What Happened
Movie lovers are in for a massive treat this weekend as National Cinema Weekend kicks off across the country. For the first time, the popular initiative has expanded into a full two-day event, running on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6.
Around 99% of cinemas nationwide are taking part, covering participating venues in every single county. The massive participation follows the overwhelming success of previous single-day events, which routinely pulled in more than 200,000 admissions in just 24 hours.
What's Playing
Audiences can catch a diverse lineup featuring brand-new releases, exclusive previews, celebrated Irish titles, and major studio favorites. Ticket prices start at just €4 at participating locations.
The schedule includes highly anticipated previews and features such as:
- The Incomer starring Domhnall Gleeson
- Saoirse Ronan's Bad Apples
- Hugh Jackman in The Death of Robin Hood
- Ridley Scott’s Dog Stars
- Coyote vs. Acme
Local storytelling also takes center stage. A strong lineup of Irish titles features The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin), Báite, Celtic Utopia, and Gar O’Rourke’s wartime documentary Sanatorium. Additionally, the comedy hit The Young Offenders returns to the big screen to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Nostalgic fans can also catch classic re-releases, including The Lobster, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Cars, and select entries from The Hunger Games franchise.
Why It Matters
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan praised the initiative, emphasizing Ireland's strong position in European box-office metrics.
"Ireland has one of the highest rates of cinema-attendance per capita in Europe," O'Donovan said. He acknowledged local cinema operators and workers for keeping community spaces vibrant and culturally connected.
Beyond standard programming, participating venues will also host specialized sensory, subtitled, and captioned screenings over the weekend to ensure accessibility for all moviegoers. Supported by Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, audiences are encouraged to check local listings directly for specific showtimes and booking details.
