Going to the cinema can be a really enjoyable trip out. But it does mean you have to travel there, and it may sometimes feel quite crowded and noisy. The following suggestions can help you to plan ahead so you can enjoy the film.
 

When booking your ticket 

• When booking, mention you are autistic. If you may need time away from the film during the performance, ask for an aisle seat. 
• If you need to use a phone or tablet to play games on to help you focus or to keep calm, ask the cinema staff before booking tickets to see if this is allowed. 
• Ask if there is a quiet area at the cinema that you can use if necessary. 
• Find out if you can use your CEA card if you would like to bring a parent or carer with you for free. 
   

Before the day 

• Check the cinema’s website to see if there is anything that could help you to prepare for your visit, such as photographs of the building or a map of the screens.
   

On the day 

• Remember to bring anything to help with sensory overload such as ear defenders or quiet fiddle toys. 
• If you have an autism awareness card, take it with you so you can tell people you are autistic, if you need to.  
• Talk to an usher about when the noisy and quiet parts of the film are. They can give advice about when you might want to go out and about leaving or returning to the auditorium with minimal disruption to others. 
• It will be very busy at the end of the film with people leaving. You will be able to sit in your seat until the majority of people have gone so it is quieter. 
   

Get a CEA Card 

The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA).  

The card entitles you to one free ticket for a parent or carer every time you go to the cinema with them.   

The CEA Card costs £6 a year and you can apply for one if you receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance (AA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 

Around 90 per cent of UK cinemas accept the card, from the large national chains to smaller independent operators. See participating cinemas. 
 

Autism-friendly screenings 

If you are an avid cinema-goer, autism-friendly screenings can be really helpful. With a more relaxed environment, you can enjoy films while being able to move around, make a noise and take a break when needed.  

During the film, low lights are left on inside the auditorium, the volume of the film is reduced and there should not be any trailers. 

We work closely with many cinemas to support relaxed screening programmes.  We also present Autism Friendly Awards to some cinemas to recognise their outstanding commitment to providing an accessible and inclusive environment offering regular relaxed screenings. 
 

Cinemas which hold our Autism Friendly Award 

Barbican Cinema, London 

Barbican Cinemas 2 & 3 and Cafe were awarded the Autism Friendly Award in 2020. Regular relaxed screenings, including two regular new release screenings, are held every month, as well as a monthly event cinema relaxed screening. 

Find out more  about Barbican’s relaxed screening. 

BFI, London 

BFI Southbank was awarded the Autism Friendly Award in 2019. BFI presents relaxed screenings each month for autistic people and their carers and assistants, offering a range of the latest releases. 

Find out more  about BFI’s relaxed screening. 

Glasgow Film Theatre 

Glasgow Film Theatre was the first cinema in the UK to hold the Autism Friendly Award. They received the award in recognition of their Access Film Club and Take 2 Access Film Club, which are monthly screenings for autistic adults and children respectively. 

Find out more  about Glasgow Film Theatre’s relaxed screenings. 
 

Cinemas which hold autism-friendly screenings 

Listed below are some organisations our charity is working with, but others such as Odeon, Vue, Cineworld and Showcase also hold regular autism-friendly screenings. 

Picturehouse 

Picturehouse runs regular  autism-friendly screenings  at cinemas across the country. These take place on one Saturday or Sunday a month when they show a popular family film. 

Empire Cinemas 

Empire Cinemas have autism-friendly screenings.  Select a local cinema,  then click on ‘Assisted Screenings’. The autism-friendly films will appear on that list when they are on offer. 

If your local cinema is not offering an autism-friendly screening, please speak to the local manager.