Our In Defense of… series returns with Tank Girl, Rachel Talalay’s post apocalyptic sci-fi film and our Director of Volunteers and Interns Jill Georgieff’s pick!
After a comet disrupts the rain cycle of Earth, the planet has become a desolate, barren desert by the year 2033. With resources scarce, Kesslee — head of the powerful and evil Water & Power Corporation, the de facto government — has taken control of the water supply. Unwilling to cower under Kesslee’s tyrannical rule, a pair of outlaws known as Tank Girl and Jet Girl rise up, joining the mysterious rebel Rippers to destroy the corrupt system.
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Join us for the inaugural film in a new series we’re calling Hallucinations as we present the 1996 cult classic Cannibal! The Musical.
Before South Park and The Book Of Mormon, Trey Parker and Matt Stone created an ultra-low budget musical that’s been largely lost to time, despite their creators’ fame. A new restoration is the perfect way to see this forgotten film that paved the way for two oft he most successful comedy writers of the century.
Hosted by Polygon’s editor-in-chief Chris Plante, Hallucinations is a monthly event that spotlights movies that challenge our expectations of story, style, and “good taste”. Plante will introduce each film with some behind-the-scenes history and critical context. With Hallucinations, The Frida Cinema wants to build a communal space for lovers of Weird Cinema. We invite guests to bond over films that change what we expect from the medium, the world, and themselves. So come early, stay late, make friends, and watch something strange, surprising, or just shamelessly sick.
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Update: due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, our guests are no longer able to join us for the in-person portion of this event. However, they will be pre-recording a very special introduction to the film just for The Frida Cinema’s audience.
Join us for a very special For Your Consideration screening of Rap World! The night before Oscar nominations come out, we are hoping for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Design, and especially Best Original Song noms! And this is the screening that’s going to sway The Academy!
The story of Rap World is set in 2009 and follows four friends living in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania as they document their attempt to record a rap album over the course of one eventful night.
Don’t miss this one night only event!
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Our Wong Kar-Wai Month series continues with Chungking Express, the director’s timeless 1994 romance.
The film weaves together two distinct yet thematically linked stories of two lovelorn policemen. In the first, He Qiwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), reeling from a breakup, becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman in a blonde wig (Brigitte Lin), who is entangled in the criminal underworld. The second story follows Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), whose heartbreak over a flight attendant ex-girlfriend is softened by the quirky and free-spirited Faye (Faye Wong), a café worker who secretly transforms his life.
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Our new edition of 21st Century Cult starts with Todd Solondz’s dark 2004 satire Palindromes!
The film follows 13-year-old Aviva, a girl who desperately wants to become a mother but faces the harsh and complex realities of adulthood far too soon. After a traumatic experience leads to her running away, Aviva encounters a series of peculiar and morally ambiguous characters, each influencing her perception of herself and the world. Notably, Solondz uses multiple actors of varying ages, races, and genders to portray Aviva, emphasizing the universality and fluidity of her experiences.
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Who says our Party Like It’s 1999 series is over? Our first January Volunteer of the Month is Gio Carrillo, who has chosen the cult comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous!
In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family in town, the police are pretty relaxed about it all. Despite everything, main rival (but sweet) Amber Atkins won’t give up without a fight.
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It’s finally time for Tommy Wiseau’s new film Big Shark to be unleashed on Orange County! As an added bonus, we’ll be throwing it on a double feature with his 2003 cult classic The Room! And if that all weren’t enough, star of The Room and best-selling author of The Disaster Artist, Greg Sestero, is joining us for all the fun to introduce both films in person!
First up, you know the drill! Bust out those plastic spoons! Wiseau’s peerless magnum opus finds the auteur who shaped a generation taking on the arts of acting, writing, casting, directing, editing and more. What’s even more remarkable: he’s mastered them all. The multi-talented director stars as Johnny, a big-time banker working in gorgeously shot San Francisco. His fiancée Lisa, seemingly a happy part of a successful relationship, has wandering eyes…for Tommy’s best friend Mark. Cinema has never witnessed such betrayal!
And then finally…the Big Shark arrives here at The Frida Cinema, with only a mysterious tagline attached to it: three firefighters must save New Orleans from a gigantic shark. That’s it! Don’t miss this awesome double feature on the big screen with a packed house!
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It’s time again for our Marketing Director Bekah to spread some holiday cheer with her annual tradition: Bekah’s Cozy Christmas Classics! This year, she’s curating a double dose of holiday cheer with the unforgettable pairing of Meet Me In St. Louis and Christmas In Connecticut!
First up, let Judy Garland’s unforgettable performance in Meet Me In St. Louis sweep you away in this heartwarming musical transports you to the early 1900s, where the Smith family’s lives are filled with love, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia. With unforgettable songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” this film is a celebration of family, home, and the magic of the holidays.
And then after that, get ready for some romantic holiday fun with Barbara Stanwyck in the delightful holiday comedy Christmas In Connecticut! When a war hero is invited to spend Christmas at the home of a food writer, a series of charming misunderstandings lead to cozy chaos, romance, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. It’s the perfect mix of laughter, love, and Christmas spirit.
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Joe Dante’s Christmas time creature feature comedy Gremlins is one of our very favorite holiday films, so let’s play it again!
The story begins when Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) receives a mysterious, adorable creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift from his father. With strict care instructions—no bright light, no water, and no feeding after midnight—Billy struggles to follow the rules, inadvertently unleashing a horde of mischievous, destructive gremlins on his quiet town. As the creatures wreak havoc, Billy and his girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) race to stop the chaos and save their community.
Gremlins remains a beloved cult classic that redefined holiday-themed films and practically invented the need for the PG-13 rating. It’s funny, scary, and filled with holiday cheer all at the same time.
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Bewitch yourself with Bell, Book and Candle, Robert Quine’s 1958 romantic comedy
Kim Novak stars as Gillian Holroyd, a glamorous and independent witch who becomes smitten with her handsome upstairs neighbor, Shep Henderson (James Stewart). Using her magical powers, Gillian casts a love spell on Shep, only to face unexpected complications when genuine feelings emerge, threatening her supernatural abilities. Featuring a stellar supporting cast, including Jack Lemmon as Gillian’s mischievous brother and Elsa Lanchester as her eccentric aunt, the film dazzles with its whimsical atmosphere, witty dialogue, and enchanting performances.
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