Yesterday the much-loved Dublin venue Stella Cinemas Rathmines revealed its Christmas season screening line-up. Against the backdrop of its luxurious art-deco interior and commitment to creating a cinema experience that’s more than a film, the announcement marks a welcome celebration of the holidays for cinema aficionados.
Nestled on Rathmines Road Lower in Dublin 6, The Stella Cinemas are housed in a building originally opened in 1923, Ireland’s largest cinema of its day. It’s now been sympathetically restored to reflect the glitz and glamour of the 1920s while offering an incredibly comfortable film-going environment. The venue is described as “showing new release films and Hollywood classics seven days a week”.
The auditorium is fitted with leather armchairs, sofas and even beds where you can stretch out and watch your film. Each seat has its own side table and footrest, making the experience feel quite different to a standard multiplex. On top of that, there’s an upstairs cocktail bar – the “Stella Cocktail Club” – and a food & drink menu that goes well beyond popcorn and cola. Pre-ordered hot food delivered to your seat, cocktail options, and comfortable surroundings all combine to position the outing as something a little more eventful than your average night at the pictures.
In the context of a busy city like Dublin, and in the lead-up to Christmas, this kind of offering taps into the idea of treating the everyday outing as something special.
Beware, this experience has a price - and it's a hefty one. A couch or bed for 2 will set you back €42, which accounts for €21 per person. An armchair ticket is priced at €21. Senior and students discount are available.
The recently published list of 25 titles covers an expansive range of festive and non-festive picks alike. Highlights include:
Love Actually
White Christmas
The Polar Express
Santa Claus: The Movie
Home Alone | Home Alone 2
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Elf | The Shining | Arthur Christmas
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Gremlins | Die Hard | It’s a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) | American Psycho
The Muppet Christmas Carol | The Holiday
The Santa Clause | Trading Places
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
The Grinch | Scrooged
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
The inclusion of genre-bending choices like American Psycho alongside classic family fare such as The Polar Express emphasises that the season at Stella aims to cater both for festive-family outings and for adults looking for something a bit edgier. The “family session” concept is already referenced on their site: Saturday mornings and school-holiday slots are dedicated to family films, enabling parents to relax while the younger ones enjoy their screening.
For Irish cine-goers, the Stella Cinema Rathmines Christmas season represents more than just a run of festive screenings — it’s an experience. The venue offers a rare combination of cinematic tradition and modern comfort, where visitors don’t just watch a film but settle in for it. With plush armchairs, sofas for two, and even beds, the Stella’s cosy setting feels tailor-made for winter evenings in Dublin. Its dedicated family sessions in the mornings give parents an easy, relaxed way to introduce younger viewers to beloved Christmas films, while the cocktail club and late-evening showings create a distinctly adult-friendly atmosphere for couples or friends looking for a night out with a seasonal twist. The carefully curated film list — balancing family favourites like The Polar Express and Home Alone with edgier titles such as American Psycho and Die Hard — ensures there’s something for everyone. For locals and visitors alike, it’s the kind of outing that captures what December in Dublin does best: warmth, nostalgia, and a touch of indulgence.
Written by Louise Ducrocq
Louise is an expert content creator, and online author for Radio Nova. She's evolved in a few different fields, including mental health and travel, and is now excited to be part of the wonderful word of Radio.
