The Queen’s funeral will be shown in more than 150 theatres nationwide on Monday, and some will also broadcast her cortege to Westminster Hall this afternoon.
It has been confirmed by the movie theatre companies Curzon, Vue, and Arc that they would broadcast Her Majesty’s state funeral live on September 19 with no admission charge for anyone who wants to see it.
All other movies have been taken off their normal schedules, and the typical range of refreshments like popcorn, hotdogs, and desserts won’t be accessible.
The biggest chains in the UK, including Cineworld, Showcase, and Odeon, have all said they would not be offering the service and will be closed all day.
It happens at a time when many aspects of daily life will be disrupted on Monday as the nation stops to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last Thursday at the age of 96.
The majority of stores nationwide will be closed all day, while other cultural institutions like museums have also made the decision to close.
According to official government instructions, it is “at the discretion of individual organisations” whether or not to shut on the day of the state burial.
Although many movie theatres won’t be open at all on Monday, Variety says that 150 will screen her burial.
In addition to broadcasting the funeral on Monday, Vue has said that it would also broadcast her procession to Westminster Hall today afternoon.
According to a statement on its website, “We will be broadcasting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, live from 10am on Monday, September 19, in selected UK venues*.
The broadcast will be free to watch, and the only food and beverages available for purchase on this particular day will be complimentary bottles of water. We won’t be presenting the films from our typical schedule on this day.
Additionally, we will broadcast the London Procession live on Wednesday, September 14, starting at 1:30 pm, at most of our sites in the UK. All other screens will be open and presenting movie material as usual on this day.
“We look forward to uniting as a community to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life,” the statement reads.
Curzon and Arc, two other movie theatre companies, have decided to provide free screenings of the burial.
We have chosen to show Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral on Bank Holiday Monday, September 19, at 11am, according to an announcement by Arc on Twitter.
‘Although this programme is free, reservations are required for seats. While the funeral is being shown, there won’t be any other programmes.
Prior to starting its regularly scheduled programming on Monday night, Curzon announced that it will broadcast the burial.
As a gesture of respect, major chains including Cineworld, Odeon, and Showcase will close their locations on September 19.
On its website, Odeon stated: “Our theatres in the UK will be closed on Monday, September 19, as a gesture of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Automatic refunds will be issued for all tickets purchased for this day. Our reopening date is Tuesday, September 20.
‘Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Showcase Theaters will shut all cinemas nationally on Monday, September 19, to let our patrons and staff unite with the rest of the nation and pay their respects,’ said Mark Barlow, Showcase’s UK general manager. Our reopening date is Tuesday, September 20.
In the meanwhile, Cineworld announced that all of its UK theatres will be closed on Monday, September 19, the day of the royal burial, out of respect for HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. Soon, those who have booked reservations for this day will hear from us.
A statement on the website of Empire Cinemas, another company that will shut its doors, reads: “Throughout this time of Official Mourning we are continue to honour and cherish the life of Her Majesty the Queen.
“We will close our theatres on the day of the State Funeral to enable for everyone to pay their respects and to recognise this sombre event. Our regular hours will resume on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
Additionally, smaller theatre chains like The Light, which has sites in Cambridge, Sheffield, and Stockport, will shut its doors for the day.
Ticket to Paradise, a romantic comedy starring Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts, will now be released in the UK on September 20 rather than September 16, the day after the burial.
With Her Majesty the Queen’s demise, Universal, Working Title, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and director Ol Parker have all chosen to postpone the release of Ticket to Paradise in the UK, according to a Universal spokeswoman.
In order to show respect for the Royal Family and the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, they said, the movie would be released “after the Queen’s burial.”
The day of Her Majesty’s funeral, which has been declared a bank holiday, is not being made a mandatory closure by the government.
Organizations may decide to shut on the day of the State Funeral, but there is no need to do so; this is up to the discretion of individual organisations, according to official instructions.
In instance, if they are one of Her Majesty’s patronages, “as with other organisations,” these institutions “may choose to exhibit or share photos of prior Royal visits.”