This week, the wide releases are a threequel, a one-joke gore fest, and a movie with a premise that prompted an involuntary “ew.” But there are two new documentaries that promise to deliver the crowd pleasure of a scripted narrative and they’ll test the current truism that when it comes to real-life stories, audiences only want celebrities or crimes. There are actually lots of opportunities to feel good at the movies this week…
Playing on five screens, Cookie Queens is a love letter to the young troopers in the Girl Scouts. It’s also a microcosm of late stage capitalism in the form of the annual cookie sale and the efforts of four girls to make or break their individual goals. One is raising money for a trip to Europe, while another is hoping to afford the camp her parents can’t manage, and star seller Olive is doing it just to beat her personal best. They’re all smart, driven, and utterly charming, and they’ll make you smile even as you absorb parents’ comments about how little of the profits go to scouts and that they’re on the hook for any unsold cookies. As Olive says, “It’s technically child labor, but we signed up for this.”
I’m happy to report that the Drexel has picked up Penny Lane’s new doc Wild Inside for an exclusive run this week. Lane brings her uniquely engaging touch to a work that relies heavily on crowd-sourced video shot by enraptured New Yorkers. Their subject: Flaco, a male Eurasian eagle-owl (the largest owl species in the world) raised in captivity at the Central Park Zoo who escaped in 2023 and, against all odds, made Manhattan his hunting ground. Early reviews drop words like “delightful” and “enchanting.”
If even those seem like too much for your overworked brain, you can also immerse yourself in the pure dopamine hit that is CatVideoFest 2026 at Gateway.
And good vibes are practically guaranteed at the Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2026, Aug. 8 & 10 at select multiplexes.
This weekend, Lennox hosts The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, which presents a slew of features and shorts over three days, including a Saturday program heavy with Ohio filmmakers.
In repertory programming, there’s Alfred Hitchcock’s moody US debut Rebecca at Green Lawn Abbey Friday and his 1955 lesson in suave, To Catch a Thief, Friday and Saturday in the CAPA Summer Movie Series.
More warm feels can be found in a Marcus Cinemas run of the original The Muppet Movie, AMC screenings of Muppet Treasure Island, and shows of The Goonies at Lennox.
Multiplexes are also devoting screens to the Studio Ghibli deep cuts Tales from Earthsea and Only Yesterday.
A Summer Abroad wraps at the Wexner Center with Luis Buñuel’s surrealistic toxic male tale Viridiana on Saturday, the Czech rule breakers of Daisies on Tuesday, and Akira Kurosawa’s epic Ran on Thursday.
Pass this to a movie-loving friend. It’ll make you feel good. ❤
(Alphabetical by venue; info is accurate as of post date & subject to change)
Next scheduled screening August 22
Aug. 6–7: My Best Girl with classic comedy short
Aug. 8–9: To Catch a Thief
Aug. 12–13: Another Thin Man
Ends Aug. 6:
Hadestown: The Musical
Minions & Monsters
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Ice Cream Man
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in 3D)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 10 only: AMC Screen Unseen
Aug. 10 & 12 only: Muppet Treasure Island
Aug. 11 only: Practical Magic
Opens Aug. 13:
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
Through Sept. 20: Greater Columbus: The 2026 Visual Arts Fellowship Exhibition, featuring In a Barrel, ButYouDontWannaDie by Yusef Ferguson and Requiem by Malcolm Cochran
On view in the Planetarium through Sept. 7:
Messengers of Time and Space
Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival
On view in the Giant Screen Theater:
Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope
Ending Aug. 6:
Bhai Tera Star Hai
I Want Your Sex
Moana
Motor City
Aug. 6 only: Drum Corps International 2026: Big, Loud & Live
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Cookie Queens
DC
Ice Cream Man
Korean Kanakaraju
Minions & Monsters
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in DLX)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 6 & 8 only: Ateez: Light the Way
Aug. 7 & 10–12 only: G.D.N
Aug. 7–8 & 12 only: Thudakkam
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8 & 10 only: Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2026; Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 9–13 only: The Muppet Movie (1979)
Aug. 11 only: Nimrods Early Access screening with Green Day intro + bonus performance; Practical Magic
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
The Rivals of Amziah King
The Wrong Girls
Your Name 10th Anniversary
(Open Thu–Mon only)
Ends Aug. 6:
I Want Your Sex
The Invite
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
The Odyssey
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Wild Inside
Aug. 8 only: Eccentric Cinema: Paris, Texas; The Room
Aug. 9 only: School of Rock
Aug. 10 only: A Case of the Mondays: Deliverance
Ends Aug. 6:
Bhai Tera Star Hai
Evil Dead Burn
The Invite
I Want Your Sex
Srinivasa Mangapuram
Young Washington
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Cookie Queens
Hadestown: The Musical
Ice Cream Man
Minions & Monsters
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in 3D)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 7 only: Ohio Goes to the Movies: Zombieland
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8 & 10 only: Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2026; Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 10 only: AMC Screen Unseen
Aug. 10 & 12 only: Muppet Treasure Island
Aug. 11 only: Nimrods Early Access screening with Green Day intro + bonus performance; Practical Magic
Aug. 12–16 only: Katseye: Wild Hearts
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
The End of Oak Street
Nimrods
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
The Rivals of Amziah King
Ends Aug. 6:
Bhai Tera Star Hai
Disclosure Day
Haunted Heist
Her Private Hell
Michael
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Cookie Queens
Evil Dead Burn
Hadestown: The Musical
Ice Cream Man
The Invite
I Want Your Sex
Korean Kanakaraju
Minions & Monsters
Moana
Motor City
Obsession
The Odyssey (select screenings in IMAX)
One Night Only
Sheep in the Box
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in 3D; sensory friendly screenings Aug. 8 & 12)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 6 & 8 only: Ateez: Light the Way
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8 & 10 only: Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies 2026; Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 10 only: AMC Screen Unseen
Aug. 10 & 12 only: Muppet Treasure Island
Aug. 11 only: Nimrods Early Access screening with Green Day intro + bonus performance; Practical Magic
Aug. 12–16 only: Katseye: Wild Hearts
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
The End of Oak Street
Nimrods
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
The Rivals of Amziah King
The Wrong Girls
Your Name 10th Anniversary
Aug. 7:
Little Giants at Upper Arlington’s Thompson Park
National Treasure at Reynoldsburg’s Huber Park
Aug. 8
Zootopia 2 at New Albany’s Bevelhymer Park
Aug. 11
The Lion King at New Albany’s Hinson Amphitheater
Aug. 12
Wicked for Good at Grove City’s Town Center Park
Ends Aug. 6:
Her Private Hell
Network 4K Restoration
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Sheep in the Box
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
CatVideoFest 2026
Cookie Queens
Cult 101: Manhunter: The Final Cut
Ice Cream Man
The Invite
I Want Your Sex
The Odyssey (select screenings in 70mm)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Super Troopers 3
Aug. 8–9 only: Boyhood; From Book to Film: The Color Purple
Opens Aug. 13:
Wallace & Gromit: The Classic Shorts
New/holding as of Aug. 6:
The Odyssey
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Aug. 7 only: Rebecca
Ends Aug. 6:
Hadestown: The Musical
I Want Your Sex
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Ice Cream Man
Minions & Monsters
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in IMAX & 3D; sensory friendly screenings Aug. 8 & 12)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8 & 10 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 10 only: AMC Screen Unseen
Aug. 10 & 12 only: Muppet Treasure Island
Aug. 11 only: Nimrods Early Access screening with Green Day intro + bonus performance; Practical Magic
Aug. 12–16 only: Katseye: Wild Hearts
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
Ends Aug. 6:
Jackass: Best and Last
Motor City
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Aug. 6 only: Drum Corps International 2026: Big, Loud & Live
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition
Cookie Queens
Disclosure Day
Evil Dead Burn
The Goonies
Hadestown: The Musical
Ice Cream Man
The Invite
I Want Your Sex
Minions & Monsters
Moana
Obsession
The Odyssey
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in 3D & IMAX)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Young Washington
Aug. 7–9 only: The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
Aug 8 & 10 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Opens Aug. 13:
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
Aug. 13: The Devil Wears Prada 2
Ends Aug. 6:
Bhai Tera Star Hai
Evil Dead Burn
Hadestown: The Musical
I Want Your Sex
Motor City
Obsession
Aug. 6 only: Drum Corps International 2026: Big, Loud & Live
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
Gauthali
Ice Cream Man
Lalibazar
Minions & Monsters
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in DLX and 3D)
Super Troopers 3
Toy Story 5
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8–11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 9–13 only: The Muppet Movie (1979)
Aug. 11 only: Practical Magic
Aug. 12–16 only: Katseye: Wild Hearts
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
Elijah Peel
The End of Oak Street
Your Name 10th Anniversary
Ends Aug. 6:
Hadestown: The Musical
Aug. 6 only: Drum Corps International 2026: Big, Loud & Live
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
DC
G.D.N.
Korean Kanakaraju
Ice Cream Man
Minions & Monsters
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in XD & Real D 3D)
Super Troopers 3
Thudakkam
Toy Story 5
Aug. 6 & 8 only: Ateez: Light the Way
Aug. 8 only: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Early Access screening
Aug 8 & 10 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Aug. 8–9 only: Dookudu 4K
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 10 only: Secret Movie Series
Aug. 11 only: Practical Magic
Aug. 12–16 only: Katseye: Wild Hearts
Opens Aug. 13:
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
Tentative double features Aug. 7–13 (could not be confirmed at publish time):
Spider-Man: Brand New Day & The Invite
Toy Story 5 & The Odyssey (screen 2 closed Aug. 6)
Ends Aug. 6:
Hadestown: The Musical
New/holding as of Aug. 7:
DC
El Gawahergy
Lalibazar
Minions & Monsters
Moana
The Odyssey
One Night Only
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (select screenings in 3D)
Super Troopers 3
Thudakkam
Toy Story 5
Aug. 9 & 11 only: Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
Aug. 10 only: Secret Movie Series; Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
Opens Aug. 13:
The Brink of War
The End of Oak Street
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
New/holding as of Aug. 6:
The Odyssey
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (beer tasting Aug. 9)
Aug. 6 only: American Motherhood Tour: No Country for Mothers screening to benefit Moms First
Aug. 8 only: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Opens Aug. 13:
The End of Oak Street
Through Aug. 15: Homing: Site Reflections by Katherine G. Moore & Kathryn Nusa Logan
A Summer Abroad: International Film Classics
Aug. 6: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Aug. 8: Viridiana
Aug. 11: Daisies
Aug. 13: Ran
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