Before I start this story—why am I talking about London cinemas?—I used to work at a film distribution company in Japan (luckily, I even met Bong Joon Ho!). I eventually decided to leave, but I still admired films. One of my dreams was to watch films without subtitles, which made me want to explore a lot of cinemas in London. (I was working part-time, so I had plenty of time to do it.)
Before I came here, I was really sure: “I just need to go to the cheapest cinema if I want to watch films.” To be honest, I didn’t really understand how to choose a cinema in London, as cinema prices were almost the same in Japan.
But London cinemas have different deals. People go to the cinema to pay for the experience of watching ‘rare’ films! Running a cinema is always a business, of course. I’ll let you know some of my favorites.
First choice: BFI Southbank
It is owned by the BFI (British Film Institute). I’d say BFI Southbank is not just a cinema but also a cultural facility. There’s a library and a film archive, and they run the LFF (London Film Festival), where you can watch many celebrities.
Tickets start at £16, but they have an Under-25 discount and membership, which gives you priority access to the LFF. Their lineup is unique, and they often show directors’ retrospectives thanks to their film archive. Furthermore, they frequently hold director Q&As, which really attracts film lovers.
Next choice: Prince Charles Cinema
Earlier this year, this beloved cinema—named after the king, of course—was on the verge of closing. But they proved how much they are loved by people!
You can watch many classic films here and join film marathons (the recent programme was Twin Peaks!) and all-night screenings. If BFI has a cultural perspective, Prince Charles is for the nerdy, local cinéphiles. (Excuse me? That’s all compliments, in my opinion!)
Others:
Rio Cinema, The Castle Cinema (Charli XCX said “Here’s my favorite cinema” in an interview, although I’ve never seen her there. I did have a birthday party there, by the way!), and maybe Genesis Cinema… “To support local cinema” could also be one of the biggest reasons people go.
Rina