Nolan's THE ODYSSEY is not the only film playing in town this week
But I gotta get those clicks by putting the title in the headline, and using it for my thumbnail image.
Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, July 14–July 20, 2026
Weekly posts include short notes on various cinematic topics, followed by the Now Showing in Madison guide to commercial theaters and alternative venues.
Yesterday’s post on the dominance of Asian films in Madison’s foreign-language film market ate up most of my time budget for working on Moving Image Madison this week. So this post will just be the Now Showing listings, with a few extra notes.
Looking ahead, Liz Sexe Dance will present a dance, film, and gallery installation experience, Through the Keyhole and the Storm at the Commonwealth Gallery, 1501 Williamson Street, from Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, August 1, with the gallery hours of 6:30pm–9:00pm. The performances will take place each evening at 7:30pm.
The Facebook event page description states, “This innovative experience allows the audience to roam through and be part of the performance. Three installations will be offered to the viewers: peering through keyholes into new worlds, being immersed in a storm of five local dancers (Erin Alberts, Abby Frank Taylor, Eve Levi, Tara McAninch and Megan Schimke) and their movement and reflecting on over consumption in an excessive world of plastic bags.”
I missed the last film/dance/installation event by Liz at Commonwealth Gallery, so I’m hoping I can catch this one!
And looking much further ahead, Wendy Schneider and Coney Island Studios has scheduled a “patio premiere” of The Coney Island Side Show: Catfish Stephenson, which documents a performance by local musician Catfish Stephenson. The screening will take place at The Weary Traveller, 1201 Williamson Street, Thursday, August 6 at 8:00pm (or sundown).
The Facebook event page states that Catfish Stephenson “has lived a life that reads like oral history. He has been a songwriter, a soldier, a street performer, a master leather worker, an outdoorsman, a hunter - friends and father. His stories carry the imprint of a world that is nearly gone.” The film documents a performance that was recorded back in December 2025. I’ll post reminders about this as the screening date approaches.
Project Projection Submission Deadline: Friday, July 17
And one last reminder: The submission deadline for the next Project Projection screening of local film and video at Mills Folly Microcinema is coming up this Friday, July 17. Project Projection screenings showcase work by filmmakers from Madison and Dane County, with a focus on experimental film, short documentaries, animation, and music videos. No submission fee, 10 minute limit.
The screening will take place on Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm at Arts + Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston Street, Suite 100. Admission is free. You can find more details, including the submission form, at the Arts + Literature Laboratory website.
Now Playing In Madison: July 14–July 20, 2026
Please confirm showtimes with the venues (follow venue links where provided). The commercial theaters update their weekend listings on Wednesdays. Another valuable source that posts on Wednesdays with now playing lists is The Horizon Line Madison. When possible, I will provide links to reviews by Rob Thomas at Not That Rob Thomas, who gets around to far more proper reviews than I do.
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.).
Cinesthesia at Madison Public Library Central Branch
FULL METAL JACKET (Stanley Kubrick, 1987), Tuesday, July 14, 6:30pm
TONIGHT!
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Unfortunately, they reverted back to the wrong actress for Supergirl, despite fixing it in one poster. Thanks, A.I.
WUD Film Lakeside Cinema
AQUAMARINE (2006), The Terrace @ Memorial Union, Monday, 7/20, 9:00 P.M.
Lakeside Cinema, Monday nights at the Memorial Union Terrace returns with monthly themes: “Sports” (June), “Under the Lake,” (July), “Back to the 80’s” (August).
Commercial Theaters:
AMC Theatres
Flix Brewhouse
Marcus Theatres (Palace and Point)
Please confirm showtimes with the venues (follow venue links where provided). The commercial theaters update their weekend listings on Wednesdays. Another valuable source that posts on Wednesdays with now playing lists is The Horizon Line Madison. When possible, I will provide links to reviews by Rob Thomas at Not That Rob Thomas, who gets around to far more proper reviews than I do.
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.).
AIRPLANE! at Flix.
AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: JULY 20 at AMC.
BACKROOMS: EVERYTHING MUST GO EDITION W/ BONUS FOOTAGE (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
If you want that little bit more of the recent box office hit, this is for you. I like the film quite a bit, but I have a feeling that less is better in this instance.
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS at Flix.
DHAMAAL 4 (2026) at AMC.
Indian Hindi-language adventure comedy, starring Ajay Devgn.
DISCLOSURE DAY (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
EVIL DEAD BURN (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS (2026) at AMC, Point.
GALAPAGOS 3D (1999) at AMC.
IMAX 3D nature documentary
IDHAYAM MURALI (2026) at AMC.
Indian Tamil-language coming-of-age romantic drama, starring Atharvaa.
INVITE, THE (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace.
Directed by Olivia Wilde, this remake of the 2020 Spanish comedy The People Upstairs stars Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton
JACKASS: BEST AND LAST (2026) at AMC, Palace, Point.
I never was a fan when Jackass was on television, but I have to admit I have enjoyed some of the films. I might go see this.
JULY CRUNCHYROLL ANIME NIGHTS - MOB PSYCHO 100 (2026) at AMC, Point.
LEGO MOVIE, THE (2014) at AMC.
LENIN (2026) at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language action drama. I was hoping for a splashy Tollywood production of the life of Vladmir Lenin, but that is not what this is. Ends Thursday, July 16.
MADDIE’S SECRET (2026) at AMC.
Comedy directed by John Early, starring Early, Kate Berlant, Claudia O’Doherty, and Vanessa Bayer. Appears to be ending Thursday, July 16.
MARCUS MYSTERY MOVIE at Palace, Point.
MINIONS & MONSTERS (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
This latest entry in the Minions franchise apparently has a lot of film buff jokes, if that sways you. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
MOANA (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Live action adaptation of Disney’s animated feature, Moana (2016). I hear this was dead on arrival, box office wise.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO - STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2026 at AMC, Palace, Point.
NIGHT NURSE (2026) at AMC.
Edited by Madison’s own Alex Jacobs! Read Rob Thomas’s review. Appears to end Thursday, July 16.
OBSESSION (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
ODYSSEY, THE (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Based on an epic poem by Homer, maybe you’ve heard of it? Directed by Christopher Nolan, maybe you’ve heard of him?
POUT-POUT FISH, THE (2026) at Palace, Point.
ROTTEN MOVIES, FRESH BEER: GREASE 2 at Flix.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (2024) at AMC.
SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS, THE (2025) at Palace, Point.
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU (2026) at Point.
SUPERGIRL (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Read Rob Thomas’s review.
TOY STORY 5 (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
YOUNG WASHINGTON (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
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.
MMoCA Cinema, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Screenings begin about 20 minutes after sunset.
GIRL INTERNET SHOW: A KATI KELLI MIXTAPE (2013-2019), Thursday, July 30.
AMERICA: EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF (1971-1973), Thursday, August 6
GANGSTERISM (2025), Thursday, August 13
KIN DZA-DZA!, Thursday, August 20
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
SUPERGIRL and MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, July 16-19.
Mills Folly Microcinema at Arts + Literature Laboratory
PROJECT PROJECTION, local film and video showcase, Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm
Now taking submissions of experimental film/video art, short docs, animation, and music videos (10 minute limit). Submit your work at artlitlab.org, deadline Friday, July 17.
Side Room Cinematheque
Second Thursday of the month, and last Monday of the month.
DM @sideroomcinematic (Instagram) for screening details.
Commonwealth Gallery, 1501 Williamson Street
THROUGH THE KEYHOLE AND THE STORM, July 30–August 1
It is not often performance and film allow for such a full immersion of the audience, and it is something Liz Sexe Dance enjoys crafting and sharing with the community. Through the Keyhole and the Storm will bring together dance and film through an immersive gallery performance taking place at the Commonwealth Gallery. Each night from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday, August 1, the gallery will be open from 6:30-9:00 p.m. for people to explore the environments of a room filled with keyholes and the room of plastic. At 7:30 p.m. each night a performance will erupt with a storm.
I interviewed Catfish once and it was a JOURNEY. Can’t wait to see the film.