The best alternative cinema experiences

From fancy dress films to movie-themed menus, our pick of the best alternative cinema experiences will delight the whole family.

Thanks to steep ticket prices and that time in 2020 when everyone was told to stay inside (let’s not talk about it anymore), the cinema industry has been in a bit of a crisis trying to coax customers back through the door.

If it’s been a while since you’ve headed to the cinema, or you’re looking for something a bit different, it’s worth knowing things have changed quite significantly - cinema is great again - and there’s a lot more ways to watch and experience the best new films that isn’t simply sitting in a dark room with a bucket of popcorn and a fizzy drink bigger than your head.

Ever wondered what a film tastes like? Taste Film offers all the answers

Taste Film

Taste Film is reinventing movie night with a multi-sensory experience in London and Manchester. Each screening features a bespoke menu of food and drink served in sync with key moments in the film, heightening the storytelling through taste, timing, and surprise.

With intimate screenings of around 30 guests and low-level table lamp lightning, the atmosphere is both cosy and Instagram-ready. Just the right glow to enjoy each dish and cocktail course, snap the perfect shot, and settle into a night of delicious escapism.

Watch spectacular films in spectacular places with outdoor screenings

Adventure Cinema

Gather friends and family, camping chairs, and blankets, then settle down under the stars to watch a movie with a festival atmosphere. A truly different film experience.

Organisers like Adventure Cinema screen movies in some lovely spots around the UK, from castles to country estates. They also have delicious food on offer, or you can bring your own picnic.

With a variety of films to choose from depending on location, London-centric company Rooftop Film Club also run similar events in their Peckham and Stratford locations.

One for fairer weather, keep in mind most screenings of this kind are usually only happening in the spring and summer months.

Break down the fourth wall with 4DX Extreme Cinema

Want to be thrown around in your seat and experience the elements and smells happening on screen? With a 4DX extreme cinema screening you can do just that.

Exclusive to Cineworld cinemas in the UK, it offers an experience that targets almost all the senses and uniquely immerses you in the film. There’s wind, there’s water, and your actual chair moves with the action.

There are also bespoke smells to really transport you straight into the adventure, whether it’s walking alongside dinosaurs in the latest Jurassic World movie, or being front and centre in another epic Marvel fight sequence.

Boundless offer

With your Boundless membership, you can save up to 37% on cinema tickets via The Cinema Society  at many of the most popular chains including Cineworld, the Odeon, Vue, Picturehouse, and more.

Star in the film with Secret Cinema

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If the thought of stepping inside the world of your favourite classic film sounds like a grand day out, then Secret Cinema - a celebration of cinema, stage, and spectacle - should be on your must-do list for 2026.

Past productions have included Moulin Rouge, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, and most recently, Grease, brought to life by a cast of around 30 performers in full Rydell High mode (with a 1950s-themed fairground).

The best part? You get to really immerse yourself in the experience; go full ‘method’, dress the part and interact with the cast. Secret Cinema even assigns every attendee a character and dress code, with a shop where you can get a whole costume or just the finishing touches. Either way, you’re guaranteed to make movie memories that will last forever.

The bigger, the better with IMAX

BFI/David Jensen

If you want to see a big film on the big screen, why not try the biggest screen? It’s not right for every movie, but when Tom Cruise is very nearly killing himself for our entertainment by driving a motorbike off a cliff…you know where to go.

A top tip is to book early, as getting a last-minute seat up front can result in a crick in the neck – a BFI IMAX screen is typically 59 by 79 feet – and the perfectly calibrated sound set-up would rather you were sitting middle-back to fully feel the impact of every moment of edge-of-your-seat action.

See live theatre, concerts, and more with Event Cinema screenings

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We aren’t all lucky enough to live near a big music venue or a traditional working theatre.

Event Cinema allows audiences to lap up live performances from the Royal Ballet with a seasonal performance of The Nutcracker, or a classic opera like La Bohème. And with bands and singers playing half the number of venues that they did in the 1990s, it could be the best way to enjoy a gig from your favourite act.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to be near London, or heading there on a weekend away, remember Boundless Tickets  gets you 10% off theatre tickets including in the West End.

As well as up to 37% off cinema tickets with The Cinema Society offering discounts for your bookings at Cineworld, Vue, Odeon, Showcase, Picturehouse, and more, Boundless members can also save 20% on Virgin Experience Days  bookings.

Head over to Virgin Experience Days and explore its variety of cinema-related packages across the UK. From getting your tickets and snacks sorted all in one, to attending a screening in a cool place, including fancy hotels and champagne, and attempting an Escape Room before relaxing at the cinema.

Boundless offer

Members save up to 37% off cinema tickets with The Cinema Society and 20% on Virgin Experience Days  bookings.

You can also save 10% off theatre tickets including in the West End through Boundless Tickets.

^{This article was accurate at the time of publication. Please note information and offers shown may change over time}