Hey folks, welcome back to Little Big Screen: On the Big, Big Screen, where film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. Keep scrolling for the full list of this month’s big screenings.
Weapons (2025)
Directed by Zach Cregger
I’m not sure I’ve recommended a movie more in recent years than Barbarian. Each rec came with a mandatory disclaimer: “Go in blind!” The film’s many goofs (the sunscald of that Cruis’n USA smash cut to Justin Long) and gross-outs (a hairy baby bottle as big as the screen) were simply too fun to spoil. The trailer for Zach Cregger’s follow up, Weapons, which seems to be about a classroom of kids that self-abducts in the middle of the night, is everywhere — even scaring audiences before Superman and The Fantastic Four — but I’m doing my best to go in blind. You should, too.
The Last Picture House, Davenport, Thursday, Aug. 7, 7:45 p.m.
Hud (1963)
Directed by Martin Ritt
It would’ve been Paul Newman’s 100th birthday this year. That’s a fine enough excuse for FilmScene to screen a series of movies starring the Best Actor winner/smiling salad dressing avatar/racecar driver. Because of the Budweiser logos plastered on said racecar, FilmScene is bringing the bowtied beers to concessions this month. (It took exactly one photo of late ’70s Newman with a Bud Heavy in hand to win the heart and mind of this consumer.) Maybe they’ll let you drink it in a wine glass?
FilmScene, Iowa City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 4 p.m., and Thursday, August 14, 7 p.m.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Directed by Jared Hess
My buddy’s older sister was the first person in Pella, Iowa, to own the Napoleon Dynamite DVD. Word spread and soon kids were stopping by, even ones we didn’t really hang out with, to see the funniest movie ever made. I didn’t — couldn’t — watch Napoleon Dynamite again until the Englert hosted a 20th anniversary screening last fall. The quotables were right where I left them, too lived and observed to mold over like most mid-aughts awkwardness, and I’ve gotta say, a few of the thrifted Wes Anderson frames approached cheapo perfection.
The Varsity Cinema, Des Moines, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Directed by Shane Black
Back in March, when we were all watching Winthrop, Iowa’s Michelle Monaghan on The White Lotus, I said this rom-commy noir — which could be a credible double feature with Definitely, Maybe or Chinatown — was the best Shane Black movie. If you won’t take my word for it, Key & Peele said it was the best movie of all time.
The Fleur Cinema, Des Moines, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6:00 and 8:45 p.m.
Nowhere (1997)
Directed by Gregg Araki
I only discovered the Gregg Araki speedball of perked-up colors and zonked-out one-liners (and Slowdive worship) because I had decided to watch everything Denise Richards had ever done. About the time I found myself searching for autographed Starship Troopers action figures, I had reached deep enough into Richards’ back catalog to find Nowhere. Her role in the shroomy hangout movie, like just about everybody’s in the glossy 90s ensemble (Christina Applegate, Ryan Philippe, Heather Graham, Shannon Doherty, Rose McGowan, etc.), is a good time not a long time. Though my Denise desires had gone unmet, my Richards retrospective was over. I needed to see everything Araki had ever done.
FilmScene, Iowa City, Sunday, Aug. 31, 7:45 p.m.
More big, big screenings this month:
DES MOINES
Fri, Aug 8, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley presented with First Fleet Concerts, Varsity Cinema
Sat, Aug 9, Des Moines Free Flicks series: Zathura: A Space Adventure, Ewing Park
Fri, Aug 15, Des Moines Free Flicks series: Inside Out 2, Evelyn K. Davis Park
Sun, Aug 17, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35th Anniversary, Fleur Cinema
Wed, Aug 20, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35th Anniversary, Fleur Cinema
Fri, Aug 22, Des Moines Free Flicks series: Moana 2, Gray’s Lake Park
IOWA CITY
Wed, Aug 6, 10 p.m., The Toxic Avenger, FilmScene
Thu, Aug 7, 6:30 p.m., Iowa City Video Zine Youth Episode, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 9, 4 p.m., The Last Class, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 9, 8:15 p.m., Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, FilmScene
Sun, Aug 10, 4 p.m., Hud, FilmScene
Mon, Aug 11, 7 p.m., Resettled, FilmScene
Wed, Aug 13, 10 p.m., Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland, FilmScene
Thu, Aug 14, 7 p.m., Hud, FilmScene
Wed, Aug 13, 7 p.m., The Last Class, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 16, 4 p.m., Cool Hand Luke, FilmScene
Sat & Sun, Aug 16 & 17, 11 a.m., The Secret World of Arrietty, FilmScene
Sun, Aug 17, 8:05 p.m., White Chicks, FilmScene
Mon, Aug 18, 7 p.m., Cool Hand Luke, FilmScene
Tues, Aug 19, 7 p.m., Brokeback Mountain, FilmScene
Wed, Aug 2, 10 p.m., Shriek of the Mutilated, FilmScene
Thu, Aug 21, 3:30 p.m., The Secret World of Arrietty, FilmScene
Fri, Aug 22, 10 p.m., Wolf Man Rising, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 23, 8 p.m., Shrek, FilmScene in the Park
Sun, Aug 24, 4 p.m., The Verdict, FilmScene
Sun, Aug 24, 7 p.m., The Dells, FilmScene
Tue, Aug 26, 7 p.m. The Verdict, FilmScene
Wed, Aug 27, 10 p.m, Superstarlet A.D., FilmScene
Thu, Aug 28, 7 p.m., Land & Heart: Local Food Shorts, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 30, 6:30 p.m., International Screendance Festival 2025, FilmScene
Sat, Aug 30, 10 p.m., Dazed and Confused, FilmScene
Wed, Sept 3, 10 p.m., Maniac Cop 2, FilmScene
QUAD CITIES
Thu-Sat, Aug 7-9, 8:30 p.m., Labyrinth, The Last Picture House
Thu-Sat, Aug 21-23, 8:30 p.m., Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, The Last Picture House
Fri, Aug 22, 7 p.m., Unbreakable w/ Cinema Therapy, The Last Picture House
Thu-Sat, Aug 28-30, 8:30 p.m., Signs, The Last Picture House
