Sony Pictures has announced that special preview screenings of The Garfield Movie will be held next month, in support of the charity MediCinema.
The new film, with the voice of Chris Pratt as the titular ginger feline, will be screening in over 300 UK venues on 12th May 2024, almost two weeks before the film's general release.
Hospital patients at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, the Serennu Children's Centre in Newport, and the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London will also be able to watch the movie at in-hospital cinemas managed by MediCinema. These screenings will take place one day earlier on 11th May.
In a statement, the CEO of MediCinema Colin Lawrence said “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Sony and all the exhibition partners taking part. By donating their income from these screenings to MediCinema they and their customers are helping to support patients visiting our cinemas.
“We know that this vastly improves the experience of being in hospital and these special previews will mean that so many more NHS patients and their families will benefit.”
Vue, Cineworld, and ODEON Cinemas are all hosting preview screenings. Everyman, Showcase, and Omniplex will also be showing the film early, as will a host of independent venues across the country.
MediCinema operates in several UK hospitals, providing in-house cinema experiences for patients that aim to improve their overall well-being. They run screenings tailored to specific clinical groups as well as personal film showings for patients unable to attend other sessions. MediCinema also collaborates with Disney on the Moments that Matter partnership.
The Garfield Movie sees Garfield the cat meet his estranged father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) for the first time since he was a kitten. Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Waddingham, and Harvey Guillén also star. The film is directed by Mark Dindal.
