Michael Winterbottom talks “chaotic” ’24 Hour Party People’: “It was a celebration of the music and Manchester”

24 Hour Party People director Michael Winterbottom has spoken to NME about capturing the “attitude and spirit” of Factory Records with the cult-classic film, ahead of it returning to cinemas for its 24th anniversary. The riotous Madchester music biopic, originally released in 2002, hits the big screen again in UK and Ireland cinemas today (Friday October 9), remastered in 4K. It’ll be available digitally and on 4K UHD disc on October 26. READ MORE: ‘24 Hour Party People’ OST review Steve Coogan stars as charismatic Granada TV presenter Tony Wilson, who set up the iconic indie label Factory in 1978, after being inspired by an early Sex Pistols gig. He would go on to sign some of the most influential bands of that era, including Joy Division, Happy Mondays and A Certain Ratio. Wilson (aka Mr Manchester) also co-founded the legendary Haçienda nightclub, co-owned by Factory and New Order. Winterbottom (The Trip, Wolf Alice: On The Road) spoke to NME ahead of a premiere screening as part of Manchester’s Beyond The Music 2026 conference on Tuesday (October 6), where he took part in a special Q&A with Coogan and producer Andrew Eaton. The filmmaker told us about the unique way he brou...