Our final weekend of Planetarium screenings in 2024 starts with a double bill of classics from 1999, as they celebrate their 25th anniversaries. First up is Brad Bird’s magical and moving directorial debut, The Iron Giant. Inspired by Ted Hughes’ novel, it’s a powerful story that balances glorious sci-fi action with moments of pathos and joy that will leave you glowing.
Our second sci-fi selection from 1999 at the Planetarium this December is the original Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace. Debate over the prequels still rages, but if you’re a millennial then memories of podracing, John Williams’ score and that lightsaber battle surely stir some deep-rooted emotions. Search your feelings; you know it to be true.
Due to massive demand, we’ve added another date! Join us for an exceptional evening in Averys Wine Cellars celebrating the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece sequel. This special Vintage Screening will include a tasting of six Sicilian and southern Italian wines throughout the film, as well as a Godfather-inspired buffet meal during the interval courtesy of Toff’s Pasta.
Perfect for the whole family, enjoy the heartwarming story of The Polar Express, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!
Join us for a special screening of this adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved novel; it was one of the first films to use stop-motion animation, and had a monumental impact on genre filmmaking as far forward as Jurassic Park. It will be accompanied by a live, entirely improvised organ recital by the award-winning composer Dr. David Bednall, blending silent cinema with live music to create a unique performance that promises to add another dimension to this remarkable film.
Just in time for Valentine’s weekend date night, we’re pleased to present a screening of the cult romcom 10 Things I Hate About You. Julia Stiles and the late, great Heath Ledger are great fun as the odd couple in this high school spin on The Taming of The Shrew - so we’ll be pairing the film with wines from locations in Shakespeare plays…!
This March we’re dedicating an evening to a double bill of two of the more eccentric entries into the sci-fi canon, starting with a 20th anniversary screening of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Douglas Adams himself co-wrote the script shortly before his death, and the ensemble cast is bolstered with cameos and nods back to the both the radio & TV series (under-30s, ask your grandparents).
Does life begin at 40? Tell that to the Brat Pack characters of cult classic coming-of-age film St Elmo’s Fire! With its standout ensemble cast and killer 80s soundtrack, it’s a timeless ode to the chaotic transition into adulthood. We’ll be pairing it with some wines that are similarly coming of age, to prove that patience is a virtue in the winemaking world!
Our second ‘eccentric sci-fi’ screening this March is Terry Gilliam’s dystopian dark comedy Brazil. This surreal, Kafkaesque satire has proven hugely influential, with everything from Batman to Star Wars paying tribute since its release - it’s consistently ranked among the greatest British films of all time, and some of its themes are as relevant as ever four decades on.
To start our 2025 Vintage Screenings, we’re bringing one of our favourite films back to Averys just in time for its namesake celebration - it’s the one and only Groundhog Day! In keeping with the time loop theme, we’ll be tasting wines that are all from the same family - you’ll keep hearing the same name again and again, but each new wine has its own unique twist…!
Join us this Spring at a very exciting new location - Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Our first screening there is a 25th anniversary screening of the coming-of-age comedy-drama Billy Elliot. Jamie Bell’s stunning, award-winning debut performance as the eponymous boy who wants to learn how to ballet dance is still a tour de force, and a highlight of 21st Century British cinema.
Our double bill of Ron Howard films continues with a double milestone. Not only is his Oscar-winning biopic Apollo 13 turning 30 this year, but we’re screening it on the 55th anniversary of the launch of the real-life mission. It’s a remarkable adaptation of a nail-biting true story, that deserves to be seen on the Planetarium’s big screen!
This deliriously entertaining misadventure movie is full of spectacle while placing its tongue firmly in its cheek; Arnie delivers one-liners that’d make Roger Moore’s 007 groan with a straight face and more explosions than a NYE firework display. We’re pairing this 40-year-old firecracker of a film with South American wines, in honour of the fictional in-film nation of Val Verde.
1985 was a fantastic year for film, and we’re celebrating another 40th birthday at Averys with the 80s teen smash hit The Breakfast Club, which helped to launch the careers of “the Brat Pack”. We’ll be pairing wines with the characters from the film in a personality-based match-up!
This May we’re bringing a double bill of British sci-fi nostalgia to the Planetarium, starting with a 60th anniversary screening of Dr. Who & The Daleks. This early reimagining of the classic show stars Hammer/Star Wars legend Peter Cushing as the titular Doctor, on a misadventure that brings him face to face with his most legendary foe…
Turn up the hi-fi this May for a 25th anniversary screening of High Fidelity, the romantic comedy-drama based on Nick Horby’s beloved novel. John Cusack leads a cast full of excellent cameos and a story full of great music, with a breakout turn from Jack Black straddling both. For the first time at a Vintage Screening, we’ll be pairing it with some wines inspired by music…!
This May we’re travelling back a quarter of a century, to a time when superhero blockbusters hadn’t reached peak saturation, with the first X-Men film! This was the first silver screen outing for the team of mutant superheroes, and introduced the world to Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Halle Berry’s Storm - oh, and some singer/actor called Hugh Jackman as Wolverine…
