“I’m not bad – I’m just drawn that way…”
The immortal words of Jessica Rabbit could apply to any number of iconic villains who have sought to tell their side of the story in recent years, from Maleficent to Cruella – and this week The Wizard of Oz’s cackling Big Bad says it with showtunes in Wicked.
While we’re rehabilitating green-skinned wrong’uns, I’d be up for an origin story for 80s children’s TV terror Grotbags and the roots of her long-simmering beef with Rod Hull and Emu.
Cate Blanchett as Grotbags, Dwayne Johnson as Hull? That’s the 2026 Oscars sewn up already…
New releases
Wicked
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in this eagerly-awaited big screen adaptation of the smash hit musical, which explains exactly how Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West became so, well, you know…
Erivo stars as Elphaba, a new student at Shiz University who finds herself ostracised because of her green skin – but when she meets the popular, ambitious Glinda (Grande), it’s the beginning of a relationship that will transform both their lives in ways neither could have imagined.
We won’t get to find out exactly what those ways are for another year – this is part one of two – but the trailer does promise us at least a glimpse of a flying monkey, and (in a role which I would assume involved little preparation beyond laying out his clothes the night before) Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard himself.
| Cert PG, 160 mins | |
| Cineworld, City Screen, Everyman, Vue | |
| From Fri Nov 22 | |
| More details |
CBeebies Panto 2024: Beauty and the Beast
Wicked isn’t the only all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza hitting the big screen this week, as the CBeebies team tread the boards once more for their annual festive shindig.
This cheerfully low-budget alternative to the histrionics of Erivo et al will keep younger viewers entertained courtesy of garden gnomes, mischievous wolves and a Titchmarsh-tastic earworm called Dig a Little Deeper.
All this, plus an appearance from Dodge T Dog and a special guest Gladiator! (It’s Steel from the TV show, apologies if I got your hopes up there Mescal fans…)
| Cert U, 70 mins | |
| City Screen (Sat 23rd), Vue (daily) | |
| From Fri Nov 22 | |
| More details |
Other screenings
Community cinema
Calling all nihilists, bums, and bowling fiends – Film at the Folk Hall have a screening of the ever-quotable The Big Leboswki this Friday, with a £2 discount on tickets for those in Dude-appropriate attire.
White Russians and Espresso Martinis will be available for you to enjoy as you cheer on the antics of Jeff Bridges’ haphazard hero in the Coen brothers’ classic slacker noir.
The film screens at the Folk Hall, New Earswick on Fri 22nd – tickets are £7, £6 for concessions or £5 for those who rock up in a robe; there are also some free tickets available for those who need them. Reserve your tickets directly from the hall to avoid online ticket fees – tickets will also be available on the door subject to availability.
Family-friendly films
“Am I a man, or am I a Muppet?” Jason Segel gets existential in this week’s Kids’ Club selection at City Screen, as 2011’s much-loved reboot The Muppets gets the gang back together on Sat 23rd (tickets £3.30).
Buffalo Kids is your budget viewing choice at Cineworld this weekend (Sat 23rd/Sun 24th, £2.50), while Vue are keeping it vulpine with 200% Wolf, screening from Sat 23rd to Tues 26th (£2.49).
It’s double-double Donaldson this week, with Everyman’s Toddler Club screening Tabby McTat & Stick Man on Fri 22nd and Sat 23rd (£6.25 child/£9.80 adult plus toddler), and Cineworld showing Room on the Broom & Superworm on Sat 23rd and Sun 24th (£5.00).
And if Red One failed to get you in the festive mood, there’s another caper themed around the personnel of the North Pole’s biggest employer this week in the form of The Magic Reindeer: Saving Santa’s Sleigh, which sees Prancer’s son eager to follow his dad into the family business (Vue, daily; Cineworld, Sat 23rd and Sun 24th; tickets standard price).
Culkin’s unwanted guests and Ferrell’s festive zest: old favourites back on the big screen
“Take your hands off my lobby boy!” City Screen’s season in honour of Searchlight Pictures concludes in fine style on Sun 24th with The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson’s supremely enjoyable tale of the exploits of Ralph Fiennes’ naughty-but-nice concierge and his hapless young protégé.
While other cinemas are still rooting around in the attic for the Christmas lights, Vue are ripping their celluloid selection box open early this week with screenings of Home Alone (Sun 24th, Tues 26th) and Elf (Sat 23rd, Mon 25th).
And finally, martial arts fans can catch an ESEA in Action screening of Bruce Lee’s 1972 classic Fist of Fury at City Screen on Weds 27th, showing in honour of the grandmaster’s birthday – and to get the party started, Britpop heroes Ash have kindly agreed to sing us out with their Bruce-referencing power-pop classic Kung Fu (I think it’s technically his brother who gets a mention, but close enough…).