No evening screenings for The Testament of Ann Lee this week?

AMC Fitchburg 18 has only scheduled 3:50pm screenings for today through Wednesday, February 4

Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, February 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.

I’m sure like many of you, I was a bit busy and distracted this past weekend with various tasks and chores to catch up on. So, even though I knew The Testament of Ann Lee was opening this weekend, I figured I could catch it in a few days when my scheduled opened up a bit.

I was not paying attention to the showtimes, however. For the next few days, The Testament of Ann Lee only has afternoon (3:40pm) screenings at AMC Fitchburg 18. And I’m not sure if it is going to continue screening into next week.

This is very disappointing. Hopefully it is just a consequence of extra Oscar-related screenings since the nominations were announced, and more screening times will be announced later this week. But it is strange that I wouldn’t have a problem catching an evening screening of Paris Hilton Infinite Icon or Melania the next few days, if I wanted to do so.

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The Atlantic article on the short attention span of students includes example from UW-Madison film study class.

I read with interest the new article in The Atlantic by Rose Horowitch, posted online January 30: “The Film Students Who Can No Longer Sit Through Films.” (Unfortunately it is behind a paywall, but you can get the premise of the article from the free paragraphs.)

I had a flashback to my undergrad and graduate days due to the academics whom Horowitch talked to in the article. Lynn Spiegel, now professor of screen cultures at Northwestern, taught in the Communication Arts Department at UW-Madison when I was an undergrad. And Malcolm Turvey, founding director of the Tufts University Film and Media Studies program, lectured in Com Arts when I was a graduate student. Current UW-Madison professors cited in the article include filmmaker Craig Erpelding and scholar Jeff Smith. (Criterion Channel subscribers will recognize Jeff Smith for his video essays produced with David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson.)

Smith provides the article’s most vivid example of students unwillingness to sit through assigned films.

After watching movies distractedly—if they watch them at all—students unsurprisingly can’t answer basic questions about what they saw. In a multiple-choice question on a recent final exam, Jeff Smith, a film professor at UW Madison, asked what happens at the end of the Truffaut film Jules and Jim. More than half of the class picked one of the wrong options, saying that characters hide from the Nazis (the film takes place during World War I) or get drunk with Ernest Hemingway (who does not appear in the movie). Smith has administered similar exams for almost two decades; he had to grade his most recent exam on a curve to keep students’ marks within a normal range.

I can’t cast the first stone at current students in terms of patience with films. As I grow older, I’m finding it harder to stick with films I watch at home all the way through in one sitting. I’m finding myself pausing roughly at what appear to me to be act breaks. So I could argue, as a weak defense, that my break is related to an analysis of the narrative.

At the risk of sounding like a grouchy old man, I think the larger problem is the lack of engagement from students in any material that does not appear to be directly related to the grade that they will receive or the job that they want after they graduate.

Even though I have been away from teaching at the university level for over a decade, I know that the problem described in the article goes well beyond watching films. There’s a high percentage of college students who simply won’t read assigned texts. Or, they can’t read books. In fact, Horowitch already published a related article in The Atlantic back in October 2024: “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books.” (also behind a paywall)

We can’t, however, just throw up our hands and give up on some students, or focus just on engaged students (who will always make up a significant percentage of any class). One reason (among many) for recent attacks on higher education is the long term social impact that college curricula can have on shaping values. Right now, the challenge is to persuade students that education is not just about jumping through hoops and connecting dots, or programming AI to jump through hoops and connect dots for them. I think we’re already seeing the political consequences of failing to do so, especially among young men.

I’ll conclude, getting off my soap box, by encouraging everyone to reconnect with the joy that reading a great book and watching a great film can give you. And share that joy with people around you, particularly younger people, because not everyone understands or appreciates what that joy has to offer.

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Now Playing In Madison: February 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.).

UW Cinematheque

• RESURRECTION, 4070 Vilas Hall, Thursday, February 5, 7 p.m.

  • Bi Gan, China, France, 2025, 160 min. Expect a big crowd for what might end up being the only screening in Madison for the latest from Bi Gan (Kaili Blues; Long Day’s Journey Into Night).

• PRISONEROS DE LA TIERRA, 4070 Vilas Hall, Friday, February 6, 7 p.m.

  • Mario Soffici, Argentina, 1939, 86 min.

• ROLLERCOASTER, 4070 Vilas Hall, Saturday, February 7, 7 p.m.

  • James Goldstone, USA, 1977, 119 min.

Wisconsin Union Directorate Film

• SURF’S UP (2007) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Friday, 2/6, 6:30 p.m.

• RAGING BULL (1980) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Friday, 2/6, 9 p.m.

• RAGING BULL (1980), Union South Marquee Theater, Saturday, 2/7, 6 p.m.

• THE NAKED GUN (2025) [OPEN CAPTION SCREENING], Union South Marquee Theater, Saturday, 2/7, 9 p.m.

• WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL (2025), Union South Marquee Theater, Monday, 2/9, 6:30 p.m.

AMC Theatres, Flix Brewhouse, Marcus Theatres

Note: At the time this list was assembled (Sunday, February 1), the posted schedule for films at Flix Brewhouse was missing or incomplete for February 6, 8, and 9.

• 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

• AA BATA AAMA at Point.

  • Nepali-language drama about the emotional weight of preparing to move abroad.

• ALI at AMC.

• AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: FEBRUARY 9 at AMC.

• AMC SCREAM UNSEEN: FEBRUARY 2 at AMC.

• ARCO (2025) at AMC.

  • French feature-length animated feature, co-produced by Natalie Portman, nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar this year.

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace.

• BUFFALO KIDS at AMC

• BUGONIA (2025) at AMC.

  • Monday, February 2 only, 3:00pm.

• CHARLIE THE WONDERDOG at Point, Palace.

  • Week four for this sketchy low-to-medium-budget family friendly animated feature. I assume this will get bounced for Sony’s Goat next week, but you never know.

• CRIME 101: LIVESTREAM Q&A at Point, Palace.

  • This Chris Hemsworth actioner actually opens on February 13, but this advance screening with a livestream Q & A is Monday, February 9 at 7:00pm.

• DRACULA (2026) at AMC.

  • Luc Besson joins Brett Ratner in the accused-of-sexual-misconduct directors whose work is playing in Madison commercial theaters this week. Despite the presence of Christoph Waltz as the “unnamed priest” (this film’s version of Van Helsing), I’m not sure whether this umpteenth version of Dracula will have anything interesting to offer.

• F1 THE MOVIE (2025) at AMC.

• GOAT EARLY ACCESS at Palace.

  • The Sony Pictures Animation feature, Goat, officially opens February 13, but this early access screening at Palace Cinema is Saturday, February 7 at 1:00pm.

• HAMNET (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

• HOUSEMAID, THE (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

• IRON LUNG (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

  • German thriller directed by Jan-Ole Gerster in which a tennis coach at a tropical resort gets caught up in a missing persons mystery. Premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival.

• ISLANDS (2026) at AMC.

• LAND BEFORE TIME, THE at Point, Palace.

• LEGO MOVIE (2014) 3D EXCLUSIVE, THE at AMC.

• LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP (2026), THE at Point, Palace.

• LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING 2026, THE at Point, Palace.

• LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2026), THE at Point, Palace.

• MARCUS MYSTERY MOVIE (2/2) at Point, Palace.

• MARDAANI 3 (2026) at AMC.

  • Indian Hindi-language action film. Some screenings sold out this past weekend.

• MARTY SUPREME (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

• MELANIA (2026) at AMC, Palace.

  • The film that launched a thousand think pieces. I actually do want to see this at some point, for the same reason I have watched Citizens United and Loose Change: it is important to understand what some people believe.

• MERCY (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

  • I feel bad for Rebecca Ferguson every time I see an ad or trailer for Mercy. I hope she got a big check for this one, at least.

• MILAN CORTINA WINTER OLYMPICS ON NBC at AMC.

  • Interesting idea, but I think I’ll stay home if I’m going to watch the Olympics.

• THE MOMENT at AMC, Marcus Point

• MOSES THE BLACK at AMC, Point.

  • Crime drama directed by Yelena Popovic, but most tellingly produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. A feared gang leader from Chicago’s West Side (Omar Epps) returns home after being released from prison, in order to avenge the murder of his best friend.

• NO OTHER CHOICE (2025) at AMC, Point.

  • The latest from director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy; Decision to Leave). Golden Globe nominee, and shortlisted for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award nominations. This might be the only film I actually get a chance to see this week, despite a lot of interesting options. Meanwhile, read Rob Thomas’s review.

• OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI at Point.

  • Indian Telugu-language comedy.

• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (2025) at AMC.

  • It’s back in theaters. Sure, it is streaming on HBO Max at this point, but I might see it again on the big screen if I get a chance. I want to compare one or two specific scenes from Pynchon’s Vineland with its parallel in Anderson’s very loose adaptation. Meanwhile, here are some of my other thoughts on the film.

• PARIS HILTON INFINITE ICON: A VISUAL MEMOIR (2026) at AMC.

  • Directors Bruce Robertson and JJ Duncan follow Paris Hilton as she returns to music in 2024 (was she ever there, did she ever leave?) with her first-ever concert at the Hollywood Palladium. As vapid as this appears to be, I’d rather you go to watch this than pay to see Melania.

• PRIMATE (2026) at AMC, Palace.

  • This has legs in its theatrical run? I saw the trailer. This looks slick but dumb. A family’s adopted chimpanzee (their first mistake) is bitten by a rabid animal and goes, well, apeshit. I’ve skimmed a few reviews that suggest it might be fun, at least.

• PRIVATE LIFE, A (2025) at AMC.

  • French-language black comedy/mystery thriller directed by Rebecca Zlotowski (Grand Central; Planetarium; An Easy Girl) starring Jodie Foster (yes, she speaks French very well, thank you), Daniel Auteuil, and Mathieu Amalric.

• RETURN TO SILENT HILL at Point, Palace.

• ROOM WITH A VIEW, A at AMC.

• SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD at Flix.

• SEND HELP (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

  • 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.

• SHELTER (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

  • The latest action vehicle for Jason Statham. Former assassin something something must protect girl something something.

• SINNERS (2025) at AMC.

• SOLO MIO (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace.

  • 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.

• SONG SUNG BLUE at Point, Palace.

  • You can see the original documentary titled Song Song Blue on YouTube. Meanwhile, people seem to really enjoy this fictionalization of the story of Lightning and Thunder starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

• SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS, THE (2025) at AMC.

• STILL HOPE (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace.

  • Fathom Entertainment presentation. Sixteen-year-old Hope is forced into sex trafficking for several years, but eventually escapes and returns to her family. This appears to be a faith-based production, described as a testament of resilience and faith.

• STRANGERS: CHAPTER 3, THE (2026) at AMC, Point, Palace.

  • Final chapter (?) in a standalone trilogy in the horror franchise (so actually the fifth film overall). I was today years old when I discovered that this has been what Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2; Deep Blue Sea) has been doing for the last few years.

• STRAY KIDS: THE DOMINATE EXPERIENCE - ADVANCE EARLY ACCESS SCREENINGS (2026) at AMC.

  • K-Pop concert film. The early access event is Wednesday, February 4. The film opens on Friday, February 6.

• TAFITI: ACROSS THE DESERT (2026) at AMC.

  • I know what you’re thinking. Is this film about the beloved Disney Lion King characters Timon (a meerkat) and Pumbaa (a warthog)? The answer is no. This is about Tafiti (a meerkat) and his friend Bristles (a bush pig). This will replace Charlie the Wonderdog as the sketchy mid-budget animated feature of the week.

• TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, THE (2025) at AMC.

  • See my note above about the odd afternoons-only screening times for this film that I very much want to see.

• TIME HOPPERS: THE SILK ROAD at AMC, Point, Palace.

  • A well-intentioned animated feature about a diverse set of students in Vancouver (!) who travel back in time to save scientists (and save science). A Fathom release screening February 7 and 8.

• TWILIGHT SAGA MARATHON, THE at Point, Palace.

• WHIPLASH at Flix.

• WHISTLE (2026) at AMC.

  • Horror film. Dumb high school kids mess with a cursed Aztec Death Whistle.

• WITH LOVE at AMC

• WORLDBREAKER (2026) at AMC.

  • Action film starring Milla Jojovich and Luke Evans.

• ZOOTOPIA 2 (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace, Flix.

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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.

Cinesthesia Series at Madison Public Library Central Branch

• JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (2021), Wednesday, 02/17, 6:30pm

Duck Soup Cinema

• PETER PAN (1928), Saturday, February 21, 2pm & 7pm.

Side Room Cinematheque

• Consult Instagram @sideroomcinematic for screening details, second Thursday of the month, and last Monday of the month.

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