You Have To See It On The Big Screen

Some films work just fine on your TV, or even on your phone. But some just cry out for the acreage of a big screen, immersive surround sound, and the gasps of fellow audience members. Scale and spectacle combine to create a pure form of cinema. And when those films get the right treatment, they can lift you into a magical space that you can’t experience anywhere else.

Those are the movies we’re going to be featuring in this special season. If you haven’t seen them before, now’s your chance to catch them in the way they were always meant to be seen. And if you’ve only seen them on the small screen, come and get a different perspective.

We’re presenting nine of the most thrilling big-screen extravaganzas of all time, starting in 1st week. Sci-Fi, Historical Drama, War, Westerns and Musicals all feature. And every single one is a masterpiece.*

Entry is COMPLETELY FREE, and each screening will include one of our by-now-legendary introductory talks.

All sessions will take place at Magdalen’s 160-seat auditorium, which features a large, 5-metre screen, 4K projection and surround sound. Our regular slot is Monday evenings at 7pm.

Magdalen Monday Movies is open to everyone over the age of 18 (not just members of the University). Even the popcorn is free. You can book up to ten tickets per event, and you can come back here to add bookings later in the season. Just click the link on the right of the screen.

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This term we also have two special events.

On Saturday 19th October, in partnership with the Oxford Humanities Cultural Programme, we welcome world-famous composer Max Richter, who will introduce his own music/visual hybrid 90 Minutes of Sleep. Tickets for this will be announced closer to the date.

And on Hallowe'en we'll be celebrating the spookiest night of the year with one of the most joyous films on a horror theme of all time, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Cosplay is optional but warmly welcomed.

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Here are the films we are showing – with handy IMDB links if you want to dig a little deeper.

(1968) - 1st week - Monday 14 October 2024, 7pm

From the Dawn of Man to Beyond the Infinite. One of the trippiest films ever made still has some of the greatest special effects of all time. Open the pod-bay doors, Hal.

90 MINUTES OF SLEEP - 1st week - Saturday 19 October, 8pm

Max Richter introduces his own revolutionary work, Sleep. Bring a pillow. Nodding off in this event is recommended.

(1966) - 2rd week - Monday 21 October 2024, 7pm

Music and action have never combined to such effect as in this massive, cheeky anti-Western from Sergio Leone. And Clint Eastwood has never looked cooler. Two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. We're gonna have to earn it.

(1979) - 3rd week - Monday 28 October 2024, 7pm

A US army assassin goes on a secret mission in the raging madness of the Vietnam War. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness translated into modern America. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Hallowe'en Special:

(1975) - Thursday 31st October 2024, 7pm

Come and join Janet, Brad, Frank N. Furter and their unconventional conventionalists to start off your Hallowe'en celebrations with a blast. Madness takes its toll.

(1952) - 4th week - Monday 4 November 2024, 7pm

Possibly the most joyful movie ever made also has some of the best songs and dances too. And it’s all about cinema, so where better to see it? If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin’.

(1998) - 5th week - Monday 11 November 2024, 7pm

The film that rewrote the rules on how to depict warfare on screen. The opening 40 minutes are so intense, you'll feel as though you're landing on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Keep the sand out of your weapons. Keep those actions clear. And I'll see you on the beach.

(1954) - 6th week - Monday 18 November 2024, 7pm

A humble village in 16th-century Japan is being terrorised by bandits. Who they gonna call? Find hungry samurai. Even bears come down from the mountains when they are hungry.

(1977) - 7th week - Monday 25 November 2024, 7pm

The other great space movie from 1977 is much more complex, innovative and thrilling than Star Wars. Basically, it’s a far better movie. But don’t take my word for it. Just book. He says the sun came out last night. He says it sang to him.

(1957) - 8th week - Monday 2 December 2024, 7pm

Sweat, blood and stiff upper lips abound in David Lean’s epic about human endeavour in a POW camp during World War II. This is war! This is not a game of cricket!

(1979) - 9th week - Monday 9 December 2024, 7pm

Before all the sequels, crossovers and cash-ins, Alien was a standalone sci-fi-horror masterpiece, with not one but two groundbreaking lead female roles. It also has the most famous movie tagline of them all, and with good reason. In space, no one can hear you scream.

Host or Publisher Peter Kessler