Central Cinema Upcoming productionshttps://centralcinema865.com/Knoxville's Neighborhood MoviehouseFree Series: TAMIS Presents "Extracurricular"https://centralcinema865.com/production/tamis/TAMIS Presents 2024TAMIS' May screening may just give you a bad case of senioritis. The program will present a pair of artifacts from the TAMIS collection that document some of the perks that come with the end of the school year. First, STUDENTS ABROAD follows students from a southern junior college as they tour Europe on a late-1960s school-sponsored trip. Then, FHS PROM '90 offers a fly-on-the-wall look at the preparations and highlights from Farragut High School's spring prom 36 years ago. World-class landmarks, period fashions, pop culture throwbacks, and vintage production values are all on display in this hour-long program. And since it's historic, we'll say it counts as extra credit. Join us at Central Cinema at 6:30 on Thursday, May 21 for the FREE one-time screening! Central Cinema is pleased to team up with the Knox County Public Library's Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound for a free monthly screening event, alternating between regionally-relevant feature films and dispatches from their extensive archive of audiovisual treasures.]]>Stolen Kingdomhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/stolen-kingdom/Stolen KingdomSTOLEN KINGDOM is a documentary that delves into the history of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, ultimately leading to the theft of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. The film features key figures from the park’s underground exploration community, each sharing their unique stories. As the narrative unfolds, early pranks and antics are shown to have inspired more recent crimes, culminating in a true crime mystery. What begins as a tale of friendship and passion ends with one lingering question: Who stole Buzzy? "An entertaining, comical, disturbing and downright tragic look at what was once supposed to be a cultural utopia." - Orlando Weekly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGB0flK0AGI]]>Movies Under The Stars: School of Rockhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/movies-under-the-stars-school-of-rock/MUTS SchoolJoin us as we kick off the 2026 season of Ijams Nature Center's Movies Under The Stars series with this 2003 family favorite, with support from Knoxville's own School of Rock!  Overly enthusiastic guitarist Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets thrown out of his bar band and finds himself in desperate need of work. Posing as a substitute music teacher at an elite private elementary school, he exposes his students to the hard rock gods he idolizes and emulates -- much to the consternation of the uptight principal (Joan Cusack). As he gets his privileged and precocious charges in touch with their inner rock 'n' roll animals, he imagines redemption at a local Battle of the Bands. Please note this event takes place on the lawn outside the Ijams Visitor Center, NOT at Central Cinema! Gates open at 7pm and the movie will start at sundown, giving you plenty of time to take advantage of food trucks, a beer tent and the expanse of trails & exhibits that make Ijams Nature Center such a treasure. Tickets are just $12 per person; please bring a chair/blanket (and a leash for pups!) but no coolers or outside alcohol. Movies Under The Stars 2026 is sponsored by Pacifico, Nirvana Comics and Sierra Nevada.]]>Shogun Assassinhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/shogun-assassin-2/Shogun AssassinThe legendary midnight movie sensation that firmly embedded samurai mythology within American pop culture consciousness, this English-dubbed reedit of the first two films in the classic Japanese chanbaraseries Lone Wolf and Cub is a giddily entertaining, mesmerizingly gory classic of East-meets-West grindhouse mayhem. Following the murder of his wife at the hands of an evil shogun, an avenging ronin (Tomisaburo Wakayama) roams the countryside with his young son — and the boy’s sword-shooting baby carriage — in tow, dispatching ninja assassins with steely resolve in operatically stylized flurries of hallucinatory violence. With its pulsing synth soundtrack (cowritten by Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders) and delirious action set pieces — kinetically edited whirlwinds of flashing blades, spurting blood, and severed limbs — SHOGUN ASSASSIN proved an instant cult favorite that has bubbled its way up from the underground to the mainstream thanks to its influence on artists ranging from the Wu-Tang Clan to Quentin Tarantino. (Janus Films)]]>10 Good Menhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/10-good-men/10 Good Men In observance of Memorial Day, Central Cinema is pleased to present two screenings of this independent documentary. The B-17 Flying Fortress became an icon of American air power in World War II, but its legacy is written by the stories of the crews who flew it. In 10 GOOD MEN, ten veterans recount their experiences from across the full span of the air war in Europe. Pilots, navigators, bombardiers, and gunners speak candidly about their missions, training, and survival—some shot down and captured, others completing dozens of sorties. Structured chronologically, the film traces the Allied air campaign's evolution: early daylight raids met with huge losses, the arrival of long-range fighter escorts, the evolution of German flak and fighter strategies, and the final push that helped the Allies win the war. The narrative builds through the veterans themselves—men reflecting, eight decades later, on what they endured, what it cost, and why it matters today. Supported by newly restored archival footage from both American and German archives, original photography, and modern interviews, 10 GOOD MEN documents both the machinery of war and the humanity behind it. It serves as a testament to a generation now in its final years and to the role they played in defining the course of history.]]>Skate Video Nighthttps://centralcinema865.com/production/skate-video-night/
Skate Video NightSkate Video Night is a monthly showcase of top-shelf skate videos, presented on VHS and DVD the last Monday of the month and curated by collector Chris Albiston. Admission is just $7! Please note that this monthly series is presented in a more casual mode than other CC screenings, including increased light level in the auditorium and no discouragement of casual conversation. Come hang out!
 
]]>Once Upon A Time In Chinahttps://centralcinema865.com/production/once-upon-a-time-in-china/Once Upon A Time In ChinaWriter-producer-director Tsui Hark’s sprawling vision of a changing nineteenth-century China begins with this riotously entertaining epic, a blockbuster hit that cemented Jet Li’s status as the greatest martial-arts superstar of his generation. Li displays his stunning, fast-and-fluid fighting style as the legendary martial-arts teacher and doctor Wong Fei-hung, who, with a band of disciples, battles a host of nefarious forces—foreign and local—who are threatening Chinese sovereignty as British and American imperialists encroach upon the Mainland. Once Upon a Time in China’s breathtaking blend of kung fu, comedy, romance, and melodrama climaxes in a whirlwind guns-vs.-fists finale that is also a thrilling affirmation of Chinese cultural identity. (Janus Films)]]>LIVE! Comedy Debate Leaguehttps://centralcinema865.com/production/comedy-debate-league/Comedy Debate LeagueGet ready for Comedy Debate League, where two hilarious comedians go head-to-head to settle the ultimate showdowns of our time! From board games vs. video games to the great pineapple pizza debate, each show promises comical arguments and side-splitting punchlines that will keep you rolling in your seat. But here’s the twist: YOU, the audience, hold the power to decide the ultimate champion! Get ready to laugh, gasp, and cheer as your votes determine who delivers the best arguments and steals the show. Join us for a night of fun, laughter, and friendly rivalry – it's where debate meets hilarity, and you play a starring role! 18+ | $10 | Doors 6:30pm | Show 7pm
Third-Party Event Notice: this screening or performance is presented by an outside organization using Central Cinema as a venue for hire. Questions regarding content, ticketing and other event-specific information should be directed to the organizers.
]]>Clueless (with Live Rom-Commentary)https://centralcinema865.com/production/clueless-with-live-rom-commentary/Clueless GGBWe're teaming up with Good Girl Books for a return engagement of this brilliantly 90s Jane Austen adaptation. Tickets below are for Friday night's live "rom-commentary" & pop-up sale from the GGB crew... or see it in standard encore screenings Saturday & Sunday! Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother (Paul Rudd) was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him. "A fresh, disarmingly bright and at times explosively funny comedy." - Variety]]>Close Encounters of the Third Kindhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind/Close EncountersAs we collectively prepare for DISCLOSURE DAY (both the movie and possibly IRL?) Central Cinema is flashing back to director Steven Spielberg's original tale of first contact, which solidified the legendary director as a box office wizard following the unprecedented success of JAWS. (Presented in its preferred, extended Director's Cut.) Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) witnesses an unidentified flying object, and even has a "sunburn" from its bright lights to prove it. Roy refuses to accept an explanation for what he saw and is prepared to give up his life to pursue the truth about UFOs. "A marvelous movie... an eye-widening, ear-filling adventure that lifts your spirits and sends you home with a great feeling that lasts for hours." - Toronto Star]]>Cluelesshttps://centralcinema865.com/production/clueless-3/CluelessWe're teaming up with Good Girl Books for a return engagement of this brilliantly 90s Jane Austen adaptation. Showtimes below are for standard screenings, following Friday night's live "rom-commentary" & pop-up sale from the GGB crew! Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother (Paul Rudd) was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him. "A fresh, disarmingly bright and at times explosively funny comedy." - Variety]]>Tiny Stage presents Central Cinema Comedy Nighthttps://centralcinema865.com/production/tiny-stage-comedy-night/Join us for our FREE monthly live standup engagement, showcasing Knoxville's best comics courtesy of our friends at Tiny Stage Comedy! Doors at 7pm, comedy beginning at 7:30pm.
Third-Party Event Notice: this screening or performance is presented by an outside organization using Central Cinema as a venue for hire. Questions regarding content, ticketing and other event-specific information should be directed to the organizers.
]]>Live: Dusty Deaton ("Junebug") with Jordan Bhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/junebug/Dusty Deaton hits the Central Cinema with the Mama We Tryin Tour, bringing his viral character Junebug to life on stage. With raw, relatable Southern storytelling and nonstop laughs, plus a set from Jordan B, this is one night of comedy you don't want to miss.]]>FREE! The Queenhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/free-the-queen/The Queen We're pleased to be teaming up with SoKno Pride (don't miss their annual festival on Saturday June 20!) for a FREE community screening of this vital snapshot from queer cultural history. More than 40 years before RuPaul's Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas in the lead-up to the big event. Organized by LGBTQ icon and activist Flawless Sabrina, the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern.. But perhaps most memorable is an epic diatribe calling out the pageant's bias delivered by Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to form the influential House of LaBeija, heavily featured in Paris Is Burning (1990). A vibrant piece of queer history, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negative. "Whether pushing the camera close to the performers or zooming in from afar to survey them intimately, Simon captures the lavish life of theatrical imagination that inspires them and makes gender itself seem like an urgent performance." - The New Yorker]]>Live Comedy: Rowdy Rogerhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/live-comedy-rowdy-roger/Rowdy Roger is bringing his high-energy Southern comedy to Central Cinema for one night only. A Knoxville native, Rowdy Roger has opened for major acts including Ginger Billy and Darren Knight and continues to rapidly build a loyal following throughout the Southeast. He is also currently preparing for his upcoming August 2026 performance at Zanies Nashville - The Lab. Known for his crowd interaction, storytelling, and viral social media presence, Roger blends stand-up comedy with audience participation and off-the-cuff moments that make every show feel unique. This special one-night event will feature an interactive comedy experience full of real-life stories, crowd work, and the unpredictable energy that has made Rowdy Roger a rising name in Southern comedy. 18+ | $28 | Doors 7:30pm | Show 8pm
Third-Party Event Notice: this screening or performance is presented by an outside organization using Central Cinema as a venue for hire. Questions regarding content, ticketing and other event-specific information should be directed to the organizers.
]]>Live: Everything Is Terrible! & Memory Hole present "Animals Are Over"https://centralcinema865.com/production/live-everything-is-terrible-memory-hole-present-animals-are-over/Animals Are OverCentral Cinema is pleased to welcome video scavenger collective Everything Is Terrible! for a live show presentation of the newest "horror collage" from their Memory Hole offshoot. Don't miss this one... tickets on sale now! Everything Is Terrible!’s Memory Hole is back with a new piece of horror video collage made from thousands of real home movies that will turn the viewer’s blood into a viscous, demonic sludge of oil and microplastics. Everyone has been feeling it, but no one has been brave enough to say it outloud… Animals Are Over. It is a depressing truth that must be explored. Our current version of humanity is so shortsighted and clueless as to our own position in Kingdom Animalia that we are destroying all animals, ourselves included for the sake of cheap dopamine blasts and to bolster the profits of a few loser billionaires. You don’t believe us? After seeing this show you will. Memory Hole is an experimental documentary series brought to you by the minds behind the art collective Everything is Terrible! and a secret, unnameable iconic American media accomplice. Memory Hole is an autopsy of our collective memory. Like time lapse footage of a decomposing animal it is always happening right before your very eyes, yet invisible until sequenced and cataloged. A terrifying multisensory experience, Memory Hole takes actual home movies, recontextualizes and splices them together to take a hard look at what this country has been doing unnoticed in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. The results are more unsettling than any horror film, creating a snapshot of the eerie precursor to internet fame. This is the origin story of social media, youtube reality stars, and selfies. Memory Hole is an autopsy of our collective pre-internet memory of a culture obsessed with capturing and sharing its own image. Animals Are Over is as ephemeral as an animal’s life on earth. We will be releasing a small number of VHS and will do a limited run of live performances and screenings. Once all of the VHS tapes have been distributed we will delete the video from the internet as well as our personal hard drives. Animals Are Over is scored by Aaron Dilloway, Alfred English, the Brainfeeder Records’ roster, Sikk Laffter and more. Enjoy your time on earth as an animal while you still can.]]>