Article Source: Vue
Last Updated: 25 February 2025 11:26
The first ever feature-length gaming move aimed at children and families will hit the big screens this Easter featuring six children from across the UK battling it out on the hugely popular Roblox platform to be crowned the ultimate gamer.
Kartoon Channel's Gaming Challenge UK will be released in Vue Cinemas across Britain on Saturday April 19th, 2025. It has been awarded a U certification from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) meaning it is suitable for all audiences, including children aged four and over.
It is the first time a feature length film of a gaming competition has ever been aired on a big screen anywhere in the world, as cinemas diversify to keep relevant and attract younger audiences.
Fans will be able to watch the gamers — all British children aged between nine and 12 — taking part in eight exclusive Roblox challenges, with two finalists going head-to-head to win a grand prize and the coveted title.
Roblox is one of the world’s most popular video game platforms, and the most popular gaming platform for eight- to 12-year-olds in the UK, according to Ofcom. Founded almost two decades ago, it provides 3D digital experiences via user-generated virtual games and worlds. In the UK, 64% children aged 8 -12 years play Roblox weekly, more than any social media, radio and television. Only YouTube has a higher weekly reach, according to research by Dubit Trends, a Leeds-based company which creates digital gaming worlds.
The inspiration for the Gaming Challenge UK — the first of its kind — came after Kartoon Channel's Kidaverse Roblox Rumble series proved to be a TV sensation, shown in more than 60 countries over the past 15 months.
The team behind the movie-version wanted to make a fun, positive and safe experience, recreating what used to be the “Saturday morning” cinema experience, but with a modern idiom using a tournament based around Roblox.
Gamers Ilyaan, 10, from Blackburn, Jaymee, 9, from Fife, Thomas, 10, from Cornwall, Ottie, 11, from Surrey, Isaac, 12 from North Yorkshire, and Abigail, 11, from Hartlepool, were selected from thousands of enthusiasts to appear in the movie. All had the full permission from their parents or legal guardians.
During the pre-recorded 85-minute film, fans will watch the six competitors taking on eight exclusive Roblox levels, which include dinosaurs, cats, shark tanks, obstacle courses and races.
Each level will unlock a new prize in the prize portal. The further a gamer makes it in the competition, the more valuable the prizes get. Starting from challenge four, a contestant will be eliminated at the end of each round based on a points-system, with each gamer able to choose a prize once eliminated from the competition.
The final round will see two children going head-to-head to take home the Ultimate Gamer title - while being cheered on by the gamers who have already been eliminated.
Rob Lea, Head of Screen Content at Vue UK and Ireland said: “At Vue, we’re big fans of innovation when it comes to unique ways for customers to enjoy the big screen experience. With Kartoon Channel’s Gaming Challenge UK, we’re excited to be showing a unique, first-of-its-kind big event for families this Easter. Roblox has proven to be a sensation with the younger generation and we welcome gamers - young and old - to join us for the world's first ever feature-length gaming show film, exclusively at Vue.”
Paul Robinson, President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide at Kartoon Studios, said: “We devised Kartoon Channel’s Kidaverse Roblox Rumble to be an innovative, safe, new TV game show for kids but even I was surprised at its worldwide success. The Kartoon Channel Gaming Challenge UK movie is a natural development, bringing format to the big screen with an all-UK cast of kid competitors competing to be the ultimate gamer. Kids and families will be enthralled and excited by this never-before-seen movie”.
“The Kartoon Channel has been experimenting with gaming TV shows for a while, starting in the US and gradually rolling them out around the world. It’s an original production, which we make in Los Angeles with kids from all over the world on Zoom, and it’s proved incredibly popular.
“We wanted to make a fun, positive and safe experience, recreating what used to be the Saturday morning cinema experience. But with a modern idiom using a tournament based around Roblox, which is so popular.
“What we found was that kids really love to see each other having fun, and they obviously adore Roblox. So the idea came about to do a knockout-style tournament film, turning what is usually a series of TV shows, into a movie.”
Frankie Vu, who has presented shows for the BBC, ITV and Disney, and is the host of the gameplay for the film, said: “The kids were just brilliant. Throughout the course of filming these games, the competitors really started to become friends and it shows how games like Roblox and movies like this can really bring children together”.
Josh Gilchrist, Director of Program Development and Production at Kartoon Studios, said: “I am a gamer myself and wanted to devise a show that would work on the reward systems that make games successful and gets you talking at the TV because you are so involved in the play, but is safe and fun for kids. With Gamer Challenge UK we feel we have come up with something that is unique and very special and the kids are really kind and supportive of each other and just wanted to have fun.”
Kartoon Channel's Gaming Challenge UK will be released in Vue Cinemas across Britain on Saturday April 19th, 2025.
The entire range of pre-loved jewellery will be on display in store at SH Jewellery in Morningside from Thursday, 27th February through to and including Saturday, 1st March.
READ MOREBritain’s biggest independent brewer, BrewDog is giving away free pints of its stout, Black Heart, to help keep the home nations’ hopes high!
READ MOREW Edinburgh, the capital’s latest 5-star luxury hotel, is set to host an unmissable Carnaval weekend celebration at SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh this weekend.
READ MOREBritish kids will go head-to-head on Roblox to be crowned the Gaming Challenge UK champion.
READ MOREAldi Scotland has proudly announced Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) as the official charity partner of its long running and hugely popular Supermarket Sweep initiative for 2025.
READ MOREThe contents of a 119-year-old message in a bottle, discovered at the King’s Theatre during the ongoing redevelopment project, have finally been revealed.
READ MOREInternational champion and Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has announced the full cast for Midnight Dancer, coming to Edinburgh Playhouse on 26th March!
READ MOREThe Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is delighted to announce full details of its fourth Pomegranates Festival which will run from 25th to 30th April 2025 at various venues across Edinburgh.
READ MOREThe Seafood Ristorante, one of Scotland's most beloved dining destinations, marks its 20th anniversary this month with the launch of an exclusive new 'Icons' menu.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is welcoming families and four-legged friends to hop along and get set for spring at its brand-new Easter-themed events, taking place across the UK.
READ MOREMPB is sponsoring Edinburgh’s Stills Centre for Photography by replacing their photographic equipment with high-quality gear to fully equip their Stills School.
READ MOREThe Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has partnered with anti-plastic water company ape2o to reduce plastic consumption by installing a 'Big Ape' high quality water refill machine at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MOREEdinburgh Playhouse Creative Learning initiative ‘Project Any Dream 2024’ is shortlisted in the category of Inspiring Partnerships at forthcoming Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
READ MORESt James Quarter will play host to an enviable line-up of style talks, fashion shows, beauty masterclasses and more from 28th to 30th March!
READ MOREThe Edinburgh cocktail bar and Social Darts experience is paying homage to the tequila-based cocktail for an entire month with its new limited-edition menu.
READ MOREThe Eric Liddell Community has received a generous £150,000 grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation to help sustain its vital work in combating loneliness and isolation in Edinburgh.
READ MORE105 years young! The Famous Spiegeltent celebrates her ‘centenary plus’ this summer by returning to St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.
READ MORELast chance to enjoy 2 for 1* on Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s award-winning experiences until 28th February.
READ MOREEdinburgh Science Festival welcomes everyone to explore the theme of Spaceship Earth and how we can all live like astronauts for the good of planet Earth.
READ MOREThe Leddie, Aberlady’s boutique hotel and restaurant, in partnership with WanderWomen, will host its first-ever wellness retreat, Spring Equinox Awakening, from 15th to 16th March.
READ MOREA HIGHLY anticipated charity football match is set to bring together property professionals and football legends in a bid to raise £20,000 for an inclusive outdoor space.
READ MOREJason Connery, filmmaker and son of the legendary Sean Connery, has invested £1 million in Lost Shore Surf Resort, marking a significant post-launch boost for Europe’s largest surf park.
READ MOREThe initiative enables customers across the UK to donate pre-loved children's books in-store, for onward gifting to families with fewer books of their own.
READ MOREEat Out Edinburgh, the highly anticipated city-centre restaurant festival run by Essential Edinburgh, today reveals the full list of incredible dining offers running throughout March.
READ MOREThe M&S Food store at Edinburgh Waverley Station has reopened to passengers following a complete transformation by food travel experts SSP Group.
READ MORESet to be this year’s Barbenheimer, the two hotly anticipated films will be shown across a range of formats at Cineworld, where spectacular offers and merch will make your date night unforgettable.
READ MOREMiffy, the classic children’s character created by Dick Bruna, is teaming up with the UK’s leading bubble tea brand, Bubbleology, for an unmissable springtime launch.
READ MORETo celebrate the Home Release of Paddington in Peru, Marston's has created a limited-edition marmalade-inspired children's menu, which will be available in over 250 Marston's pubs nationwide!
READ MORECapital Theatres embarks upon expert conservation work to protect and restore John Byrne’s iconic dome design as part of the King’s Theatre redevelopment project.
READ MORECommunities across Scotland are being invited to make a visible show of support for LGBTQ+ young people this Purple Friday.
READ MORE