Festive Films at VOX Cinemas
Festive Films is a programme that includes a selection of Christmas classics and family films currently screening at VOX Cinemas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It started on December 5 and on until January 7, 2026.
I was very happy to see The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) included in the line up, and was happy to have the opportunity to finally watch it in a cinema. It is also the oldest film in the programme which is welcome change since the cinemas here usually go as far back as the 1980/90s-early 2000s if they show ‘old’ films.
Another film I’m looking forward to watching in a cinema is Labyrinth (Jim Henson, 1986) which I’ve only seen at home. Another film I’m looking forward to is Annie (John Houston, 1982) which I’ve never seen before.
I’ve seen most of the rest in cinemas, and keen to revisit Happy Feet (George Miller, 2006) and Jumanji (Joe Johnston, 1995) for Robin Williams.
Also, when was the last time we had films by notable directors screening in our cinemas at the same time - Danny Devito, George Miller, John Houston, Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Victor Fleming. More of this please.
The films can be watched in the following VOX Cinemas:
Abu Dhabi: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Yas Mall
Dubai: City Centre Deira
City Centre Mirdif
Dubai Festival City Mall
Mall of the Emirates
Palm Jumeirah Mall
Wafi Mall
The following is the complete line up and links to see the schedule and locations.
The Adventure of Tintin (Steven Spielberg, 2011)
Intrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor.
Annie (John Houston, 1982)
A spunky young orphan is taken in by a rich eccentric, much to the chagrin of the cantankerous woman who runs the orphanage.
Arthur Christmas (Sarah Smith, 2011)
Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a misplaced present to a young girl in less than two hours on Christmas Day.
Elf (Jon Favreau, 2003)
Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
The Grinch (Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier, 2018)
A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.
Schedule + Locations
https://uae.voxcinemas.com/movies/the-grinch-2018#showtimes
https://uae.voxcinemas.com/movies/the-grinch#showtimes
Happy Feet (George Miller, 2006)
Into the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something fierce!
Schedule + Locations
Jumanji (Joe Johnston, 1995)
A magic board game summons jungle perils and a missing boy.
Labyrinth (Jim Henson, 1986)
Teenage Sarah journeys through a maze to save her baby brother from the Goblin King.
Schedule + Locations
Matilda (Danny Devito, 1996)
A girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers uses both to get even with her callous family and free her kindly schoolteacher from the tyrannical grip of a sadistic headmistress.
The Polar Express (Robert Zemeckis, 2004)
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939)
Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.
Wonka (Paul King, 2023)
With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.