When Milton Keynes cinemas will return and what's on

The Odeon at Milton Keynes Stadium is one of 105 chains reopening when restrictions ease on Monday May 17.

A vast majority of Odeon cinemas will reopen on the first day of stage three of the roadmap out of lockdown, when indoor entertainment is authorised again.

Cineworld is taking a different approach, its chains will be opening on Wednesday May 19 including the Milton Keynes venue at Xscape.

Carol Welch, managing director of Odeon said: “We've all missed the magic that the cinema brings to movie watching, and we know our guests are excited about coming back."

A spokesperson for Cineworld explained the thinking behind taking an extra couple days before welcoming guests back, stating: "We are excited to announce that our cinemas in England will re-open on May 19!

"At Cineworld our main priority remains the safety of our customers and employees. We of course follow all instructions and regulations of the local authorities and current government guidelines and regulations.

"So we wanted to allow a couple of extra days between government announcements and our re-opening for staff training and to get our cinemas up and running again, ready to welcome movie lovers back to Cineworld."

The opening week back at the pictures, offers a mix of Oscar-winning features and high-budget blockbuster flicks. Both chains opening day slate includes: a Peter Rabbit sequel, The Runaway, Godzilla vs Kong, the latest Mortal Kombat Movie, as well as the Oscar-winning drama, Judas and the Black Messiah.

Odeon is showing the Best Picture winner at last month's Academy Awards, Nomadland. Cineworld has Spiral the latest film in the Saw franchise, which isn't screening at Odeon on Monday.

Both chains will be incorporating staggered screening times and social distancing measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.