Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, August 25–August 31, 2026
Weekly posts include short notes on various cinematic topics, followed by the Now Showing in Madison guide to commercial theaters and alternative venues.
An IndieWire headline posted this past Monday reads, “Indie Star Joe Swanberg Never Really Left—But He’s Definitely Back Now.”
Well, Madison probably hit “Peak Swanberg” in around 2014, but Swanberg is definitely back now in Madison for a UW-Cinematheque screening of his new feature, The Sun Never Sets, on Thursday, August 27, 7:00pm. The free screening, which will include a Q&A with Swanberg afterwards, kicks off the Ctek schedule for Fall 2026.
By “Peak Swanberg” I mean that there was a stretch between 2013 and 2014 where there were a lot of Joe Swanberg films in town. Based in Chicago, Swanberg visited Madison for the 2013 Wisconsin Film Festival with his film All the Light in the Sky. Then that October, the UW-Cinematheque and WUD Film co-presented a sneak preview of his next feature, Drinking Buddies. And his following feature, Happy Christmas, played the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival.
Swanberg is often associated with the late 1990s early 2000s “mumblecore” films, even though most filmmakers associated with that term usually distance themselves from it. (That’s a story for another time.) I liked Swanberg’s 2007 feature Hannah Takes the Stairs, starring a young Gretta Gerwig, more than a lot of people did. Looking back at my 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival coverage in Madison Film Forum, I wrote:
Back in the days of Hannah Takes The Stairs and in the 15 minutes before filmmakers started distancing themselves from the term mumblecore, I found myself defending Joe Swanberg in many conversations. There’s no doubt that he has had an impact on American independent filmmaking both directly with his own diverse films and indirectly with Hannah‘s star Greta Gerwig crossing over into mainstream film roles.
The new IndieWire article touches on the fact that many of Swanberg’s colleagues in early films have moved on to more mainstream roles in the film industry, including Gerwig, Adam Wingard, Olivia Wilde, and Ti West. (One could add Anna Kendrick, Lena Dunham, and Melanie Lynskey had roles in Happy Christmas). But I have to admit I personally lost track of Swanberg after that “Peak Swanberg” year in Madison, possibly due to Swanberg fatigue (something I seemed to be suffering in that same Madison Film Forum coverage).
Much of Swanberg’s post-2015 work has been for Netflix, including three seasons of the series Easy (2016-2019) and the feature Win it All (2017). His new film screening at the Ctek on Thursday, The Sun Never Sets starring Dakota Fanning, marks his first feature since Win it All. But he has been busy in the interval, as outlined in the IndieWire article.
Personally, I’m not going to be able to make it to The Sun Never Sets, but it should be worth a look. Swanberg has always been a personable figure, both as an actor and when discussing his films. His films go down entertainingly smooth, in moderation, and I doubt that anyone going to the Cinematheque on Thursday is in danger of a recent overdose.
Now Playing In Madison: August 25–August 31, 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.
Cinesthesia at Madison Public Library Central Branch
WILD AT HEART (David Lynch, 1987), Wednesday, August 26, 6:30pm
UW-Cinematheque
THE SUN NEVER SETS, 4070 Vilas Hall, Thursday, August 27, 7 p.m.
Joe Swanberg, USA, 2026, 102 min. Joe Swanberg will attend the screening.
ALLEGRO NON TROPPO, 4070 Vilas Hall, Friday, August 28, 7 p.m.
Bruno Bozzeto, Italy, 1976, 75 min.
SMORGASBORD (CRACKING UP), 4070 Vilas Hall, Saturday, August 29, 7 p.m.
Jerry Lewis, USA, 1983, 83 mins.
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
All eight HARRY POTTER films are playing across Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30. Consult https://highway18.com/ for details.
Side Show Premiere at Weary Traveller Free House, 1201 Williamson Street
The “Side Show Premiere” of THE CATFISH STEPHENSON PERFORMANCE FILM will screen Friday, August 28, 8:00pm at the Weary Traveller Free House. Presented by Wendy Schneider and Coney Island Studios. You can find more information about the film and Catfish Stephenson more generally at the Facebook event page for the screening.
Preview reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1933318580975495
Art Basement Madison
Experimental films by Meggen Heuss, Saturday, August 29
Reception 7:00pm, Screening 8:00pm, with Q&A following.
DM @sideroomcinematic (Instagram) or @art_basement_madison (Instagram) for address.
WUD Film
THE LEGO MOVIE, Union South Marquee Theater, Sunday, 8/30, 9:00 P.M.
Commercial Theaters: AMC / Flix / Palace / Point
Okay, folks, I’m still working on a new commercial theater title import system. It is not where it needs to be yet, but I’m looking forward to sharing more about it when it is a few steps closer to competent. Apologies in advance for theater and date errors below. But because of all the time I’m spending on it, I’ll have to skip comments on Indian films, interesting indies and odd faith-based releases this week.
2 BIG TO RIG at Palace, Point
40 YEARS OF F**IN’ UP at Point
AMERICAN MARTYR: THE STANLEY ROTHER STORY at AMC, Palace, Point
BRING IT ON at Flix, Aug 25
THE BRINK OF WAR at AMC
CASTLE IN THE SKY at AMC, Palace
COYOTE VS. ACME
THE DOG STARS
THE END OF OAK STREET at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (25TH ANNIVERSARY) at AMC, Flix, Point, Aug 24—25
FINDING EMILY
GHOST: 2 BIG TO RIG at Palace, Point
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN at Flix, Aug 29
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE at Flix, Aug 27—28, Aug 30
HOT SPOT at AMC
HOUSE OF WORSHIP at AMC, Palace, Point
INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
IRUMUDI at AMC
THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE at AMC
MINIONS & MONSTERS at AMC
MOANA at Palace, Aug 24—30
MUTINY at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
NEVER STOP CHASING at AMC
THE ODYSSEY at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
ONE NIGHT ONLY at AMC, Flix, Point
PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING at AMC, Point
SIX: THE MUSICAL LIVE! at AMC, Palace, Point
SPA WEEKEND at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point
TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA at AMC, Point
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY at Flix, Aug 29—30
TONY at AMC, Flix
TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS at AMC, Point
TOY STORY 5 at Palace, Point, Aug 24—30
THE WRONG GIRLS at AMC, Point, Aug 24—30
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
Second Thursday of the month, and last Monday of the month.
DM @sideroomcinematic (Instagram) for screening details.
Marquee Cinema, Union South, 1308 West Dayton Street
THE UGLY LITTLE MONKEYS, Thursday, September 10, 6:00pm.
Documentary about Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, a group of kids who grew up in the 1960s, in the working class barrios of Tucson, Arizona. Filmmakers David Valdez and Enrique Castillo will be in attendance. Free, reserve seats at Eventbrite page.
Wisconsin 48hr Film Project Premieres, Badger Theater, 255 E Main St, Stoughton
Saturday, September 26, starting at 10:00am. Details at the Wisconsin 48hr Film Project website.
Madison Film Festival
Saturday, September 26, Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin Street. Details posted soon at the Madison Film Festival website.
Has he made a film recently? I’ve lost touch of him. I subbed you. I write about film and work in the field