Varsity Cinema
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thevarsitydsm.bsky.social
Varsity Cinema
@thevarsitydsm.bsky.social
Des Moines' nonprofit community art house cinema.
www.varsitydesmoines.com
Time's almost up! ⏰ Become a Varsity Cinema member or renew your membership before November 15 to get a FREE t-shirt — just show your registration at the box office. And you’ll be automatically entered to win a YEAR OF FREE MOVIES!

Join or renew today: varsitydesmoines.com/memberships/...
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Join us this Wednesday for THE KNEELING GODDESS + an intro from the Des Moines Art Center!

A sultry model leads a man away from his innocent wife and down into the ecstatic depths of degradation...

www.varsitydesmoines.com/the-kneeling-goddess/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or
November 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
It's 5:30 somewhere. Let your conscious guide you to the Varsity this weekend to see the WTF-inducing film everyone's talking about.

#BUGONIA, Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film starring Emma Stone, is now playing.

Showtimes & tickets at: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/bugon...
November 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Join us on Nov. 12 for THE KNEELING GODDESS presented with the Des Moines Art Center with an intro from Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter about Manuel Álvarez Bravo who worked on the film.

🎟️ www.varsitydesmoines.com/showtimes/the-kneeling-goddess/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or
November 6, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This year’s Palme d’Or winner #ItWasJustAnAccident opens this Friday, November 7.

In the film, director #JafarPanahi “summons all the medium’s expressive powers to deliver a fierce, unambiguous denunciation of authoritarian regimes the world over” (Justin Chang, The New Yorker).

#ComingSoon
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
On Nov. 9, don’t miss five-time Olivier Award-winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) onstage with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the first time, playing mother & daughter in Bernard Shaw’s “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” for #NationalTheatreLive.

🎟️ varsitydesmoines.com/movies/natio...
November 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Happy Halloween! 🎃 We’ve got two freaky good flicks for you this weekend.
October 31, 2025 at 11:47 PM
#BUGONIA opens this THURSDAY. 🐝
October 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Want to work with us at Varsity Cinema? 🍿 We have a new opening for Shift Lead!

Read more and apply at www.varsitydesmoines.com/jobs.
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Emma Stone 🤝 Yorgos Lanthimos — They're back and better than ever in the wildly bizarre BUGONIA, opening this Thursday.

varsitydesmoines.com/movies/bugon...
October 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Join us one week from today for the Des Moines Underground Film Festival 🎥 to see a slate of locally made short films!

🎟️ Tickets at: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/des-m...

This year's lineup includes: "Vainglory" by Sydney Pierick, "Flyover" by Max Ward, "Hell's Hollow" by Connor Botts & many more!
October 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Join Varsity Cinema and Des Moines Performing Arts for a WICKED: FOR GOOD pre-screening singalong on Sunday, November 23!

The singalong will begin at 6:00 pm and the film will start at 7:00 pm. Plus, come early for themed cocktails!

🎟️ Tickets at: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/wicke...
October 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Tickets are on sale NOW for FRANKENSTEIN—opening this Friday! In Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life.

Get tickets at: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/frank...
October 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Audiences are buzzing about AFTER THE HUNT, now playing.

Tickets & showtimes: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/after...
October 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Scooby and the gang are reuniting at the Varsity this Tuesday at 7pm for our Movie Bash screening of SCOOBY-DOO (2002)! Come try our signature cocktail "Scooby Snack" at Concessions and take a trip to Spooky Island while quoting some of the movie's most iconic lines (written by James Gunn!) 🐕🔎 👻
October 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Oh hi, *Mark* your calendars. THE ROOM returns to the Varsity next month! Join us for a Movie Bash screening with audience interaction on November 11 at 7pm or join the late night crowd for our Midnights@10 screening on November 13. Spoons provided! 🥄

🎟️ 11/11: bit.ly/48ASsxD
🎟️ 11/13: bit.ly/49fmyXE
October 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Join us on Oct. 26 for THAT THING | THAT SOUND, a heartfelt documentary celebrating the soulful voice of the steel guitar, followed by a Filmmaker Q&A!

“A beautiful love letter to a complex instrument that deserves more attention.“ — True/False Film Festival

varsitydesmoines.com/movies/that-...
October 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
AFTER THE HUNT, the latest from Luca Guadagnino (CHALLENGERS) opens Friday! Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri & Andrew Garfield star in this gripping drama of a college professor at a crossroads when a star student makes an accusation against her colleague, and a dark secret of her own comes to light.
October 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Join us on October 23 for a Midnights@10 showing of 1987’s A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIOR 💭🔪 Presented by The Fright Zone Podcast.

Commemorative event koozies for the first 50 attendees, and costumes encouraged! Let’s party!

🎟️ Tickets at: varsitydesmoines.com/movies/a-nig...
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
We see you shivering with antici…pation—it’s finally ROCKY HORROR week here at the Varsity! 💋 Although Friday night’s show is sold out, there are still seats open for Saturday’s 1pm matinee of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with a Live Shadow Cast of local performers.

Get tickets at: bit.ly/48trOH2
October 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Kathryn Bigelow is back with another nail-biter, A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, starring Rebecca Ferguson as Captain Walker, who monitors national threats at the White House. When her team is notified of a rogue ICBM, they're left with roughly 18 minutes until it makes contact with Chicago.

Now playing.
October 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Whether you’re already MISERY’s #1 fan or you're new to its thrills, join us on Oct. 14 & 19 to celebrate its 35th anniversary! Followed by a recorded Q&A with Kathy Bates and Rob Reiner.

Playing in our Restoration Celebration series — free for Varsity members!

varsitydesmoines.com/movies/miser...
October 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
National Theatre Live is back this Sunday, Oct. 12! 🎭 Join us for INTER ALIA, starring Rosamund Pike as a Crown Court Judge at the top of her career whose life is suddenly thrown completely off balance.

In Partnership with Des Moines Community Playhouse.

varsitydesmoines.com/movies/natio...
October 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Like zoinks, it’s time for another Movie Bash! Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 21 for SCOOBY-DOO (2002) with audience interaction encouraged.

www.varsitydesmoines.com/movies/scooby-doo-with-audience-interaction/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or
October 7, 2025 at 1:21 AM
“The most entertaining movie on the subject of potential mass destruction since Dr Strangelove.” – Independent (UK)

When an unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

Kathryn Bigelow's A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE opens Oct. 10!
October 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM