When I moved to Nashville from Richmond, Va., this year, I mourned the loss of the Byrd Theatre, my neighborhood’s historic movie palace. Since then, I’ve been happy to find a home at the Belcourt — and as someone raised on late-night public access TV and so-bad-it’s-good hate watches, I was particularly thrilled to discover their midnight screening series of cult classics, Belcourt Midnights.
We’re big fans of the Belcourt’s Halloweentide marathon 12 Hours of Terror here at the Scene, but through Belcourt Midnights, the theater showcases thoughtfully paired screenings of the finest in oddball cinema year-round. With a focus on nostalgic and out-there releases, there’s a heavy horror presence, but also plenty of films for the faint of heart. Earlier this year the Belcourt screened The Brady Bunch Movie in conjunction with Scooby Doo, and the Thanksgiving weekend series pairs the goofy action-comedies The Big Lebowski and Big Trouble in Little China.
Alongside the series’ expert curation, Belcourt Midnights excels at bringing these films’ passionate fandoms to life through preshow programming. This year, their annual screening of The Room in 35 mm featured a Q&A with co-producer and actor Greg Sestero (oh hi, Mark!), live line readings from the original script and special previews of forthcoming The Room content. They’ve hosted VHS exchanges, concocted themed drinks, run costume contests — all with the mission of bringing people together, and hyping them up to share an experience of good (or bad!) cinema.
I’m proud to count myself among those who have made friends with fellow aficionados in the Belcourt Midnights popcorn line, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store for the new year. Maybe they’ll let me pitch my personal dream combo: Tremors and David Lynch’s Dune.
—Annie Parnell
Audience Editor, Nashville Scene
Our notes of gratitude to the community advocates, health care workers and others who make Nashville special
