as a single-screen theater owner, this definitely didn’t have me crying the entire timereally heartwarming to see how many other people care about movies and preservation as much as we do
Cinemas
Directed by Rustin Thompson
The Last Picture Shows
A grounded, ensemble documentary.
Documentary
2026
1h 18m
Ten states. 10,825 miles. 123 theaters. In his latest feature The Last Picture Shows, filmmaker Rustin Thompson journeys into the American West on a search for traces of what was once a center of small-town life: the movie theater. On the trip, he finds long abandoned and forgotten cinemas; movie houses that have fallen into disrepair; theaters recently closed, theaters struggling to hold on, and theaters that—thanks to their thoughtful caretakers—are not only surviving but thriving. Between the stops along the way, Rustin poetically intersperses excerpts from Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 classic film The Last Picture Show, as well as reflections on past and present hardships facing the film exhibition industry. The Last Picture Shows reminds viewers that even in vast cinema deserts, there are oases of community and gathering that remain, where the movie house continues to be a place of wonder, contemplation, and connection.
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Cast & crew
1What people say
my thoughts before seeing this: maybe I need to be grudgingly grateful for the mcu for keeping theaters open & people goingme now that I know how these studios treat small theaters: I hope I can see the end to the marvel cinematic universe in my lifetime
I love our big gay communist movie club house.
Common questions
What is The Last Picture Shows about?+
The film follows filmmaker Rustin Thompson on a road trip across the American West as he visits various independent cinemas to document their histories, struggles, and the dedicated people who work to keep them open.
Who directed The Last Picture Shows?+
The documentary was directed by Rustin Thompson and released in 2026.
Is The Last Picture Shows a documentary?+
Yes, it is a documentary that explores the current state of independent movie exhibition in rural American towns. Tickets on Mood.
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