Trainspotting (30th Anniversary, 4K Restoration)

Screening as part of BFI's Rip it Up season, which explores and celebrates the changing face of youth rebellion, culture and expression on screen. 

See any 3 films in the season for £24 when you book them together  – simply add the tickets to your basket and the offer will be applied at check-out.

Powered forward by a superb soundtrack, Danny Boyle’s unrelenting but often hilarious portrait of addiction, friendship and rebellion in Edinburgh is now considered one of the great British films. Based on the cult novel by Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting became an unlikely box office hit upon release, dazzling audiences with its audacious visuals and contagious energy.

Danny Boyle has gone on to make many films in a wide variety of genres but none seem to have resonated with audiences quite as much as Trainspotting. Is this due to Ewan McGregor’s empathetic portrayal of drug addict Renton, the breakneck style that the film employs or the colourful cast of deplorable and relatable characters? Regardless, and despite the sometimes-difficult subject matter, the enduring nature of Trainspotting has extended well into the 21st century.