father’s death – but fails. Awakening in a mysterious afterlife, she meets an idealistic young man from the present who challenges her thirst for vengeance. Now she must decide: cling to hatred, or discover a life beyond revenge in a powerful, timebending animated adventure from the visionary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Mirai.
They Will Kill You
IN CINEMAS 27 MARCH
Director Kirill Sokolov / Starring Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph / Genre Action, Comedy, Horror
Zazie Beetz stars as a desperate woman who answers a cryptic ad for a live-in housekeeper at a luxurious yet foreboding New York City high-rise. Upon arrival, she uncovers the building’s sinister history: residents have vanished for decades, fuelling whispers of a demonic cult lurking in the shadows. As night falls, she’s thrust into a fight for survival inside the cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, desperate to avoid becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humour. Producer Andy Muschietti, the director of IT, unleashes a blood-soaked, highoctane horror-action-comedy that also stars Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette.
California Schemin’
IN CINEMAS 10 APRIL
Director James McAvoy / Starring Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley / Genre Biography, Drama
Based on the improbably true story, the film follows aspiring Scottish MCs Gavin and Billy as they devise an audacious scheme to achieve their dream of a record deal, by posing as Californian hip hop artists. As fame beckons and the lies pile up, their friendship is put to the test. The directorial debut of James McAvoy stars Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, and McAvoy himself.
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come
IN CINEMAS 20 MARCH
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett / Starring Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton / Genre Comedy, Horror
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game – and this time with her estranged sister Faith at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to direct a sequel to their surprise hit, with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace. Kathryn Newton joins the fray as Faith, leading a killer lineup of new faces including horror icons Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, and David Cronenberg.
Glenrothan
IN CINEMAS 17 APRIL
Director Brian Cox / Starring Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson / Genre Comedy, Drama
After thirty-five years in America, Donal returns to his family-owned whisky distillery in the Scottish Highlands to make amends with his estranged brother Sandy and save the business before it’s too late. Legendary actor Brian Cox makes his directorial debut with this tense drama about family and forgiveness, featuring fellow Scottish legends Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson.
You & Me & Tuscany
IN CINEMAS 10 APRIL
Director Kat Coiro / Starring Regé-Jean Page, Halle Bailey, Isabella Ferrari, Nia Vardalos / Genre Comedy, Romance
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page star in a delicious romantic comedy about one little lie, one large Italian villa, and two people getting lost in the sauce of love. A chance meeting with a wealthy Italian sends Anna off to Italy to crash at his empty villa – but when his mother shows up unexpectedly, she pretends to be his fiancée. Things spiral fast when his cousin Michael arrives, and Anna feels a spark that just might change everything.
The Sheep Detectives
IN CINEMAS 8 MAY
Director Kyle Balda / Starring Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Bryan Cranston / Genre Comedy, Mystery
Hugh Jackman stars as George, a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night – never imagining they understand a word. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep become detectives in their own woolly whodunnit. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers. The witty, new, never-before-seen breed of mystery film features a starstudded flock, including Nicholas Braun, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nicholas Galitzine, Chris O’Dowd, Molly Gordon, Bella Ramsey, Regina Hall, Brett Goldstein, Hong Chau, Rhys Darby, Patrick Stewart, and Emma Thompson.
The Drama
IN CINEMAS 3 APRIL
Director Kristoffer Borgli / Starring Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Mamoudou Athie / Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
Just days before they say “I do,” a picture-perfect wedding week goes off the rails when an unexpected turn of events puts a happily engaged couple to the test. From the director of Dream Scenario and producer Ari Aster, comes the wedding event of the year, with Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as fated lovers in a darkly comic romantic drama. Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, and Hailey Gates feature on the guest list.
Mortal Kombat II
IN CINEMAS 8 MAY
Director Simon McQuoid / Starring Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Hiroyuki Sanada / Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Bringing the blockbuster video game franchise back to the big screen in all its brutal glory, the next instalment of Mortal Kombat takes the action to the next level. This time, the fan favourite champions – now joined by Johnny Cage himself –are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders. Karl Urban steps into the spotlight as Johnny Cage, alongside Adeline Rudolph’s Kitana and Tati Gabrielle’s Jade as exciting newcomers joining the fight. Returning cast members include Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, Tadanobu Asan, and Hiroyuki Sanada.
UNCAGED FURY
NEW BREED OF MYSTERY
Streep. Hathaway. Blunt. They’re back on fashion’s fiercest battlefield with claws sharp, comedy cutting, and
stakes sky-scraping, reminding the world that the 2006 sensation was never just a moment.
WORDS CHLOE HOWARD
The Devil Wears Prada 2
IN CINEMAS 1 MAY
Director David Frankel / Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt / Genre Comedy, Drama
Bright-red Valentino Rockstud heels click-clacking through the offices of Runway Magazine can mean only one thing: Miranda Priestly is back. Meryl Streep returns as the fearsome editor-in-chief of the New York fashion bible – dripping in unmistakeable icy chic.
But Runway is wobbling in its stilettos. Miranda may have one eye on retirement, but she’s not the type to bow out quietly.
Despite her shock decision to walk away from the job a million girls would kill for, Miranda’s trusted
assistant Andy Sachs – played by Anne Hathaway – is seemingly back at her side. They’ve got history, to put it mildly, but the power dynamic is different.
And if one awkward reunion isn’t enough, Emily Blunt is back. Miranda’s one-time favourite assistant is now a major fashion force, who might just have the ad budget – and influence – to save Runway, or take it.
Expect every scene to strut with the energy of a catwalk: bold, dramatic, and impossible to look away from.
The cast will knock your designer socks off. The iconic trio prove they’re never out of season, Stanley Tucci’s Nigel returns with more razor-sharp sass and wisdom, and Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, and Justin Theroux join the lineup like new looks on a couture runway. Add in style icons Sydney Sweeney and Lady Gaga, and this sequel is shaping up to turn heads.
House Of Gucci
Based on a true story, Lady Gaga leads a stylish tale of deceit, murder, and betrayal that comes with marrying into the Gucci family, revealing the dark underbelly of high fashion and the designer’s dark past.
Zoolander
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson go poutto-pout as rival models in a gloriously absurd parody of the fashion world. Pairing silly humour with a spy story is a bold look, but it works.
Confessions Of A Shopaholic
Isla Fisher’s Rebecca Bloomwood can’t resist the pull of designer labels, but her love of luxury comes with mounting debt and escalating chaos. Now, she must face her shopping addiction head-on… but can she style her way out?
HEIR-RAISER
Glen Powell is an heir willing to do whatever it takes in a riotous dark-comedy thriller where fortune favours the ruthless.
How To Make A Killing
IN CINEMAS 13 MARCH
Director John Patton Ford
Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris / Genre Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and The Running Man have crowned him the new prince of action, but Glen Powell is trading popcorn blockbuster for prestige as another wicked game begins.
Redfellow is a name that carries weight… at least for those who weren’t disowned at birth. Technically, Powell’s Becket is heir to an unimaginable fortune. Practically, there’s one problem, well… seven. Seven relatives that stand between him and billions.
Becket has accepted his life far from the luxury that should’ve been his birthright. At least until Margaret Qualley’s alluring Julia slips back into his life and sparks a terrible idea: maybe he doesn’t have to wait.
Will And Testament
Eat The Rich
Inequality shapes the cultural mood; film and tv respond with sharpened satirical knives. From major motion pictures to small-screen juggernauts Succession and The White Lotus, “each the rich” is today’s flavour.
Saltburn
An Oxford student obsesses over his wealthy classmate’s world of privilege. One summer, at the family’s estate, he goes to any – and we mean any – length to taste it.
Glass Onion
A private island. A billionaire host. A murder mystery only Benoit Blanc could solve. Rian Johnson’s whodunnit puts wealth, ego, and excess into a perfectly engineered puzzle box.
The Menu
Taking the theme deliciously literal, Ralph Fiennes is a one-of-a-kind chef with the most exclusive guest list imaginable – one people would kill to get on. Sweet revenge is served.
PRINT NAME & DEPARTMENT
Signature
Ryan Gosling gets a close encounter of the peculiar kind while on a mission to save the world before all light goes out. WORDS LEE CURTIS
Project Hail Mary
IN CINEMAS 14 MARCH
Directors Phil Lord, Christopher Miller / Starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Ken Leung / Genre Sci-Fi
They launched the Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Jump Street, LEGO, and the Spider-Verse franchises. Now, Lord and Miller are taking us out of this world with an adaptation of The Martian author Andy Weir’s bestseller.
The sun is dying. Humanity’s –no, the entire galaxy’s – days are numbered. Somehow, a science teacher has become our only hope.
The Martian sent Matt Damon to Mars, surviving alone while finding a way home. Ryan Gosling’s Ryland Grace wakes up from hypersleep to find himself even further from home, alone, and with more than just a headache.
Aboard the Hail Mary, lightyears away, he must use all his knowledge to figure out what’s stopping another star from dimming like ours.
Ryland might seem highly unqualified, but this isn’t Gosling’s first flight to the stars – he’s got astro pedigree from Blade Runner 2049 and First Man, and he’s preparing for lift-off in Star Wars: Starfighter after completing this solo mission.
Only, Ryland isn’t alone. He’s made contact with an extraterrestrial companion: a rocklike alien he nicknames “Rocky.” After solving their small problem of how to communicate, he learns Rocky’s been sent on exactly the same mission – and together, they set out to solve their biggest problem of all.
What follows is a story of the unlikeliest of friendships – a sci-fi epic with emotional gravity and playful humour in its orbit.
CO-PILOTS
After creative differences grounded their Solo: A Star Was Story, Lord and Miller are finally back in the director’s chair for their first film since 2014 – a comeback that’s long been written in the stars. The duo burst onto the scene with Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, where a scientist – much more qualified than Ryland – invents a machine to save his town from a flavourless, sardine-filled fate. 21 and 22 Jump Street and The LEGO Movie followed before they stepped away from directing, but not from storytelling. As producers and creative forces, they’ve helped steer sequels, spin-offs, and some recent favourites, including Storks, Smallfoot, Cocaine Bear, and Spider-Man Into and Across The Spider-Verse. In short, everything they touch is awesome.
▲ SCAN ME ▲
▼ CLICK ME ▼
AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES
Discover timeless magic as Enid Blyton’s cherished childhood stories become a bigscreen family adventure made to be treasured across generations. WORDS
The Magic Faraway Tree
IN CINEMAS 27 MARCH
Director Ben Gregor / Starring Nicola Coughlan, Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy / Genre Adventure, Fantasy
Pop Cakes. Toffee Shocks. Google Buns. Just a taste of the whimsical delights awaiting young Beth, Joe, and Fran Thompson – and you – in a fantastical family adventure from Simon Farnaby, the writer of Wonka and the Paddington sequels.
After relocating to the countryside, the children finally discover fun away from devices and Wi-Fi when they climb a magical tree in a nearby wood and explore dreamy, everchanging worlds waiting at the top.
As Enid Blyton’s pure imagination bursts onto the big screen, a parade of beloved characters springs to life. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy star as parents Tim and Polly Thompson, with Jennifer Saunders as Grandma. As for the magical, Nicola Coughlan delights as quirky fairy Silky, welcoming the children to the tree and its eccentric residents: Nonso Anozie’s Moonface, Dustin Demri-Burns’
where Sirs Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, and Lenny Henry portray magical beings. There’s not a bad one among them… well, apart from the Land of Dame Snap! Buckle up and pray you don’t end up there as you set off toward whichever land awaits atop The Magic Faraway Tree…
Worlds
collide as fighters from Earthrealm and Outerworld assemble for the Mortal Kombat tournament in the second instalment of the ultimate blockbuster beat ‘em up. Round Two… Fight! WORDS ADAM MATULEWICZ
Mortal Kombat II
IN CINEMAS 8 MAY
Director Simon McQuoid / Starring Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Josh Lawson, Hiroyuki Sanada / Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller
Earth’s finest fighters prepare for battle once more as the ultimate tournament finally begins.
When the dark forces of Outerworld defeated Earthrealm for a ninth time, our fate was all but sealed. Now, Shao Khan and his legion of bad guys are poised to claim flawless victory –and with it, the ultimate prize: total control of the planet. Earthrealm needs champions stronger than ever.
Unfortunately, all hope rests on the shoulders of one very reluctant hero: Johnny Cage. Karl Urban brings one of the most infamous video game antiheroes to life; a washed-up Hollywood star who must channel every ounce of ego and stunt training
to uncover the real hero within. In Earthrealm’s corner, he’ll fight alongside Tadanobu Asano’s thunder god, Lord Raiden; Josh Lawson’s laser-eyed mercenary, Kano; Jessica McNamee’s Spec Ops agent, Sonya Blade; Mehcad Brooks’ mech-armed, Jax; Lewis Tan’s MMA fighterturned-hero, Cole; Hiroyuki Sanada’s legendary Scorpion; and more.
Ready up for a second round of high-octane action as one of the biggest video game franchises smashes back onto the big screen in all its bloody and brutal glory.
The tournament is about to begin… get over here!
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SUB-ZERO KANO JOHNNY CAGE
CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER!
Harsh movie critics are one thing, now struggling Hollywood actor Johnny Cage must use all of his martial arts training – and bottomless arrogance – to help Earth’s champions face their biggest threat yet. It’s showtime!
KITANA
Hailing from the lush realm of Edenia, Kitana was forced into exile after her planet’s tenth defeat. In Outerworld, she became a deadly assassin as the adopted daughter of emperor Shao Khan. Think Gamora – with steel fans and a vendetta.
SHAO KAHN
The tyrannical ruler of Outerworld and the ultimate final boss. With godlike strength and mastery of the dark arts, Shao Kahn is ready to conquer Earthrealm once and for all. But not if our heroes can FINISH HIM!
DRAM GOOD
Two brothers, one distillery, a reunion that’s anything but neat. Brian Cox and Alan Cumming are brothers at odds in a thistle-sharp love letter to Scotland.
WORDS LEE CURTIS
Glenrothan
IN CINEMAS 17 APRIL
Director Brian Cox / Starring
Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson / Genre Comedy, Drama
If you’ve seen Succession, you know Brian Cox as Logan Roy, the formidable patriarch of the Roy empire who never waters anything down. Now, he’s pouring another drop of dysfunctional family drama, one that’s much closer to home.
A proud son of Scotland, the stage-and-screen legend has enjoyed an extraordinary career. Yet in his late seventies, he’s ageing like a fine single malt and still finds new ground to break as he makes his directorial debut with a tender, tense drama blended with unfiltered Scottish spirit.
Joining him is fellow Scotsman Alan Cumming – BAFTA-winner, Emmy magnet, Tony darling, and now the mischievous face of the US version of The Traitors.
Together they play Sandy and Donal, brothers estranged for almost forty years. One stayed to keep the family’s famous whisky flowing; the other fled to America for a different life. Now, Sandy looks to step down as long-serving chairman and sees his younger brother as his successor. But Donal’s long overdue homecoming isn’t exactly neat on the nose and his inheritance plans don’t quite measure up.
If Donal can’t be swayed by the strength of a restored brotherly bond, perhaps the rekindling of an old flame will. Shirley Henderson plays Jess, the woman he left behind, whose presence stirs longburied feelings.
Alexandra Shipp completes this feel-good film’s fine cast as Donal’s daughter, Amy, who hopes this belated reunion might finally smooth things over. After all, things are often better late than never.
From Scotland With Love
Local Hero
Bill Forsyth’s whimsical, quietly profound classic sees an American oil executive sent to buy a tiny Scottish village, only to be disarmed by its charm, its people, and the land itself.
Trainspotting
If Glenrothan is a feel-good love letter to Scotland, Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel is anything but. It’s a raw, kinetic story of addiction and recovery in Edinburgh, but a good, urgent message beats at its heart: choose life.
Sunshine On Leith
Named after Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, this vibrant jukebox musical follows two soldiers’ post-war journey from misery to happiness. Set to the soaring songs of The Proclaimers, it’s a kilt-twirling celebration of love, friendship, and Scotland.
Two Dundee dreamers are making it by faking it in wild spin on a true story that marks James McAvoy’s directorial debut. WORDS LEE CURTIS
California Schemin’
IN CINEMAS 10 APRIL
Director James McAvoy / Starring Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday, James McAvoy / Genre Biography, Drama
Gallus – Scots slang for bold, daring, cheeky, reckless.
Look it up in the dictionary and you’ll also find two unlikely Dundee lads who embody it: Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, dreamers determined to make it as rappers.
Sadly, they’re laughed out of auditions and told nobody wants Scottish rap… so, they flip the script. Reinventing themselves with fake American identities and dodgy accents, they launch a hustle for the ages. The wildest part? Their remix works!
Silibil N’ Brains shatter the glass ceiling. The duo once dismissed as “the rapping Proclaimers”
are suddenly proclaimed the next Dre, Snoop, Eminem – the lot. Record deals roll in. They share stages with their hip-hop heroes. They’re living the dream, so long as they can keep up their act.
It sounds like a tall tale, but it’s actually loosely based on a true story – one so outrageous it grabbed James McAvoy and pushed him to make a gallus move of his own. After years onscreen, the BAFTA-winner finally fulfils a dream of his own by stepping behind the camera to direct for the very first time.
McAvoy also jumps on the track with a role of his own in this wild story of ambition and identity that’s best experienced on the big screen, where the beat is loud and larger-than-life.
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IF YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR NEW ADVENTURE, “THIS IS THE WAY”
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
IN CINEMAS 22 MAY
Director Jon Favreau / Starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White / Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The Mandalorian and Grogu embark on their most thrilling mission yet in Lucasfilm’s all-new Star Wars adventure.
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Djin Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
Series creator Jon Favreau directs, with Pedro Pascal stepping back into the armour for the duo’s first-ever bigscreen adventure. Their legend deepens as powerful new allies and foes emerge, including Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt.
Supergirl
IN CINEMAS 26 JUNE
Director Craig Gillespie / Starring Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Jason Momoa / Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When an unexpected and ruthless cosmic adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
DC Studios’ newest big-screen adventure sees Milly Alcock take full flight as Superman’s chaotic cousin, starring alongside Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
Masters Of The Universe
IN CINEMAS 5 JUNE
Director Travis Knight / Starring Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Idris Elba / Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The director of Kubo And The Two Strings and Bumblebee brings the legendary action franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for fifteen years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies and embrace his true destiny as He-Man – the most powerful man in the universe.
Toy Story 5
IN CINEMAS 19 JUNE
Directors Andrew Stanton, McKenna Harris / Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee / Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
The toys are back – and this time, it’s Toy vs Tech! When Bonnie receives a Lilypad – a high-tech, frogshaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee – Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang’s lives get exponentially harder when they go head-to-head with this all-new threat to playtime. Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 reunites the iconic voice cast –including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and Tony Hale – who welcome some exciting new stars.
Disclosure Day
IN CINEMAS 12 JUNE
Director Steven Spielberg / Starring Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo / Genre Sci-Fi, Thriller
If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people. We are coming close to… Disclosure Day: a new, original event film from Steven Spielberg. The three-time Academy Award-winning director reunites with Jurassic Park writer David Koepp for a new groundbreaking cinema experience starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.
Animal Friends
IN CINEMAS 5 JUNE
Director Peter Atencio / Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn, Aubrey Plaza / Genre Adventure, Comedy
On the run across America, two fugitive animals become unlikely friends as they race to outsmart their pursuers in a live-action/animation hybrid adventure with an all-star cast.
Scary Movie 6
IN CINEMAS 12 JUNE
Director Michael Tiddes / Starring Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Regina Hall, Anna Faris / Genre Comedy, Horror
Back after nearly two decades, the Wayans brothers resurrect their beloved slasher-parody franchise for a highly-anticipated, hilarious sixth instalment – and no modern horror trend is safe.
Jackass 5
IN CINEMAS 26 JUNE
Director Jeff Tremaine / Starring Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jason “Wee Man” Acuña / Genre Action, Comedy
Four years after Jackass Forever, the old crew and new blood reunite to unleash their signature brand of low-brow pranks and high-risk stunts in another unforgettable cinema spectacle.
When their shepherd dies under suspicious circumstances, his loyal flock spring into action to crack the case in a family adventure unlike anything you’ve ever seen –or herd – before.
The Sheep Detectives
IN CINEMAS 8 MAY
Director Kyle Balda / Starring Jackman, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston Genre Comedy, Crime, Mystery
He may be best known as Wolverine, but Hugh Jackman has built a career on range, seeking out bold roles and interesting scripts. Be it prestige drama, romantic comedy, or even full-blown musical flair, his filmography is vast, varied, and proof he’s outstanding in his field.
TheMeetFlock
Mopple
IT Crowd legend Chris O’Dowd brings his comedic genius as Mopple, who finds himself far outside of his comfort zone and ready – just about – to finally face his fears.
Sebastian
He’s not quite Breaking Baa-d, but Bryan Cranston voices the literal black sheep of the flock, a charming, enigmatic rogue ram who’s willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.
And now, funnily enough, he’s out standing in a field as he adds another curveball to his career with The Sheep Detectives, a whodunnit with a woolly twist.
He stars as George Hardy, a passionate shepherd who reads murder mysteries to his flock every night. When his peaceful life ends in tragedy and he becomes the centre of his own whodunnit, his sheep
Goldstein, and Rhys Darby round out an ensemble that’s hard to bleat!
After years in the animated worlds of Despicable Me, Minions, and more, director Kyle Balda steps into liveaction for the first time with a very different creature –one the whole flock can enjoy.
Every investigation needs a lead detective and with the
WIN HOPPERS PRIZES!
Discover secrets of the animal kingdom in an outrageously original, action-packed comedy as Disney and Pixar bring the wild to the big-screen like never before.
In Disney and Pixar’s all‑new animated comedy adventure, fiery and passionate animal‑lover Mabel discovers that her favourite hometown beauty spot is under threat. Grabbing a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance, she uses a top‑secret new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver, allowing her to communicate directly with animals. As she uncovers mysteries in the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined, Mabel befriends charismatic beaver King George, and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major imminent human threat: smooth talking local mayor Jerry Generazzo. The remarkable voice ensemble features Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Vanessa Bayer, and Meryl Streep – an incredible lineup
Take a walk on the wild side with Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, only in cinemas from March 6th, and hop at the chance to win prizes from their brand new animated family adventure!
Just answer the following question to enter:
Q What animal does Mabel go undercover as?
Visit www.onscreen.online/win or scan the QR code to enter.
ONSCREEN ON THE GO!
Pavilion Cinema is under new ownership. Gift Cards issued before June 2025 by the previous owners will still be accepted here until their expiry date. Got questions? Get in touch by email: action@merlincinemas.co.uk
25 years of bringing the transformative power of cinema to NHS patients
WINNERS 2025
OUTSTANDING BRITISH
CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
EVENT CINEMA STAGE TO SCREEN
Exhibition On Screen: Turner & Constable from Tuesday 10 March
RBO 2025-26: The Royal Opera Siegfried from Tuesday 31 March
NT Live: All My Sons from Thursday 16 April SCAN ME for full listings, further information, and bookings.
RBO 2025-26: The Royal Opera The Magic Flute from Tuesday 21 April James Acaster: Cinemagoers Welcome from Thursday 26 March
