Central Cinema Upcoming productionshttps://centralcinema865.com/Knoxville's Neighborhood MoviehouseNashvillehttps://centralcinema865.com/production/nashville/NashvilleJuly's "Hard To Be Free" series of American essentials kicks off with Robert Altman's sprawling, pre-bicentennial slice of life. The intersecting stories of twenty-four characters—from country star to wannabe to reporter to waitress—connect to the music business in Nashville, Tennessee. "A complex, exquisitely orchestrated, kaleidoscopic examination of an American city with its unique culture." - Detroit Free Press]]>Godzilla vs Megalonhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/godzilla-vs-megalon-2/Godzilla vs MegalonOur Summer of Godzilla series with Snake Eyes Comics continues with this campy 1973 stateside favorite, co-sponsored by our friends at Grindhouse Video! Nuclear testing unleashes mayhem on the undersea kingdom of Seatopia, causing a series of environmental disasters that nearly wipes out Rokuro, the schoolboy protagonist at the center of this film. To exact revenge, Seatopia unleashes Megalon, a gigantic beetle with the ability to fire ray beams and napalm bombs. Meanwhile, Rokuro’s brother creates Jet Jaguar, a flying robot with a built-in moral compass. The inevitable matchup of Godzilla and Jet Jaguar versus Megalon and Gigan decides the world’s fate. (Janus Films)]]>Jawshttps://centralcinema865.com/production/jaws-2026/JawsHow do we compete with everything else going on on a Saturday Independence Day? By keeping the beach open, no matter the cost. Join us July 4 (or July 3, or July 6) for a proper holiday engagement of one of the all-time greats! When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature. "Perhaps the most perfectly constructed horror story in our time." - Hollywood Reporter]]>16mm Screening: High Noonhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/16mm-screening-high-noon/High Noon 16Though off-model for a Western and controversial for its clear anti-McCarthyist allegory, HIGH NOON has become a celebrated classic for the genre, and we're pleased to present a 16mm 'Film On Film' screening of the film as part of our July "Hard To Be Free" series of American essentials. (Can't make it to Sunday's 16mm show? We'll be screening HIGH NOON digitally in its 4K restoration on Wednesday July 8!) Former marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is preparing to leave the small town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, with his new bride, Amy (Grace Kelly), when he learns that local criminal Frank Miller has been set free and is coming to seek revenge on the marshal who turned him in. When he starts recruiting deputies to fight Miller, Kane is discouraged to find that the people of Hadleyville turn cowardly when the time comes for a showdown, and he must face Miller and his cronies alone. "This is a film of integrity and purpose, a revelation of human character and a masterpiece of the story telling art." - Boston Globe]]>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.
]]>High Noon (Digital Encore)https://centralcinema865.com/production/high-noon-digital-encore/High NoonThough off-model for a Western and controversial for its clear anti-McCarthyist allegory, HIGH NOON has become a celebrated classic for the genre, and we're pleased to present it as part of our July "Hard To Be Free" series of American essentials. (Tickets below are for the 4K digital encore; we'll also be offering a 16mm "Film on Film" screening Sunday, July 7. Former marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is preparing to leave the small town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, with his new bride, Amy (Grace Kelly), when he learns that local criminal Frank Miller has been set free and is coming to seek revenge on the marshal who turned him in. When he starts recruiting deputies to fight Miller, Kane is discouraged to find that the people of Hadleyville turn cowardly when the time comes for a showdown, and he must face Miller and his cronies alone. "This is a film of integrity and purpose, a revelation of human character and a masterpiece of the story telling art." - Boston Globe]]>The Killing of Americahttps://centralcinema865.com/production/the-killing-of-america/The Killing of AmericaThe only nonfiction film in our America-focused "Hard To Be Free" series, this striking assemblage (part of the popular if disreputable "mondo" tradition of exploitative, clip-oriented documentaries) presents a hard look at the real-world violence – much of it gun-related – that was already coloring international perceptions of American culture when the film was produced 45 years ago. Though we don't typically offer content warnings for Central Cinema events, we are compelled to stress that this film consists largely of film/video documentation of heinous violent crimes... copious viewer discretion is advised. Written by Leonard Schrader (brother of TAXI DRIVER scribe Paul). THE KILLING OF AMERICA is a stylish lost piece of the "mondo" film puzzle, directly and coolly addressing the psyche-shattering nature of everyday gun crime through ultra-rare news file footage of the era. Assassinations, serial killers, race riots, and even more shocking realities are on display. Although the film was originally made for the same Japanese market as FACES OF DEATH, this 100% authentic newsreel assemblage eschews sensationalism and critique to form a wholly original, unforgettable big-screen experience. (AGFA)]]>Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/mr-smith-goes-to-washington/Mr SmithA key breakthrough in James Stewart's career as Hollywood's all-time everyman, this beloved Frank Capra classic (screening as part of our July "Hard To Be Free" series of American stories) attacks government graft and cynicism with a wide-eyed idealism that still resonates generations later. When the idealistic young Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) winds up appointed to the United States Senate, he gains the mentorship of Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains). However, Paine isn't as noble as his reputation would indicate, and he becomes involved in a scheme to discredit Smith, who wants to build a boys' campsite where a more lucrative project could go. Determined to stand up against Paine and his corrupt peers, Smith takes his case to the Senate floor. "Practically perfect entertainment. It's funny, it's touching, it's grandly dramatic and it's 100 per cent American." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]>Dickhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/dick/Dick Our "Hard To Be Free" series of American stories takes a break for some laughs with this upbeat Watergate riff, featuring a deep bench of sketch comedy ringers (Will Ferrell, Bruce McCulloch, Dave Foley, Harry Shearer) and a delightful take on Tricky Dick from Dan Hedaya. Betsy (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene (Michelle Williams) are two 15-year-old girls in 1976. When Betsy visits Arlene at the Watergate Motel, the two accidentally stumble into the middle of the infamous Watergate robbery. In order to keep them quiet, Nixon (Dan Hedaya) appoints them as honorary dog walkers. As they travel in and out of the White House, their seemingly innocent actions start a chain of events that may eventually lead to Nixon's resignation as President of the United States. "A gaily funny, shrewdly inventive satire." - Entertainment Weekly]]>Movies Under The Stars: Terror In The Woods!https://centralcinema865.com/production/movies-under-the-stars-terror-in-the-woods/Join us as Central Cinema and Ijams Nature Center present the annual Knoxville Horror Film Fest "Terror In The Woods" double feature on the Ijams lawn! This year's event presents a double dose of middle-of-nowhere cannibal terror, pairing 1974's original TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE with 2003's WRONG TURN! THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974) | A group of youngsters come across a family of psychopaths who attack them with a variety of gruesome methods, including a chainsaw, before those who survive escape, still pursued by the saw-wielding Leatherface. WRONG TURN (2003) | Friends Jessie (Eliza Dushku) and Carly (Emmanuelle Chriqui) are traveling with pals Scott (Jeremy Sisto), Evan (Kevin Zegers) and Francine (Lindy Booth) when they have car trouble in West Virginia. Moments later, motorist Chris (Desmond Harrington) crashes into their disabled vehicle. Stranded, the friends discover that they're being stalked by a horde of backwoods cannibals. The woodsmen are hungry and fierce, and they'll be eating well unless Jessie and pals can outsmart them. Please note this event takes place on the lawn outside the Ijams Visitor Center, NOT at Central Cinema! Gates open at 7pm and the movies 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 $15 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, Creepycon and Sierra Nevada.]]>Cape Fear (1991)https://centralcinema865.com/production/cape-fear-1991/Cape FearFollowing the success of GOODFELLAS, famously movie-obsessed Martin Scorsese treated himself to the only bona fide remake of his career: a snarling, smash-hit adaptation of the 1962 thriller CAPE FEAR starring his muse Robert De Niro. When attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) knowingly withholds evidence that would acquit violent sex offender Max Cady (Robert De Niro) of rape charges, Max spends 14 years in prison. But after Max's release, knowing about Sam's deceit, he devotes his life to stalking and destroying the Bowden family. When practical attempts to stop Max fail, Sam realizes that he must act outside the law to protect his wife and daughter. "Proves that when a maverick virtuoso like Scorsese sets his mind to it, making ''mainstream'' movies is one more thing he can do better than just about anyone else." - Entertainment Weekly]]>KMA $5 Screening: Christmas In Julyhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/kma-5-screening-christmas-in-july/Xmas in JulyOur collaboration with the KMA continues with a $5 “Christmas In July” program of the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special and Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas… and those who opt for the Saturday 6/11 matinee screening will be treated to a special introduction from Pee-Wee collaborator (and current KMA exhibition subject) Wayne White! (As always, KMA events are FREE for KMA members!)]]>LIVE! Knoxville Poetry Slamhttps://centralcinema865.com/production/kps/Knoxville Poetry Slam is a $10 semi-monthly live poetry open mic presented by Lane Shuler and Jonathan "Courageous" Clark, who travel the country performing as I.N.K. Spoken Word. Show up around 6:45pm if you'd like to get on the list to perform! $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.
]]>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!
 
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