Dog-friendly cinema screenings are becoming increasingly popular across the UK, with venues such as Greenwich Picturehouse in south-east London offering special showings where dogs are welcome to join their owners. At a recent screening of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, about 30 dogs and their human companions gathered for the 11am Sunday showing, with some dogs settling on seats using provided fleece blankets.
The concept first appeared in Britain a decade ago and has been spreading steadily since the end of Covid restrictions. Photographer Irina Werning, who spent August documenting the phenomenon, noted that there are 18 cinemas offering this in London alone, with more across the UK, and only one in Paris. Picturehouse launched dog-friendly screenings in 2017, and half their sites now regularly hold them, typically once or twice a month.
The screenings are designed to be relaxed: they are capped at half capacity to ensure plenty of space, the film volume is slightly lowered, and the house lights remain dimly lit. This makes them similar to baby-friendly or “relaxed” screenings often scheduled for autistic people or those with dementia, opening up film-going to those who might not otherwise have access.
Deputy manager Mike Miles said the screenings are a community experience. “It gives people a chance to meet up with their dogs, and come and chill out,” he said. “For us it’s about providing that experience. And obviously we get to look at the cute dogs as they come in and make a fuss of them.” Werning, who from Argentina, said the trend reflects a level of canine indulgence unique to Britain.
One writer, accompanied by his reluctant dog Jean, described a challenging journey to the cinema, including carrying the dog onto a train, but found the screening itself welcoming. Despite initial scepticism, he noted the organisers keep a watchful eye: “We never have to break up fights – there’s enough trouble with the humans.”
