Cinema Screenings – May at The Beacon

May brings an exceptional and varied programme to Cineworld at The Beacon, headlined by the most anticipated blockbuster of the year alongside a rich mix of new drama, action, horror, event cinema, theatre broadcasts, opera and special screenings. A major Spielberg retrospective runs throughout the month, offering a string of classic films alongside new releases, while the second half of May is dominated by the arrival of one of the biggest Star Wars films in years.

New & Feature Films

Michael

Already into its run from late April, Antoine Fuqua’s biographical drama about Michael Jackson continues with heavy scheduling throughout May. Jaafar Jackson stars as the King of Pop himself, with the film tracing his journey from his early days as the lead of the Jackson Five through to his emergence as the biggest entertainer in the world. Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Kendrick Sampson also star. With multiple daily showings across the month, this is one of the most-screened titles of the season.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

The long-awaited sequel arrives with much of the original’s cast reassembled. Meryl Streep returns as the formidable Miranda Priestly, now facing off against former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) as the two compete for advertising revenue amid the decline of print media. Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh and Stanley Tucci also star, with David Frankel returning to direct. Screening daily throughout the month.

The Christophers

A striking ensemble drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Ian McKellen as a reclusive artist whose two estranged children (James Corden and Jessica Gunning) enlist a young painter and forger, Lori (Michaela Coel), to pose as a prospective assistant and gain access to a fabled series of unfinished canvases. A taut, character-driven piece with multiple daily screenings throughout May.

Mortal Kombat II

The sequel to the 2021 action hit arrives with Karl Urban leading the charge as fan favourite Johnny Cage, pitting the champions of Earthrealm against the dark rule of Shao Kahn. Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan and Hiroyuki Sanada also return, directed by Simon McQuoid. Multiple daily showings throughout the month.

The Sheep Detectives

One of the most inventive animated films of the year, with an extraordinary voice cast including Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall and Nicholas Galitzine, among many others. Every night, a shepherd reads murder mysteries aloud to his flock, pretending they understand. When he is found dead, the sheep — convinced they know everything about detective work — set out to solve the crime themselves. Multiple daily showings from mid-May onward.

Hokum

A slow-burn Irish horror from director Damian McCarthy, starring Adam Scott as reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman, who retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes — only to be drawn into a nightmarish confrontation with tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Also starring David Wilmot and Austin Amelio. Selected screenings throughout May.

Obsession

A visceral and chilling horror in which a music store employee uses a mysterious trinket to make his childhood crush fall in love with him — with monstrous consequences. Starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. Evening screenings throughout the month.

Project Hail Mary

One of the most acclaimed films of the year carries over into May for further screenings. Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship light years from Earth with no memory of how he got there. As his memories return, he realises he is humanity’s last hope against a mysterious substance destroying the sun. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from a screenplay by Drew Goddard, and based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel. Sandra Hüller, Milana Vayntrub and Lionel Boyce also star. Earning a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this is one of the defining cinema events of 2026.

Finding Emily

A warm campus comedy arriving in the latter part of May, in which a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl and teams up with a driven psychology student to track her down — sparking a hilarious chain of events that tests both their hearts. Screenings from 21 May onward.

Power Ballad

From writer-director John Carney (Once, Sing Street), this feel-good music drama stars Paul Rudd as a past-his-prime wedding singer whose friendship with a fading boy-band star (Nick Jonas) is upended when his own song becomes someone else’s hit. Peter McDonald and Havana Rose Liu also star. Selected screenings from mid-May.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

The biggest release of the month and one of the most anticipated films of the year arrives on 22 May, with multiple daily showings — including 3D screenings — running right through to the end of the month. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his small but stubborn apprentice Grogu step up from their beloved Disney+ series into a full cinematic Star Wars adventure, set in the aftermath of the Empire’s fall as the fledgling New Republic enlists their help. Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White join the cast in this Jon Favreau-directed event film, which looks set to be one of the highest-grossing releases of 2026.

Family Films & Animation

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Continuing its run from April, this box office phenomenon keeps Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad on the big screen into early May for any families yet to catch it. Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black and Brie Larson star. Selected screenings in the first half of the month.

Shrek

DreamWorks’ beloved animated classic returns to the big screen throughout May as part of the Spielberg season programming, with multiple family-friendly showings across the month.

Charlie the Wonderdog

A new family adventure arriving from 16 May, in which nine-year-old Sasha teams up with his dog Charlie — voiced by Owen Wilson — who is abducted by aliens and returns with superpowers. Together, they must stop a sinister neighbour’s cat from destroying humanity. A fun and heartfelt family film with weekend morning screenings.

Music, Comedy & Event Cinema

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour Live in 3D

An extraordinary concert event arrives on screen in May, co-directed by Billie Eilish and James Cameron. Shot using new-generation 3D camera systems developed specifically for the film, this captures Eilish’s sold-out world tour across four Manchester shows in breathtaking detail. Interwoven with behind-the-scenes footage and candid conversations between Eilish and Cameron, it has been described by critics as one of the finest concert films in years. Screening in 3D on selected dates throughout the month.

Theatre & Opera on Screen

NT Live: All My Sons

The month’s major theatrical event, continuing through from its April debut into July. Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste lead this triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, directed by Ivo van Hove, also starring Paapa Essiedu, Tom Glynn-Carney and Hayley Squires. Filmed live from the West End and broadcast to cinemas across the country, this is one of the theatrical events of the year — a disturbingly prescient story of family, ambition and the true cost of wartime profit.

NT Live: The Playboy of the Western World

A second major National Theatre Live event arrives on 28 May, with further screenings on 31 May. Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Anna Hardwicke and Siobhán McSweeney in John Millington Synge’s darkly funny play of youth and self-discovery, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin. When a young man walks into a pub claiming to have killed his father, he becomes an unlikely local hero — until a second arrival threatens to unravel everything. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre.

Metropolitan Opera: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego

A dazzling new Met Opera production arrives on 30 May. Gabriela Lena Frank’s acclaimed opera — a magical-realist portrait of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth — is conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and directed by Deborah Colker, with a vibrant staging drawing inspiration from both artists’ paintings. Isabel Leonard and Carlos Álvarez lead the cast.

Classics & Special Screenings

A Spielberg Season

A major retrospective of Steven Spielberg’s work runs throughout May, with a series of classic films brought back to the big screen for special evening screenings. The season includes Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick (both screening in mid-May), Jaws (20 May), Jurassic Park (18 May onward), Minority Report (16 May), Catch Me If You Can (22 May), Empire of the Sun (27 May) and ET – The Extra-Terrestrial (25 May). A remarkable opportunity to experience some of cinema’s most beloved films on the big screen.

Bridesmaids

Paul Feig’s raucously funny 2011 comedy returns for special evening screenings on 5 and 6 June — one to look ahead to as the month closes out.

Hook

Steven Spielberg’s fantastical retelling of the Peter Pan story, starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts, returns for a special screening on 23 May as part of the broader Spielberg-adjacent programme.

Legally Blonde

Reese Witherspoon’s iconic legal comedy returns to the big screen for a special screening on 29 May.

Coming Soon

Looking ahead to June, The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act — the feature-length theatrical conclusion to the viral internet sensation — arrives from 4 June with extensive daily screenings. NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, starring Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner, screens on 25 June and 28 June.

Full May Listings

Listings, formats and certifications may be subject to change. Please check showtimes before booking.

Get Your Tickets

Don’t miss out on these May screenings at Cineworld Eastbourne at The Beacon. Head to the Cineworld Eastbourne listings page for the latest showtimes and booking options before you visit.