Alright, before we get into the awesome movies playing in theatres this week, I wanna ask you a question: are you familiar with Don Hertzfeldt? If you think you aren’t, you may be mistaken because he is most famously known for the absurdist animated short Rejected that had a stranglehold on internet comedy for years. Beyond Rejected, Don has created some of the greatest animated shorts and anthologies ever. My personal favorite is World of Tomorrow, an amazing series of short films that are sci-fi, comedy, existentialism, and whole lots more.
I bring him up because one of my favorite indie streamers Dropout has licensed his entire back catalog as The Don Hertzfeldt Collection. Not only can you watch all of his shorts, but you can also watch his newest short Paper Trail, which received the coveted Annecy Crystal (the grand prize for shorts at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival) and Special Jury Prize at Sundance this year, starting September 1st. I know that adding another subscription can be annoying, but this one is worth it even beyond Don Hertzfeldt’s oeuvre. Plus, it’s only $6.99 a month with a 3 day trial, so you can just do a quick watch and cancel! (P.S. we are not getting paid for this promotion, I just really love it)
Anywho, let’s get to it. Welcome to The Maine Playweek…
All week | Black Bear Cinemas, Orono; Nickelodeon Cinemas, Portland; Patriot Cinemas, Freeport; Colonial Theatre, Belfast; Magic Lantern Theater, Bridgton; The Gem Theater, Bethel; Spotlight Cinemas, Skowhegan; Flagship Cinemas, all locations; Apple Cinemas, Saco and Westbrook; Bangor Mall Cinemas, Bangor; Big Bang Theaters, Caribou; Smitty’s Entertainment, all locations; Regal Cinemas, Augusta
This has been a big blockbuster summer: The Odyssey, Spider-Man, Toy Story, Disclosure Day, the list goes on. However, with only a little over two weeks left in August, we’ve got one more in The End of Oak Street. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) and produced by J. J. Abrams, we’ve got ourselves a classic sci-fi/mystery of a family living in a neighborhood that is transported to a prehistoric time replete with dinosaurs. Of course, most of the marketing leaves a lot in the dark, but Anne Hathway and Ewan McGregor look absolutely fantastic in both the survival and family aspects of the film. If you’re looking for another big movie to see in theatres, this is it.
All week | Nickelodeon Cinemas, Portland; Apple Cinemas, Saco and Westbrook
I don’t know about you, but I feel like there has been a bit of a dearth of stoner comedies. If you think back to the 90s and 2000s, we had Half Baked, Bong Water, Dude Where’s My Car?, and plenty other primo stoner flicks. Luckily for us, Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat have come to the rescue. Does every joke land? No. Is it insanely over the top? Yes. Will you enjoy seeing it and laugh your little butt off? Absolutely. Plus, the cast is stacked (Lakeith Stanfield, Tony Hale, Zach Fox, Geena Davis, Kate Mackinnon, and the voices of Seth Rogan and Kumail Nanjiani). Turn on, tune in, drop out.
August 14th at 7pm | SPACE Gallery, Portland
Want to learn about something you may have never heard of? Then have I got the documentary for you! Welcome Space Brothers is all about the UFO religion of Unarius, founded in 1954 out in California by the enigmatic and likable director Ruth Miller, and details its rise (and later fall) in popularity. It is a deeply interesting story about belief, space religions, and the use of TV and film in the 70s, 80s, and 90s in order to spread a “gospel” of your faith. It’ll be a time, and you’ll be more enlightened and ready in case we do have space brothers on their way to bring peace to the masses.
Quick aside: we’re sorry that we haven’t gotten out the remainder of the interviews from MIFF and MOFF this week. We had a couple of technical issues and other commitments that made publishing a little difficult. That being said, we are still working hard on getting them out to you so stay tuned!
It’s odd to remember that legendary Kiwi actor Sam Neill passed away just one month ago. His presence and skill were so awe inspiring and he will be sorely missed. To honor his skill, there are a few screenings featuring his craft playing this week:
Jurassic Park
The Piano
Bridgton Twin Drive-In
Prides Corner Drive-In, Westbrook
Saco Drive-In
Skylite Drive-In, Madawaska
Spider-Man: Brand New Day - all week at 8:15pm
Nimrods - all week | Bangor Mall Cinemas, Bangor; Apple Cinemas, Westbrook; Flagship Cinemas, Auburn, Falmouth, Thomaston, Waterville
The Rivals of Amziah King - all week | Reel Pizza Cinerama, Bar Harbor
SIX: The Musical - all week | Nickelodeon Cinemas, Portland; Maine Film Center, Waterville; Apple Cinemas, Saco and Westbrook; Bangor Mall Cinemas, Bangor
The Lost Boys - August 14th and 15th at 6pm | Criterion Theatre, Bar Harbor
Almost Famous - August 14th at 5:30pm | Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit
After the screening, the Leavitt will also be throwing a party with a band playing the film’s soundtrack live!
Dirty Dancing
August 15th at 10am; August 16th at 10am, 3:30pm, and 6:30pm; August 19th at 3:30pm and 6:30pm | Flagship Cinemas, Auburn, Falmouth, Thomaston, Waterville
The Princess Bride - August 15th and 16th at 2:30pm | Maine Film Center, Waterville
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - August 15th and 16th at 4:15pm | Eveningstar Cinema, Brunswick
This will be shown in old school, red-blue, anaglyph 3D!!!!!
The Goonies - August 15th at 6pm | Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit (Free!)
Canoe Dig It? - August 15th at 7pm | Eveningstar Cinema, Brunswick
Wet Hot American Summer - August 16th, 17th, 18th and 20th at 7pm | Maine Film Center, Waterville
Point Break - August 16th and 19th at 7pm | Black Bear Cinemas, Orono; Apple Cinemas, Saco and Westbrook; Regal Cinemas, Augusta
The Lego Movie - August 16th at 4:30pm | Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit (Free!)
Wild Inside - August 16th at 6pm | Harbor Theater, Boothbay Harbor
2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour - August 16th at 7pm | SPACE Gallery, Portland
Hamnet - August 18th and 19th at 5pm and 8pm | Rangeley Lakeside Theatre, Rangeley
The Terror - August 18th at 6:30pm | Fort Kent Cinema, Fort Kent
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - August 18th at 7pm | Black Bear Cinemas, Orono; Regal Cinemas, Augusta
Ladyhawke - August 19th at 7pm, August 22nd at 2pm and 7pm | Kinonik, Portland
76 Days Adrift - August 19th at 7pm, August 20th at 2pm | Harbor Theater, Boothbay Harbor
Road to Everywhere - August 20th at 7pm | Nickelodeon Cinemas, Portland
Wasterville - August 20th at 7pm | Maine Film Center, Waterville
There will be a Q&A with the writer/director Chris Haase after the showing!
Women Laughing - August 20th at 7pm | Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta
There will be a Q&A with the director Liza Donnelly which will be moderated by Heather Cox Richardson!
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