New York City's repertory cinemas are rolling out a rich slate of screenings this weekend, from a newly restored print of Do the Right Thing to a pair of Les Blank documentaries and a deep dive into the Reagan era through film. Across Manhattan and Brooklyn, venues are offering rare theatrical presentations, many on 35mm, that cater to both classic film buffs and adventurous viewers.
At the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, the ongoing series “Grit and Glitter: Before and After Stonewall” continues with screenings of Dog Day Afternoon, My Beautiful Laundrette, and Tropical Malady. The museum is also running a 35mm print of Coffy as part of its “See It Big! Action” program, and two John Waters films—Multiple Maniacs and Hairspray—are on the schedule.
In Manhattan, the Metrograph is presenting restored versions of Les Blank’s Chulas Fronteras and Del Mero Corazón, along with the ongoing run of the restored A Bigger Splash. Starting Sunday, the theater launches “Reagan at the Movies,” a series curated by J. Hoberman that examines the intersection of cinema and the Reagan presidency. Late-night offerings include Battle Royale and Heaven Knows What, while Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid screens earlier in the day.
Restorations and Classics at Film Forum and Beyond
Film Forum in the West Village is opening restored runs of The Big Lebowski and Ishtar, alongside a new restoration of Paris Is Burning. On Sunday, Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones screens in a restored version, and the theater also offers Annie and the Yiddish classic Overture to Glory.
The IFC Center is showing a newly restored The Queen and a 35mm print of Do the Right Thing. Over in Brooklyn, BAM is also screening Do the Right Thing with a fresh 35mm print, giving audiences two chances to see Spike Lee’s landmark film on the big screen.
Anthology Film Archives continues its series “Prison Images: Incarceration and the Cinema,” featuring works by Don Siegel, Jean Renoir, and other directors. Meanwhile, Nitehawk Cinema is offering early screenings of The Mummy.
For cinephiles, the weekend presents a rare opportunity to catch these titles in a theatrical setting, many of which are not regularly shown. The breadth of programming—from Waters’ transgressive comedies to the political resonance of the Stonewall-era films—reflects the city’s vibrant repertory scene.
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