Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
July 13, 2026
Source: YouTube
“The cinema brings them together for an experience that’s so much more than the picture.” Myriad Pictures has revealed the official trailer for an indie throwback comedy called Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, about one wild unforgettable night at a small-town cinema in 1984. It already premiered at the 2026 Dublin Film Festival earlier in the year and opened in Ireland in cinemas back in May. The US release is supposed to be coming up later this year, though not sure when exactly. A beleaguered cinema owner’s worst Friday night becomes his crowning moment of glory when a packed show descends into chaos and also unites the community. Told in real-time during the 8PM movie playing (Breathless starring Richard Gere). Filmed on location in Limerick, Ireland, a cinema owner wrestles with the legacy of the past and the challenges of the future in a drama that is funny, wise and rings of authenticity. Starring Irish actor Colin Morgan as Earl Clancy, the cinema manager, along with Calam Lynch, Clara Crichton, India Mullen, Niamh Cusack, Stanley Townsend, Elaine O’Dwyer, Daniel Woodage, Liam O’Brien, and Ryan Burke. This looks really good and quite uplifting, all about the magic of cinema. It’s worth a look – hope it’s out in the US soon.
Here’s the main trailer (+ poster) for David Gleeson’s film Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, on YouTube:
Filmed in Limerick and featuring an exciting Irish cast, the Dublin Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala is the film Once Upon a Time in a Cinema. In a small-town cinema in 1984, harassed owner and manager Earl Clancy (Colin Morgan) battles an escalating series of personal and professional disasters over the course of the Friday 8PM show from hell, while mulling over the sale of the cinema to a shady politician. Can he really walk away from his life’s passion? Acclaimed filmmaker David Gleeson brings us a witty, light-hearted, sometimes frenetic night at the movies in this authentic-feeling drama. Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is written and directed by Irish writer / filmmaker David Gleeson, director of the films Cowboys & Angels, The Front Line, and Don’t Go previously, plus a few other short films. Produced by Nathalie Lichtenthaeler & Judy Tossell. This premiered at the 2026 Dublin Film Festival earlier this year and already opened in Ireland in May this summer. No final US release date is set – stay tuned for updates. Look good?
