Cineworld confirms it will reopen in Northampton this week but rivals Vue pushes back date for first screenings

One of Northampton's two big cinemas has revealed a mix of new and old films for Friday's grand reopening.

Cineworld at Sixfields will be showing new releases Unhinged and Proxima alongside old blockbusters The Greatest Showman, a 40th anniversary edition of The Empire Strikes Back and a 35th anniversary edition of Back To The Future.

But Vue Cinema has yet to confirm a date when it will reopen at Sol Northampton following a four-month shutdown during the Covid-19 crisis.

Cineworld will use its computerised booking system to allocate seats for cinema-goers in each of its nine screens, making sure each group or single booking has enough empty seats around them to maintain social distancing.

Film start and finish times will be staggered to avoid congestion outside screening rooms while tickets will be available to book in advance online and via the Cineworld app avoiding the need to collect paper tickets from machines or queue at counters.

But locals in Northampton are being reminded to follow current advice from local health officials to be vigilant and avoid coming into contact with others from outside your own household. Other advice includes to wear a face covering if you are sharing a car or taking the bus to the cinema.

HERE'S THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IN AND AROUND NORTHAMPTONA Cineworld spokesman said: "Our booking system has been updated to allow you to sit your friends and family in our cinema screens while ensuring a safe distance between customers from separate groups.

"This will vary according to the capacity and layout of each screen.

"And will stagger film start and end times to reduce customers crossing paths with others going in or out of other screens and any build-up of crowds in the foyer. Additional cleaning time will also be added between films."

Cineworld can usually accomodate 850 cinema-goers in its nine screens

New release Unhinged, starring Russell Crowe, is a timely psychological thriller that explores the fragile balance of a society pushed to the edge, taking something we’ve all experienced - road rage - to an unpredictable and terrifying conclusion.

Proxima, which is also released on Friday, is a new drama starring Eva Green as a French astronaut training for a year-long space mission.

Cineworld also has screenings of some old favourites Batman Begins (2020 Re-Issue), Dark Waters, Dreambuilders, Military Wives, Misbehaviour, My Spy, Onward and Sonic The Hedgehog in its list to fill gaps left by many new releases being pushed back into August and later in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.