We looked at a selection of cinema listings in our local area...

Odeon Southend 4th Feb 09 out of 21, 19 are USA. Ben & Jerrys ( some Haagen Daz) ( tie ins & sponsorship).

Beverly Hills Chihuahua U USA
Bolt PG ( some 3D screenings) USA
Bride Wars PG USA
Doubt 15 USA
Frost/Nixon 15 USA
Gran Torino 15 USA one showing on a Tuesday ‘Directors Chair’ showing.
He’s Just Not That Into You 12A USA
Hotel For Dogs USA
My Bloody Valentine 3D 18 USA
Revolutionary Road 15 USA
Role Models 15 USA
Seven Pounds 12A USA
Slumdog Millionaire 15 GB/Indian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 12A USA
The Secret of Moonacre USA
The Wrestler 15 USA
Twilight 12A USA
Underworld 18 USA
Valkyrie 12A USA
Yes Man 12A USA

Empire Basildon 4th Feb 09 - more American experience, sloped seating, sofa seats, more comfortable seats, Ben & Jerrys, more variety. 27 films on offer, 2 not USA.

Nick & Norahs Infinite Playlist 12A USA
Slumdog Millionaire 15 UK
Revolutionary Road 15 USA
Valkyrie 12 A USA
7 Pounds 12A USA
Underworld 18 USA
Role Models 15 USA
Bride Wars PG USA
The Wrestler 15 USA
Beverly Hills Chihuahua U USA
Frost/Nixon 15 USA
The Reader 15
Yes Man 12A USA
Star Wars Clone Wars PG USA- Satruday am shows for kids
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a WHo - Saturday am shows for kids
Hotel for Dogs U USA Saturday am shows for k
Madagascar PG USA Saturday am shows for k
Bedtime Stories PG USA
Bolt PG USA
Defiance 15 British Actors, set in Eastern Europe - released by Momentum Pictures -UK Paramount Vantage, Grosvenor Park Paramount Vantage is the specialty film division of Paramount Pictures, which is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the leading global entertainment content companies, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics.
Doubt 15 USA
He’s Just Not That Into You 12 A USA
Punisher: War Zone 18
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 12A USA
Dark Knight 12 A USA
The Secret of Moonacre U USA
Twilight 12A USA


FACT Liverpool- independent Arts Centre

6 films, only one of which is available in cinema local to Southend.


BFI Southbank in London 11 different films on offer, 14 screenings on Saturday, none of these films are available in Southend or Basildon.

StardustAction-packed family fantasy filled with sorcery, dreams and true love.
13:00 NFT3
Reality BitesFree introduction to our British documentary collection.
13:10 Studio
Barry LyndonArguably Kubrick's greatest achievement, a supremely elegant version of Thackeray's novel.
15:30 NFT1
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 DaysChristian Mungiu's taut, desperately effective Palme d'Or winner.
15:40 NFT3
ChangelingClint Eastwood's latest is a rich, dark, admirably understated drama.
15:50 Studio
Drôle de drameCarné and Prévert's surreal classic, based on a British thriller.
16:00 NFT2
Paths of GloryOne of the great films about World War One.
18:10 NFT3
Hôtel du NordMarcel Carné's the quintessential French populist classic.
18:20 NFT2
Waltz with BashirThis animated documentary is a potent study of the futility of war.
18:30 Studio
Barry LyndonArguably Kubrick's greatest achievement, a supremely elegant version of Thackeray's novel.
19:00 NFT1
ChangelingClint Eastwood's latest is a rich, dark, admirably understated drama.
20:20 Studio
PersepolisUnsentimental, witty and humane screen version of Marjane Satrapi's celebrated graphic novel.
20:30 NFT3
Killer's KissKubrick's noirish second feature, plus two of his earliest shorts.
20:45 NFT2


It appears from a limited sample of cinemas that the American market totally dominates UK film distribution in mainstream branded cinemas like the Odeon and Empire chains. Independent cinemas have a wider choice of UK & foreign films but they are rarely found outside of big cities.