Around 250 people went through the doors for the controversial first Sunday opening of the Stornoway arts centre.
The move has angered many traditionalists who point out the commercial premises are closed on Sundays reflecting the historic local island values of observing the Sabbath.
Cinema goers filed past two pro-Sunday observance campaigners, holding placards denouncing the Sabbath-breaking event.
Many had tickets for the sold out new Stars Wars film – The Last Jedi – while others participated in children’s activity workshop building a model Death Star or viewed an exhibition of artworks.
An Lanntair is opening on the last Sunday of the month for a trial period in order to test demand for seven day operations.
The bar and restaurant was closed, but hot coffee and snacks were available.
Opinion was divided locally on the development. Some regard it as modernisation, while others consider it to be a another example of creeping secularism into island life.
One of the campaigners, Rev David S Fraser, a minister in the Free Church (Continuing), said: “We are here to remind people this is a holy day set aside for the worship of God and for honouring the Lord Jesus.
“Its quite out of place to be spending our time just on our own worldly pleasures.
“I am duty bound to remind people that they have a soul to be saved and they will not save it by going into this film.
“It is one of many distractions the devil puts in our way.”
An Lanntair’s chairman David Green responded: “The most important thing to us in the way we approach equality, diversity, inclusion is to do what we can for the people who trust us with this building and its resources.
“We have not set this up as a way to get lots of people in on a Sunday” and they were in the dark as to what film would arrive when they chose the trial opening dates.
Mr Green said he understood the local tradition of keeping Sunday special, but added: “when it comes to what people choose to do on any day of the week, it’s not fair – and certainly not within the bounds of our approach to equality and cultural diversity – that any group should impose on any other what they can or can’t do.”
“We have been really careful to do this in a way we hope will be least intrusive. There isn’t a bar and we are not serving meals.”