For those with sensory difficulties and autism, the cinema experience can be a difficult environment to be in. Thankfully, these days, there are plenty of cinemas that have made adjustments, to make things more comfortable at the movies!
This isn't something brand new, in fact it's been happening for quite a number years! If you're not already aware, dimensions is a not-for-profit organisation, that supports those with disabilities and additional needs. So it's thanks to their work, that the below list is here. Huge credit to dimensions!
If you didn't know about this already, or perhaps weren't sure how it all worked... then here's some more information that might help you out.
What should you expect?
Cinemas will have their own list of adjustments, although most of them are identical. Staff are also trained in autism understanding!
By cutting out trailers, lowering the lights, turning down the volume and allowances to bring your own food and drink, the big screen movie magic can be enjoyed by more people. Additionally, if you're a CEA Card holder you can get free entry, when accompanying someone with a disability. For details on that - See here
What's on?
dimensions update the list found here quite regularly, although you may want to check out the cinemas web site directly, as this will likely be updated first. Movies change pretty much monthly, with a mix of new and older movies. For example: showcase had screenings of Elemental, How to train your dragon and the Barbie Movie, last month.
Cineworld’s autism-friendly adjustments include:
How can I book Cineworld autism-friendly cinema tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Cineworld’s autism-friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism-friendly screening and follow the booking process:
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. You can book tickets on ODEON’s website or at your local cinema.
The film’s name will be listed with “Autism friendly screening” before it so you know you’re booking the right one.
If you have a CEA Card and you’re booking online, you will need an online profile and to add it to the ‘Accessibility’ section of your details in ‘My ODEON’.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Showcase’s autism friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism friendly screening and follow the booking process:
Some Vue autism-friendly adjustments include:
How can I book Vue autism friendly cinema tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Vue’s autism-friendly screenings.
Select the film listed as an autism-friendly screening and follow the booking process:
On the Vue websiteVia the Vue Box Office on 0345 308 4620 (local rate number)At your local cinema.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Light cinema’s autism friendly screenings:
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Picturehouse’s autism friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism friendly screening and follow the booking process:
Free entry for carers
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Light cinema’s autism friendly screenings:
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Everyman’s autism friendly screenings:
This isn't something brand new, in fact it's been happening for quite a number years! If you're not already aware, dimensions is a not-for-profit organisation, that supports those with disabilities and additional needs. So it's thanks to their work, that the below list is here. Huge credit to dimensions!
If you didn't know about this already, or perhaps weren't sure how it all worked... then here's some more information that might help you out.
What should you expect?
Cinemas will have their own list of adjustments, although most of them are identical. Staff are also trained in autism understanding!
By cutting out trailers, lowering the lights, turning down the volume and allowances to bring your own food and drink, the big screen movie magic can be enjoyed by more people. Additionally, if you're a CEA Card holder you can get free entry, when accompanying someone with a disability. For details on that - See here
What's on?
dimensions update the list found here quite regularly, although you may want to check out the cinemas web site directly, as this will likely be updated first. Movies change pretty much monthly, with a mix of new and older movies. For example: showcase had screenings of Elemental, How to train your dragon and the Barbie Movie, last month.
Cineworld’s autism-friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card.
How can I book Cineworld autism-friendly cinema tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Cineworld’s autism-friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism-friendly screening and follow the booking process:
- On the Cineworld website
- Via the Cineworld Box Office on 0871 200 2000 (calls cost 12p per minute from a BT landline. Mobile and other providers may vary)
- At your local cinema.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. You can book tickets on ODEON’s website or at your local cinema.
The film’s name will be listed with “Autism friendly screening” before it so you know you’re booking the right one.
If you have a CEA Card and you’re booking online, you will need an online profile and to add it to the ‘Accessibility’ section of your details in ‘My ODEON’.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Showcase’s autism friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism friendly screening and follow the booking process:
- On the Showcase website
- Via the Showcase Box Office on 0871 220 1000 (calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge)
- At your local cinema.
Some Vue autism-friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card.
How can I book Vue autism friendly cinema tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Vue’s autism-friendly screenings.
Select the film listed as an autism-friendly screening and follow the booking process:
On the Vue websiteVia the Vue Box Office on 0345 308 4620 (local rate number)At your local cinema.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card at our partner cinemas.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Light cinema’s autism friendly screenings:
- On the The Light cinema’s website
Please use this website for Sittingbourne - At your local cinema.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card or Carers Card at Picturehouse cinemas
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Picturehouse’s autism friendly screenings. Select the film listed as an autism friendly screening and follow the booking process:
- On the Picturehouse website (select your cinema and the film marked as ‘autism friendly’ on the schedule. Please note a £1.50 booking fee applies for online bookings.)
- Via the dedicated accessibility hotline 0207 294 7908 (standard call rates apply)
- At your local cinema.
Free entry for carers
- Carers can get free entry when booking in person at the box office with a valid CEA Card at Picturehouse cinemas
- Carers can get free entry when booking in person at the box office, over the phone or online with a valid Carers Card.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card at our partner cinemas.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Light cinema’s autism friendly screenings:
- On the Scott Cinemas’ website
- At your local cinema.
Some autism friendly adjustments include:
- There are no trailers
- The lights and volume are turned down
- You can sit where you want and move around
- You can take your own food and drink
- Staff are trained in autism understanding
- Carers can get free entry with a valid CEA Card at our partner cinemas.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book around 5 days in advance. There are a number of ways you can book tickets for Everyman’s autism friendly screenings:
- On the Everyman cinema website
- Via their customer service line on: 01233 50481
- At your local cinema.
Share with Messenger
70 Comments
sorted byMy son is austic but everyone has different sensory issues.
Sony 1000xm4 are good at cutting out background noise but will still allow you to hear the talking in the room
Odeon do offer headsets, you just have to ask. They use Infrared to send the sound to the headset (edited)
Again I hear people with similar experiences but we get just the one size fits all of low lights, low noise etc.
Actual everyday noise is good for me as it indicates activity and makes me focus, its sharp noises like a dog barking, or a motorbike that make me jump and restless as you cannot predict how long they will last.
flareaudio.com/col…mer
The school has been brilliant I have to say, they have a quiet room, shes allowed in go in early and go there and then go to classes after the morning rush, and she has a locker away from all the noise, lus she only has to ask and she can go to the quiet room when things get rowdy
update: he doesn’t like them in his ears and I think they pop out. It was worth a try though. Thanks. (edited)
We prefer normal screenings and take ear defenders because the actual room is quieter.
3 autistic kids 3, 6 and 8.
But I guess my needs are different to others (edited)
I get very annoyed by people eating popcorn, fiddling on their phones, laughing to the set-up of a joke, ... I'm just easy to annoy
primark.com/en-…dly
Autism Friendly Shopping ExperienceEvery Sunday, for the first hour after we open, we offer customers sensory friendly shopping across our stores.
We invite customers to join a more inclusive shopping experience, with the security of knowing that additional assistance is available if needed.
In early 2021, we teamed up with AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, to learn how to make our stores a more welcoming place to shop. As a result, during the sensory friendly shopping hour there will be:
- Reduced noise
- Reduced till sounds
- No in-store announcement
- Additional assistance available
- As always, assistance dogs welcome
As well as training our teams to become more autism aware, we have some great tools to help customers better prepare for their trip to our store. You can navigate a typical Penneys store using our Sensory Map – that highlights areas of high sensory input, and explore a step-by-step guide of the store experience using a visual guide.Additional HelpYou may find this list helpful to show to a member of the Penneys team to ask for help:
I am Autistic and I need assistance. I may be experiencing sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed. Please be patient and understanding in assisting me with the help that I need.
Or have Soft food only, packets must be opened before entering 😄
Where there’s a will there’s a way, quite ableist to suggest one should have to stay at home
My son is 15 I usually point out Harvey Price as to guide people to his level of Autism, he cant handles children screaming or crying to the point he wants to basically attack them.. we found Sony noise cancelling ear phones a life saver but he wants to go watch movies approriate to his age like the new Five Nights at Freddys movie but most of these screenings are for child films... (edited)
no trailers
no overbearing sound
lights turned down, (the cinema picture is hardly what we consider excellent)
I'm feeling like this is much better than the regular cinema experience of waiting 1 hour, watching awful trailers