Astria Suparak returns to UW-Madison campus with live cinema performance, March 11 & 12.
ASIAN FUTURES, WITHOUT ASIANS, a performative lecture by Astria Suparak presents a taxonomy of tropes illustrated by over 300 images and clips.
Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, March 2-9, 2026
Monday posts will now feature some short notes on various cinematic topics, followed by the Now Showing in Madison guide to commercial theaters and alternative venues.
Like a lot of things in this town, I found out by accident about the UW-Madison campus visit by Astria Suparak next week. Now that I know about it, I should make sure that you should know about it. You should try to attend at least one of her free campus events between March 11 and 13. But first, some background.
I first knew about Suparak from her work on the Joanie 4 Jackie underground film network coordinated by artist and filmmaker Miranda July, which started in 1995. Essentially, Joanie 4 Jackie was a “sneakernet” or bicycle distribution network where films were passed along around the country on VHS cassettes. Somewhere, if I dug around for it, I think I might still find my copy of Suparak’s curated VHS tape, Some Kind of Loving, with films by Karen Yasinsky, Jane Gang, Jennifer Reeder, Stephanie Barber, and Peggy Ahwesh.
Suparak presented her curated film screening Sexuality Malfunctioned at Starlight Cinema at the UW Madison Memorial Union on March 23, 2000. This was probably the first time I saw any work by Luther Price (she screened Sodom, 1989, Super 8mm, 20 minutes) as part of a 90 minute program which also included films by Peggy Ahwesh, Laura Parnes, and Jennifer Reeder. Previewing the same program at UW-Milwaukee the following night (see poster above), Kevin John wrote:
[Because] Suparak has programmed Sexuality Malfunctioned like a perfectly coherent essay, one need only keep in mind her précis from the program notes to begin to see how these bursts of mismatching energy actually signify: ‘Dis-ease and uncomfort within desire explored through techniques such as hand-painting, manipulated found-footage, optical printing and stop-motion animation. Sexual development in the age of the spectacle.'
What can we expect from Suparak over 25 years later? Well, she has kept herself very busy as an artist and curator based in Oakland, California. Her website astriasuparak.com has pages and pages of descriptions and documentation of her projects over the years. The promotional materials for next week’s visit explains: Her cross-disciplinary projects address complex and urgent issues (like institutionalized racism, feminisms, and colonialism) made accessible through a popular culture lens.”
Her performative lecture, Asian futures, without Asians, also described in the promotional materials as a live cinema work, surveys “60 years of mainstream science-fiction cinema,” to break down “the unstable category of ‘Asian’ through a series of maps, regulations, and geopolitical trends.” Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Detroit-based DJ and multimedia artist Tammy Lakkis. A quick survey of Suparak’s website documents her many performances of Asian futures, without Asians, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as many other museums and art venues.
The two performances of Asian futures, without Asians will take place next week on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:00pm, and Thursday, March 12 at 7:00pm at the Play Circle Theater in the UW-Madison Memorial Union. Both are free, but you do need to reserve tickets through Campus Arts Ticketing. The Thursday, March 12 performance will be followed by a discussion with several UW-Madison participants, including moderator Helen Lee (Glass Lab, Art Department).
Speaking of the Glass Lab, another component of Suparak’s visit will be a free glass and neon fabrication demonstration to “explore how glass and neon contribute to the language of futurity.” The Glass Lab presentation will be Friday, March 13, 2:00-5:00pm, UW Art Lofts, 111 N Francis Street.
One last detail: The artists have requested mask-wearing at all of these events. Masks will be available to all guests. I hope to see some of you at the Thursday, March 12 performance!
Now Playing In Madison: March 2-9, 2026
Please confirm showtimes with the venues (follow venue links where provided). The commercial theaters update their weekend listings on Wednesdays. Another Now Playing source that posts on Wednesdays is The Horizon Line Madison.
Comments here are not reviews of the films, they are usually a response to the trailer, a summary of the buzz I have heard, or just snark. They are not always particularly accurate, according to reader feedback. I add trailers to new films of interest that you might not know about (American indies, international features, etc.).
First Look at the Fest: Wednesday, March 4, 7:00pm at Flix Brewhouse
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the Wisconsin Film Festival First Look event can be a fun way to preview upcoming festival films, look at the schedule one day before the rest of us access it in Isthmus, and purchase tickets for the hot screenings. A little pricey, $50 in advance, $60 at the door. But hey, nothing wrong with tossing the Festival a few shekels their way, is there?
UW Cinematheque
After a very busy weekend with filmmaker Owen Kline last week, the Cinematheque keeps things simple with a Friday/Saturday combo.
AIR MAIL, 4070 Vilas Hall, Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.
John Ford, USA, 1932, 84 min.
CRONOS, 4070 Vilas Hall, Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m.
Guillermo del Toro, Mexico, 1992, 92 min.
Wisconsin Union Directorate Film
WUD Film makes up for the slower-than-usual Cinematheque weekend with an impressive lineup of new and old films.
AMERICAN FICTION (2023) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Tuesday, 3/3, 7 p.m.
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (2025), Union South Marquee Theater, Wednesday, 3/4, 6:30 p.m.
FAULT LINES (2025), Union South Marquee Theater, Thursday, 3/5, 6:30 p.m.
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Friday, 3/6, 6:30 p.m.
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU (2025) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Friday, 3/6, 9 p.m.
SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), Union South Marquee Theater, Saturday, 3/7, 6 p.m.
BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991), Union South Marquee Theater, Saturday, 3/7, 9 p.m.
Commercial Theaters:
AMC Theatres
Flix Brewhouse
Marcus Theatres (Palace and Point)
3/7: 2026 BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE DAY ONE MARATHON at AMC.
AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: MARCH 9 at AMC.
AURORA: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EARTH? at Point.
Concert film featuring Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora.
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH at AMC, Palace.
BEST PICTURE MARATHON 2026: DAY ONE at Point.
BETTER TOMORROW, A at AMC, Point.
I’ve been pushing these Hong Kong classics from director John Woo, perhaps too often. Final screenings Monday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 4
BLADES OF THE GUARDIANS at AMC.
This played in town much longer than I had anticipated, to the point that I wish I had taken the time to write a review to convince more people to see it. I did find a review that more or less covered many of the points that I would have made at Polygon.
BOOGIE NIGHTS at Flix.
BRIDE!, THE at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Christian Bale as Frankenstein and Jesse Buckley in a very different role than in Hamnet, as The Bride. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
BUGONIA at Point.
CRIME 101 at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Action thriller starring Chris Hemsworth. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE at Palace.
Japanese dark fantasy action anime feature.
DOLLY at AMC.
Horror film.
DREAMS at AMC.
Jessica Chastain stars in this drama about a wealthy socialite who has a secret affair with an undocumeted immigrant dancer, played by Isaac Hernández. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Baz Luhrman hadn’t done enough to tarnish Elvis Presley’s legacy, so this time he goes into the archives and presents concert footage re-formatted for an IMAX experience.
F1 THE MOVIE at Palace.
FRANKENSTEIN at Point.
GET ON THE BUS at AMC.
Spike Lee’s 1996 drama about a bus trip to the Million Man March.
GOAT at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Big-budget splashy return of director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean films, among others) is a sci-fi satire starring Sam Rockwell. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
HAMNET at Palace, Point.
HOPPERS at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
New Pixar animated feature film.
HORRIBLE BOSSES at Flix.
HOW TO MAKE A KILLING at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Latest A24 release, directed by John Patton Ford (whose Emily the Criminal was reasonably good, except the ending). This black comedy starring Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley is essentially a darker reworking of Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), where a man plots to kill his relatives who are in the way of his inheritance. Getting mixed to negative reviews, including from Rob Thomas.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Faith-based backstage drama about the challenges of being a pop-country superstar.
IRON LUNG at Point.
I have been mis-identifying this film in the listings the past few weeks. This is, of course, the horror feature film debut from YouTube influencer Mark Fischbach (a.k.a. “Markpiler.”) I know I talked about the correct film at least once in these listings, because its production history is so odd. Wikipedia reports that “as of February 20, 2026, Iron Lung [has] grossed $38.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $9.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $48.5 million.”
I STILL BELIEVE at AMC.
Faith-based biography romance inspired by the Christian musician Jeremy Camp. This had a release in 2020, on a limited scale due to COVID.
K-POPS! at AMC.
This family friendly comedy is the directorial debut of rapper Anderson .Paak. A musician (.Paak) hopes to revive his career as a K-pop star in Korea. I guess this kind of fills in for The Moment leaving theaters so soon.
LITTLE WOMEN at AMC.
The 2019 version, directed by Greta Gerwig
MARTY SUPREME at Point.
MIDWINTER BREAK at AMC, Palace, Point.
Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds star in this adaptation of the novel of the same title by Bernard MacLaverty. A retired couple deal with the tensions in their relationship while traveling to Amsterdam.
NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE at AMC.
A theatrical engagement after the sneak peek at the UW-Cinematheque last month. I’ve only heard good things about this. Rob Thomas attended that screening, read his review.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER at Point.
OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORTS at Palace, Point.
OTHELLO at Point.
Recorded stage performance starring David Harewood, Caitlin Fitzgerald, and Toby Jones.
PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN at Flix.
Continuation of the British television series Peaky Blinders (2013-2022). This feature film starring Cillian Murphy and directed by Tom Harper will have a limited theatrical release, followed by a debut on Netflix on March 20.
PEGASUS 3 at AMC.
Chinese car racing comedy/drama (Pegasus was released in 2019, with Pegasus 2 following in 2024). Deadline.com ran an article with the lede: “The biggest movies at this weekend’s worldwide box office won’t be from Hollywood — sorry, Wuthering Heights — but rather China, where the Year of the Fire Horse has been in full swing since Tuesday.” This in part explains the release of Blades of the Guardians and Scare Out here two weeks ago, and Pegasus 3 last week. During the first three days of the Chinese New Year, Pegasus 3 actually led the other two at the Chinese domestic box office.
PILLION at AMC, Point.
Romantic drama with dark humor directed by Harry Lighton. Alexander Skarsgård stars as a biker who strikes up a BDSM relationship with a timid gay man, played by Harry Melling. Winner of the Best Screenplay prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
PRESIDENT’S CAKE, THE at AMC.
Winnner of the Audience Award and the Camera d’Or after its debut in the Director’s Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Drama set in 1990s Iraq, shortly after Saddam Hussain’s invasion of Kuwait. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
PROTECTOR at AMC.
Action drama starring Milla Jovovich as a mother who will do whatever it takes to find and release her daughter from a sex trafficking ring. That old saw.
PSYCHO KILLER at Palace, Point.
Horror film getting generally negative reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes summarizing the critics consensus as, “Qu’est-ce que c’est? Better run, run, run, run, run, run, run away.”
ROAD AT NIGHT, A at Point.
A few more screenings remain at Marcus Point. Documentary by John Roach, about the tragedy that struck the family of University of Wisconsin men’s basketball assistant coach Howard Moore when a drunk driver collided with their car. See notes in a previous post.
SCREAM 7 at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
The latest film in the horror franchise which launched with Scream in 1996. Trivia: Courtney Cox is apparently the only actress to appear in seven consecutive films of a horror franchise. Probably all that needs to be said about the role of women in slasher films. (How often do they survive to make it to the sequels?) Meanwhile, Scream 7 had a franchise record opening of 97.2 million worldwide this past weekend.
SECRET AGENT, THE at Palace, Point.
SEND HELP at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
The latest thriller from Sam Raimi appears to be a variation on Swept Away (1974 and 2002), downplaying the sexual tension angle in favor of class and office politics in contemporary corporate capitalism. Raimi’s input and star Rachel McAdams might make this worth a look.
SENTIMENTAL VALUE at Palace.
SINNERS at Palace.
SOLO MIO at Flix.
Kevin James vehicle about an American groom who is left at the altar on his wedding day in Italy. Distributed by faith-based Angel Studios. This disappeared last week, so count among your blessings that it has returned.
TRAIN DREAMS at Palace, Point.
Winner of Best Feature, Best Director (Clint Bentley) Best Lead Performance (Joel Edgerton) and Best Cinematography at the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards. Only a few isolated afternoon screenings on March 6, 10, and 13. But this has been streaming on Netflix since November, so whaddyagonnado?
VISHNU VINYASAMM at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy. Apparently the release date for this film was pushed up because of the threat of leaks of the film to the internet.
WOMAN KING, THE at AMC.
Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, who leads an all-female regiment of warriors in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1820s.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Or, “Wuthering Heights,” as it is stylized on the posters. A loose adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, starring Margot Robbie (also a producer of the film) and Jacob Elordi (who shows his range by following up playing the monster in Frankenstein to playing Heathcliff here). This appears to be a love it/hate it thing, based on my quick scrolling on FilmStack (film newsletters on Substack).
ZOOTOPIA 2 at AMC.
Have you used the Now Showing in Madison listings at least once to find something interesting to see? Have you discovered a film that you didn’t realize was playing in town? Please consider supporting these efforts directly by clicking the “Buy Me a Popcorn” button and making a modest donation on those occasions when you find this resource valuable to your moviegoing in Madison.
Looking Ahead:
Local filmmaker Michael Doyle Olson has started what he hopes to be a comprehensive, collaborative public calendar of alternative film screenings in Madison. It is still a work in progress, but check it out at www.mdo.me/film.
Side Room Cinematheque
Consult Instagram @sideroomcinematic for screening details, second Thursday of the month, and last Monday of the month.
Art Lofts Backspace Gallery, 111 N. Frances Street
LOOK INTO THE MIRROR YOU CANNOT SEE, MFA qualifier exhibition by Claudia Krogmeier. March 10-14. Reception March 12, 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Cinesthesia at Madison Public Library Central Branch
INSIDE MAN (Spike Lee, 2006), Tuesday, March 17, 6:30pm.