MovieTone: June 23-28, 2023
Your guide to what's playing in physical spaces this week.
Welcome to another week of MovieTone! It’s like MovieFone but for Y2K.
Every week I’ll give the rundown on what’s playing across the physical and metaphysical media landscape so that you can choose your own adventure in becoming a movie freak like me. For this first iteration we just have in-person screenings, but this newsletter will build out to include streaming and VOD options in the future.
This guide includes a Key and quick navigation links so that you can jump between sections. Formatting may change over the weeks as I get into a groove and figure out the best delivery system!
If you looked at last week’s, you’ll also notice the formatting is slightly different, and that’s because my dad thought it was too busy to read off of his phone, and based on a poll I ran last week, I’m not sure I need to include showtimes moving forward.
Feel free to comment if you have a correction, suggestion, or counterpoint to my dad’s feedback! Until next week…
-Daniella
p.s. I was featured in Vocalo’s series “This is What Chicago Sounds Like” this week — where I talk about my work in comedy and DIY shows, my advocacy for accessibility, my love of writing, and my even greater love of Chicago. Give it a listen!
Key:
Transit —
*Stations/Lines are noted if within 20 minutes or less walking distance
🔴🔵🟤🟢🟠🟣💗🟡 — Near a CTA Station (Color denotes line)
🚇 — Near a Metra Station
Programming —
🏳️🌈 / 🏳️⚧️ — Pride-Themed / Trans Stories
🌍 — Non-English Film
🧸 — Family Film
😱 — Scary or Disturbing!
👓 — 3D Screening
Accessibility —
♿/+1 — Wheelchair Seating/Companion Seating
🦻 — Audio Listening Devices
📄 — Closed Captioning (Note: Different than subtitles)
⭕📄 — Open Captioning Screenings (Note: Different than subtitles)
🌐 — Multilingual Screenings
🎧 — Audio Description
🧘 — Sensory Friendly Screenings
Quick Link Navigation —
Movie Theater Guide:
Now Playing:
In Chicago Theaters —
Movie Theater Guide
⛓️Chains Worth Checking Out
ACX Harper Theater
5238 South Harper Avenue 60615 🚇Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville
3519 N Clark St, Suite C301 60657 🔴🟤AMC Ford City 14 📄🌐🎧
7601 South Cicero Ave 60652 🚇AMC Galewood Crossings 14 📄🌐🎧🧘
5530 W Homer St 60639 🚇AMC NewCity 14 📄🎧
1500 North Clybourn, Suite C301 60610 🔴🟤🟣AMC River East 21 ⭕/📄🎧
322 East Illinois Street 60611 🔴🚇Cinema Chatham Powered by Emagine 📄🎧
210 W 87th St 60620 🔴🚇Landmark Century Cinema 🦻📄
2828 North Clark Street 60657 🔴🟤🟣Regal City North 📄🎧
2600 N. Western Avenue 60647 🔵 (22-25 minute walk)Regal Webster Place 📄🎧
1471 W. Webster Avenue 60614 🚇🟤🟣
🪪 Memberships —
All memberships include concessions perks.
Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass — $29.99/mo — Good for up to one regularly priced movie per day, Reserve seats up to 7 days in advance.
AMC Stubs A-List — $22.95/mo — Free online reservations anytime for up to 3 movies every week. Additional perks with Premiere and Insider tiers.
Emagine Rewards — $12.75/yr — Reward points, free ticket on your birthday, invitations to special screenings and events.
Regal Unlimited Plus — $21.99/mo — Unlimited movies anytime, early access to new movies with Regal Unlimited Screenings, opportunities to bring a friend for free to select showings.
Daniella’s commentary: Last time I was a bit snarky about not really digging Alamo Drafthouse’s expansion to Wrigleyville, and I’m feeling all the more justified in my snark as it came out this past week that the company had internally shared messaging that sounded a whole lot like union-busting following the Brooklyn location’s projectionists’ petition to unionize.
Do what you want with that information, but know that I do not co-sign giving money to union-busters. All that said, it is always best practice to follow the lead of the actual workers. There have been no calls to boycott the chain, and I’m staying apprised of any updates.
📽️ Miss Independents
Gene Siskel Film Center 🦻
164 N. State Street 60601 🔴🔵🟤🟢🟠🟣💗🚇The Logan Theatre 📄🎧
2646 North Milwaukee Avenue 60647 🔵Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport Ave 60613 🔴🟤The New 400 Theater
6746 N Sheridan Road 60626 🔴🚇
Note: The New 400 is temporarily closed on Wednesdays and only screens Fridays - Sundays.
🪪 Memberships —
All memberships include concessions perks.
Gene Siskel Film Center Membership — $50/yr (Individual) or $80/yr (Dual) — Half-price admission to movies at the Gene Siskel Film Center, $5 admission to the spring and fall Screening/Lecture series, film magazine & programming guide with upcoming showtimes calendar, $10 discount on an Art Institute of Chicago membership, sneak preview passes to major motion pictures.
The Logan Theatre — Coming soon per its website.
Music Box Theatre Membership — $60/yr (Individual) or $100/yr (Dual) — 1 complimentary ticket for 1 regular-priced screening (theatrical screenings only), discounted ticket prices for all virtual and regular theatrical screenings plus select Special Events, invitations to Free Monthly Member Screenings, advanced notice and purchase for select special screenings, restaurant discounts at our partner restaurants.
Daniella’s commentary: I had some commentary on The Davis Theater last time. You might think, “Daniella, isn’t it a bit hypocritical to leave off the Davis after calling out the Alamo Drafthouse but keeping it in the guide?” Probably, but since the Davis Theater still isn’t currently running any curated programming or special screenings, I’m leaving it off the list. I won’t pretend that every single movie theater has ethical purity and immaculate labor practices, but bear with me as I figure out my criteria for this guide.
What’s Playing June 23-28
💥 Mainstream/Blockbusters
Note for this week: Big week for me to share my commentary on film-related controversies. I really do not endorse seeing The Flash for multiple reasons, primarily the credible and disturbing accusations against Ezra Miller and the egregious use of CGI, especially to resurrect dead actors. But litigating what movies are and aren’t okay to include is a far stickier task than doing so with theaters, so in the interest of fairness (I listed an Alec Baldwin movie in the last guide, after all), The Flash is included here.
Asteroid City | PG-13 | 1 hour 45 minutes | English
Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville | Special brunch showtimes
AMC River East 21 | ⭕📄 Open Caption screenings
Summary: Following a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.
Directed by: Wes Anderson | Written by: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, and many more…
😱 The Blackening | R | 1 hour 36 minutes | English
AMC Ford City 14 | 🌐 Spanish subtitles screenings
Summary: Seven Black friends go away for the weekend and end up trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not.
Directed by: Tim Story | Written by: Tracy Oliver, Dewayne Perkins
Starring: Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah
🧸 Elemental | PG | 1 hour 42 minutes | English
Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville | Special brunch showtimes
AMC Ford City 14 | 👓 3D screenings
AMC Galewood Crossings 14 | 👓 3D screenings
AMC River East 21 | 👓 3D screenings
Summary: Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together.
Directed by: Peter Sohn | Written by: John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh
Starring: Leah Lewis, Mahmoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O'Hara
The Flash | PG-13 | 2 hour 24 minutes | English
Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville | Special brunch showtimes
AMC Ford City 14 | 🌐 Spanish subtitles screenings
AMC Galewood Crossings 14 | 🧘 Sensory-friendly screenings
AMC River East 21 | ⭕📄 Open captions screenings
Regal City North | 👓 “4DX” screenings
Summary: Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.
Directed by: Andy Muschietti | Written by: Christina Hodson, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Starring: Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Kiersey Clemmons, Michael Keaton
🧸 The Little Mermaid (2023) | PG | 2 hour 15 minutes | English
AMC Ford City 14 | 👓 3D screenings
AMC Galewood Crossings 14 | 👓 3D screenings
Summary: A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.
Directed by: Rob Marshall | Written by: David Magee, based on Disney’s The Little Mermaid by Ron Clements and Jon Musker, originally based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy
No Hard Feelings | R | 1 hour 43 minutes | English
AMC Ford City 14 | 🌐 Spanish subtitles screenings
AMC Galewood Crossings 14 | 🌐 Spanish subtitles screenings
AMC River East 21 | ⭕📄 Open captions screenings
Summary: On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.
Directed by: Gene Stupnitsky | Written by: Gene Stupnitsky, John Phillips
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Matthew Broderick
🧸 Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse | PG | 2 hour 16 minutes | English
Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville | Special brunch showtimes
Regal City North | 👓 “4DX” screenings
Summary: Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson | Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dave Callaham
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Oscar Isaac
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | PG-13 | 2 hours 7 minutes | English
AMC Ford City 14 | 👓 3D screenings
AMC Galewood Crossings 14 | 👓 3D screenings
Summary: During the '90s, a new faction of Transformers - the Maximals - join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.
Directed by: Steven Caple Jr. | Written by: Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters
Starring: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez
❗ Last Chance
😱 The Boogeyman | PG-13 | 1 hour 38 minutes | English
Summary: Still reeling from the tragic death of their mother, a teenage girl and her younger sister find themselves plagued by a sadistic presence in their house and struggle to get their grieving father to pay attention before it's too late.
Directed by: Rob Savage | Written by: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, Mark Heyman
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland, Madison Hu
Fast X | PG-13 | 2 hour 21 minutes | English
Summary: Dom Toretto and his family are targeted by the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes.
Directed by: Louis Leterrier | Written by: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, John Cena
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | PG-13 | 2 hour 29 minutes | English
Summary: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
Directed by: James Gunn | Written by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
🧸 The Super Mario Bros. Movie | PG | 1 hour 32 minutes | English
Summary: A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.
Directed by: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Ludac | Written by: Matthew Fogel
Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen
You Hurt My Feelings | R | 1 hour 33 minutes | English
Summary: A novelist's longstanding marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband giving his honest reaction to her latest book.
Directed by: Nicole Holofcener | Written by: Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed
🎨 Mid-Budget, Indie, and/or Arthouse
🏳️🌈 Blue Jean | NR | 1 hour 37 minutes | English
Summary: In 1988, a closeted teacher is pushed to the brink when a new student threatens to expose her sexuality.
Directed by: Georgia Oakley | Written by: Georgia Oakley
Starring: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday
😱 God is a Bullet | NR | 2 hour 36 minutes | English
AMC Ford City 14
Note: No captions or audio description available for this film.AMC River East 21
Note: No captions or audio description available for this film.
Summary: When vice detective Bob Hightower finds his ex-wife murdered and daughter kidnapped by a satanic cult - Bob is frustrated by bumbling botched official investigations. Bob quits the police force, gets tattoos, and infiltrates the cult to hunt down the charismatic cult leader, Cyrus, with the help of the cult's only female victim escapee, the brilliantly damaged, Case Hardin. Bob is lead down the rabbit hole to save his daughter and Case seizes the opportunity to claim back her power from the cult that took so much away from her.
Directed by: Nick Cassavettes | Written by: Nick Cassavettes, Boston Teran
Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe, Jamie Foxx, January Jones
The Last Rider | PG-13 | 1 hour 36 minutes | English
AMC NewCity 14 | 1500 North Clybourn, Suite C301 60610
Summary: The incredible story of the greatest cycling race in history, the 1989 Tour de France, and how American Greg LeMond faced down betrayal, childhood sexual abuse and death completing one of the most inspiring comebacks in history.
Directed by: Alex Holmes | Written by: Alex Holmes
🌍 Past Lives | PG-13 | 1 hour 46 minutes | English, Korean
Landmark Century Cinema
Note: No captions or assisted listening devices available for this film.
Summary: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. 20 years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.
Directed by: Celine Song | Written by: Celine Song
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
Squaring the Circle | NR | 1 hour 41 minutes | English
Summary: Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey "Po" Powell form the iconic album art design studio Hipgnosis and become rock royalty during the 1970s. They create some of the most recognizable album covers of all time, including Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."
Directed by: Anton Corbijn | Written by: Trish D. Chetty
🏳️🌈🌍 Will-o’-the-Wisp (Fogo-Fátuo) | NR | 1 hour 7 minutes | Portugese
Summary: 2069, an erotic year if ever there was one, but a fateful year for a king without a crown.
Directed by: João Pedro Rodrigues | Written by: João Pedro Rodrigues, João Rui Guerra da Mata, Paulo Lopes Graça
Starring: Mauro Costa, André Cabral
💾 Repertory Runs
🧸 Peter Pan (2003) | PG | 1 hour 53 minutes | English
Summary: The Darling family children receive a visit from Peter Pan, who takes them to Never Never Land where an ongoing war with the evil Pirate Captain Hook is taking place.
Directed by: P.J. Hogan | Written by: P.J. Hogan, Michael Goldenberg, based on Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie
Starring: Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs, Rachel Hurd-Wood
🏳️🌈 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) | PG-13 | 1 hour 45 minutes | English
Summary: Three drag queens travel cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.
Directed by: Bibon Kidron | Written by: Douglas Carter Beane
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner
🍿 Smaller Budget Genre Films
Maximum Truth | R | 1 hour 21 minutes | English
Summary: A documentary crew follows political grifter Rick Klingman as he teams up with his sketchy buddy Simon to take down a rival congressional candidate
Directed by: David Stassen | Written by: Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen
Starring: Ike Barinholtz, Dylan O’Brien, Kiernan Shipka, Beth Grant, Max Minghella
🎉 One-off/Special Screenings
ACX Harper Theater
🧸 Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway — June 24 — 10:30 am
🧸 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs — June 28 — 1:00 pm
Top Gun — June 28 — 7:00 pm
Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville
🧸 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm — June 23 — 12:00 pm
🏳️🌈 Rocketman Brunch — June 24 — 11:00 am
🌍 The Triplets of Belleville Brunch — June 25 — 11:30 am
🧸 The Land Before Time — June 26 & 27 — 12:00 pm
June 28 — 11:15 amScott Pilgrim vs. the World — June 26 (Movie Party) — 7:30 pm
June 27 — 7:30 pm🏳️⚧️ By Hook or by Crook — June 28 — 7:30 pm
Freeway — June 28 — 9:30 pm
AMC Ford City 14
🧸 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — June 24 — 11:00 am
June 28 — 11:30 amThe Room Celebration — June 27 — 7:00 pm
AMC Galewood Crossings 14
🧸 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — June 24 & 28 — 12:00 pm
AMC NewCity 14
🧸 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — June 24 — 12:15 pm
June 28 — 10:45 amGrateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2023 — June 24 — 1:00 pm
AMC River East 21
🧸 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — June 24 — 11:00 am
June 28 — 11:30 amAEW: Forbidden Door 2023 (PPV Event) — June 25 — 6:00 pm
The Room Celebration — June 27 — 7:00 pm
Gene Siskel Film Center
🧸 The Lion King (1994) — June 23 — 6:00 pm
Paper Moon — June 23 — 8:00 pm
🌍 Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette) — June 24 — 12:00 pm
National Theatre Live: Good — June 24 & 25 — 2:00 pm
🌍 Toni Erdmann — June 24 — 5:30 pm
Aftersun — June 25 — 12:00 pm
🌍 The Sacrifice (Offret) — June 25 — 5:30 pm
Midwest Film Fest: Analog Night — June 26 — 6:30pm
The Mosquito Coast (1986) — June 28 — 6:00 pm
Music Box Theatre
😱 The Wicker Man (2006) — June 23 & 24 — 11:59 pm
Planet of the Apes (1968) — June 24 — 11:30 am
😱 Red Spell Spells Red — June 25 — 9:30 pm
Garden Movie: Waiting for Guffman — June 26 & 27 — 8:45 pm
Garden Movie: Best in Show — June 28 — 8:45 pm
Regal City North
AEW: Forbidden Door 2023 (PPV Event) — June 25 — 6:00 pm
Monday Mystery Movie — June 26 — 7:00 pm
🧸 Sonic the Hedgehog — June 27 & 28 — 11:30 am
🧸 Dora and the Lost City of Gold — June 27 & 28 — 11:45 am
The Room Celebration — June 27 — 7:00 pm
Regal Webster Place
Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2023 — June 23 & 24 — 2:00 pm
AEW: Forbidden Door 2023 (PPV Event) — June 25 — 6:00 pm
Monday Mystery Movie — June 26 — 7:00 pm
🧸 Sonic the Hedgehog — June 27 & 28 — 11:30 am
🧸 Dora and the Lost City of Gold — June 27 & 28 — 11:45 am
The Room Celebration — June 27 — 7:00 pm
That is all for this first edition! Stay tuned and don’t forget to subscribe to stay up-to-date with movies in Chicago and beyond.
Feedback or suggestions? Leave a comment!