Children’s blockbusters Home, The SpongeBob Movie: A Sponge Out of Water and Cinderella will be among the Autism Friendly Films shown in May, service providers Dimensions has announced.
Cineworld cinemas will show Home on Sunday, May 3 at 11am. The following Sunday, starting at 10am, Showcase cinemas will play The SpongeBob Movie.
Meanwhile, ODEON will show Cinderella on Sunday, May 17 at 11:30am. The following day, there will be a trial screening for older audiences at 10 selected ODEON cinemas of Pitch Perfect 2 (12A), starting at 6pm.
Finally, Vue cinemas will play Shaun the Sheep on Sunday, May 31 at 10am from just £1.99.
Home tells the story of alien Oh, who comes to Earth when on the run from his own planet. On Earth, Oh forms a friendship with a girl named Tip, who is on a quest of her own. Through an ensuing series of adventures, Oh learns that being different and making mistakes is part of being human. And while Oh changes Tip’s planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word home.
In The SpongeBob Movie: A Sponge out of Water, cartoon favourite SpongeBob Squarepants makes the leap into CGI and live action. In the film, SpongeBob, along with friends Patrick, Squidward, Mr Krabs and Sandy – as well as old adversary Plankton – are forced to come ashore when a pirate named Burger Beard steals the top-secret recipe for Krabby Patties. Can the friends get the recipe back before Burger Beard gets to enact his plans?
Cinderella is Disney’s live-action retelling of the classic story. After Ella’s father dies suddenly, she is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, who reduce her to a maid. But Ella’s life takes a turn when she meets her fairy godmother, who enables her to go to the ball and meet the Prince – although she has to leave before midnight when everything turns back to its original state.
Aardman Animation’s Shaun the Sheep – a big-screen version of the series on CBBC – sees the eponymous hero decide to take a day off. Following a mix-up with the farmer, a caravan and a steep hill, Shaun and his flock end up in the Big City and it is up to him to ensure everyone gets home safely.
Finally, comedy sequel Pitch Perfect 2 sees a collegiate a cappella group called the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition that no American team has ever won before.
Sensory friendly environment
Autism Friendly Screenings are mainstream films shown in a sensory friendly environment. Lights are on low, sound is turned down, trailers are omitted and people can bring their own food, make noise and move around the cinema as they feel comfortable.
To view a full list of participating cinemas visit www.dimensions-uk.org/autismfriendly.
