Join us for a one night only celebration of the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s theatrical directorial debut The Sugarland Express! And thank you to Universal Repertory for a beautiful, brand new 4K restoration!

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

Released during the “New Hollywood” era, when filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman were challenging traditional cinematic conventions, The Sugarland Express offered a fresh approach to filmmaking from its young, new director. Spielberg’s approach leaned into documentary-style filmmaking, with long, unbroken takes, handheld camera work, and a less polished aesthetic. The film’s portrayal of real-world events—through the story of a real-life couple’s botched attempt to escape from authorities—felt grounded in the gritty, realistic style that defined much of New Hollywood cinema.