2023. Prices may vary by location and are updated frequently.
For a lot of moviegoers, the theater is not just a place where they can see a film on a big screen, they’re also places that offer a cultural experience. Some even get to offer more with the variety of their offers and their history.
Empire Cinema is one of the cinema chains that get to bring more to the table with its heritage and diverse range of offers. As the largest independently-operated multiplex cinema chain in the UK, they take great pride in providing a movie experience like no other.
Below are the estimated Empire Cinema ticket prices.
Item | Price | |||
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2D |
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Adult - 2D | £7.95 | |||
Child (14 and Under) - 2D | £5.95 | |||
Family - 2D | £23.80 | |||
Senior - 2D | £5.95 | |||
Student - 2D | £5.95 | |||
3D |
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Adult - 3D | £10.25 | |||
Child (14 and Under) - 3D | £8.00 | |||
Family - 3D | £32.00 | |||
Senior - 3D | £8.00 | |||
Student - 3D | £8.00 | |||
IMAX 3D |
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Adult - IMAX 3D | £14.45 | |||
Child (14 and Under) - IMAX 3D | £12.45 | |||
Family - IMAX 3D | £49.80 | |||
Senior - IMAX 3D | £12.45 | |||
Student - IMAX 3D | £12.45 |

Quick History
Technically, Empire Cinema started out in 2005 as Empire Cinemas Limited. They acquired the cinemas that the Office of Fair Trading recommended Odeon Cinemas and Cineworld to divest from. This move was brought on by the merging of Odeon and UCI under the Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd. equity firm and Cineworld’s acquisition of UGC’s UK and Ireland operations. The cinemas that became available from these were acquired by Empire Cinemas.
With this said, it will seem like Empire Cinemas is a very young player in the UK movie industry. That’s not necessarily the case, however, because it can actually trace its roots back to the late 1800s.
As the name would suggest, the chain got its name from the Empire in London’s Leicester Square. This iconic theater was built in 1884 and served as a variety theater for the West End. It was also used for ballet and as a music hall a bit later. Over the years, it has become one of the most iconic theaters in the area and the country, especially since it was the first theatre to play moving pictures in 1896.
In the 1920s, the Empire was acquired and redeveloped by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. More seats were added and it was designed in an American-style movie theatre. It also became one of the first fully air conditioned cinemas in the UK. Continuous developments and refurbishments were done over the years to keep it up to date and suitable to the needs of the market.
In 2005, it became one of the 10 UCI sites that the Office of Fair Trading required the cinema chain to divest from. It was then acquired by Empire Cinemas Ltd. which used it as their flagship location. They based their branding on the legacy of this prestigious site.
In a rather surprising move, Empire Cinemas Ltd sold their flagship site in 2016, alongside four other locations. The deal cost £94m which seems like a lot but might just be easy to justify. The Leicester multiplex alone is worth a lot for its location and history. It’s also home to one of the two IMAX screens with laser projection available in the UK.
Exciting Offers
But to be fair, Empire Cinemas is more than just its iconic flagship site. Over the years, the brand has continuously made great efforts in providing a different kind of movie experience to its customers. With their goal to create a cinema community, they tend to have a different approach in bringing films to viewers.
For starters, the chain shows arthouse classics which a lot of large chains do not do. They also launched their own magazine which was given for free to guests and contained movie information and reviews. They also launched their own coffee brand, Cup, which was hailed for the high quality of their beans and brews. Also notable is Empire Cinemas’ Alternative Movie Awards where they recognized highly regarded films and actors.
Empire Cinema was also able to keep up and even make strides in terms of innovation in the film industry. They were among the first to offer 3D movies as well as surround sound.
With 14 multiplex cinemas around the UK that have 131 screens in total, they also offer different ways to view movies. IMAX is at the top of the list since they were one of the first to offer such a technology in the country. They also offer the Empire Extra which shows big stage productions on theatre screens. This provides more viewing options to the public.
Empire Cinema Prices
Empire Cinema prices tend to vary based on the showing time, location, and viewer. They are very competitive, however. In addition to this, they have good deals and upgrades available so you can further customize your experience or make a saving. With these, you have more options to make your moviegoing experience more pleasurable.
To find an Empire Cinema near your location, visit their official website.