Cinema
Hollywood or Bollywood. Classic or blockbuster. Birmingham cinema gives you film at its finest. Of course, we have a great choice of spacious and welcoming multiplex cinema, offering wonderful choice every night of the week. But there’s more. Like the UK’s oldest working cinema - the beautiful Electric. Or the 3D experience of the huge, huge, huge IMAX. Or art house cool at the MAC. Popcorn at the ready.
Great cinemas are right at our centre. Such as in the Arcadian. And on New Street itself. Plus we’ve many more options right around town. There’s Vue at Star City; one of the biggest cinemas complexes in the world, with its 30 screens.
But multiplexes aren’t half of Birmingham’s difference. A real sensory overload, nothing comes close to the IMAX experience. The screen is as high as a five storey building and as wide as a queue of four buses. When showing in 3D, it’s an awesome sight. And sound (with 42 speakers of digital surround sound).
At the other end of the scale is the magical Electric Cinema. Welcome to the oldest working cinema in the UK. But, opened in 1909, the refurbished Electric is not short on home comforts with its luxury sofa seating, waiter service and full bar. What better way to enjoy independent and intelligent mainstream films. Plus they’ve real surprises now and then; such as old favourites like Jaws accompanied live (yes live) by 22 members of the Electric Cinema Film Orchestra.
At the Midlands Art Centre, (currently being refurbished) see the most compelling output from the world of art house; all in a marvellous venue that’s a real cultural melting pot. Just across town, the Piccadilly has the finest Asian cinema, while places like Cineworld or Vue at Star City also show a regular programme of Bollywood’s best.