Project Projection, local film lineup announced for Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm
Plus: Independent pop-up screenings are popping up in town.
Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, July 22–July 27, 2026
Weekly posts include short notes on various cinematic topics, followed by the Now Showing in Madison guide to commercial theaters and alternative venues.
A lot of films open in Madison this week, now that they don’t have to be up against the opening weekend for The Odyssey (which did pretty, pretty good). So the Now Showing list took up most of my allocated Moving Image Madison time this week. But, here are a few brief notes about Project Projection and a pop up screening at Gibs.
Project Projection: Thirteen films by local filmmakers
The next Project Projection screening, a showcase for local filmmakers presented by Mills Folly Microcinema, will take place on Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm at Arts + Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston Street, Suite 100. Admission is free.
The featured filmmakers are: Jane Lowy, Steve Chappell, Gretta Wing Miller, Christopher Bennett, Fatemeh Fani, Meggen Heuss, Ezra Ewen, Keasion Griffin, Alex Jacobs, Emmy Hannibal, Heidi E. Johnson, Litza Bixler & Aaron Granat, and Emmalee Pearson. Read about all of the films, including experimental films, short docs, animation, and music videos, at the Arts + Literature Laboratory website.
Our Parks on the Big Screen, Gibs, Tuesday, July 28, 5:00pm
The folks over at Cut the Deck Creative, Corey Holl and David Guenther, have been busy these days. They will present a screening of six independent short films on the them of natural beauty and parks of the midwest at Gibs (1380 Williamson Street) next week, for the benefit of the Madison Parks Foundation and their current production, The Park People.
Holl and Geunther appeared on the 8 O’Clock Buzz on WORT-FM this past Monday to talk about what they’re up to with their recent screening at the Barrymore and their current production.
Now Playing In Madison: July 22–July 27, 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.).
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
WUD Film Lakeside Cinema
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003), 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).
Side Room Cinematheque
The counterhistory/documentary “HyperNormalisation” by BBC Journalist Adam Curtis (2015, 2h 46m), Monday, July 27, 8:00pm.
DM @sideroomcinematic (Instagram) for screening details.
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.).
AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: JULY 27 at AMC.
BACKROOMS: EVERYTHING MUST GO EDITION W/ BONUS FOOTAGE at AMC, 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.
BAD COUNSELORS at Palace.
Fathom Events limited release.
BAD GUYS 2, THE at AMC.
CHENNAI LOVE STORY at AMC, Point.
Indian Telugu-language romance starring Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya
CURIOUS GEORGE at Palace, Point.
DISCLOSURE DAY at AMC, Palace, Point.
END OF EVANGELION (EVANGELION 30TH MOVIE FEST), THE at AMC, Palace, Point.
I’m a fan of the original series (1995–96), and I like some of the recent reboot films (2007–2021), but this 1997 feature film, which re-works the controversial ending to the original series, is very, very depressing.
EVIL DEAD BURN at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
FIFTH ELEMENT, THE at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS at AMC.
GOONIES, THE at Flix.
HADESTOWN: THE MUSICAL at AMC, Palace, Point.
Very limited release (like, 5 days) of this filmed performance of Tony award winning musical, featuring the original Broadway cast.
HER PRIVATE HELL at AMC, Flix, Point.
I liked Nicolas Winding Refn’s last few feature films (Only God Forgives, The Neon Demon) more than most people. But Demon was released 10 years ago! I have not watched his two produced for streaming series (Too Old to Die Young, and Copenhagen Cowboy). I’m intrigued by his return to theatrical features.
INVITE, THE at AMC, Flix.
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 at 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.
JANA NAYAGAN at AMC, Point.
Indian Tamil-language action thriller, starring C. Joseph Vijay
MARCUS MYSTERY MOVIE at Palace, Point.
MERRY WIDOW: MET SUMMER ENCORE 2026, THE at Point.
MINIONS & MONSTERS 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 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.
MOTOR CITY at AMC, Point.
Action thriller, starring Alan Ritchson and Ben Foster.
OBSESSION at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
ODYSSEY, THE at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
The latest film from director Christopher Nolan. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
OH…! SUKUMARI at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy starring Thiruveer and Aishwarya Rajesh
OUR HERO, BALTHAZAR at Flix.
Indie black comedy from director Oscar Boyton, starring Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield, and Chris Bauer.
PINOCCHIO UNSTRUNG at AMC, Point.
Slasher film starring Robert Englund and Richard Brake. The fifth entry in the “Twisted Childhood Universe,” which has taken public domain characters (Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan) to make new horror films.
POUT-POUT FISH, THE at Palace, Point.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK at Flix.
SIA: NOSTALGIC FOR THE PRESENT at Point.
Filmed version of Sia’s “Nostalgic for the Present” tour performance.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 at AMC.
SUMMER TOUR at AMC.
Documentary about “Deadheads” following Dead & Company on their final tour in 2023.
SUPERGIRL at AMC, Palace.
TOY STORY 5 at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
UECK at Palace, Point.
Documentary about legendary Brewers play-by-play broadcaster, “Mr. Baseball,” Bob Uecker
VADHALA at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language drama starring Jagapathi Babu and Laya
YOUNG WASHINGTON at AMC, Palace.
Wow, this seems to be playing forever in town.
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
Mills Folly Microcinema at Arts + Literature Laboratory
PROJECT PROJECTION, local film and video showcase, Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm. See notes above.
Side Room Cinematheque
Second Thursday of the month, and last Monday of the month.
Works by Janicza Bravo: A Shortfilm, A Feature, and A Television Pilot, Thursday, August 13, 9:00pm
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.
Cinesthesia at Madison Public Library Central Branch
WILD AT HEART (David Lynch, 1987), Tuesday, August 19, 6:30pm
Coney Island Side Show, Weary Traveller, 1202 Williamson Street
“Patio premiere” of The Coney Island Side Show: Catfish Stephenson, which documents a performance by local musician Catfish Stephenson. Thursday, August 6 at 8:00pm. Presented by Wendy Schneider and Coney Island Studios.