What more can we add to what's already been said about Showgirls, except that it meticulously catalogs every single reason why this country is so fucked up? John Waters has described it as "funny, stupid, dirty and filled with cinematic cliché; in other words, perfect … it will be great trash forever" while acclaimed filmmaker Jacques Rivette calls it "one of the great American films of the last few years ... Like every Verhoeven film, it's very unpleasant: it's about surviving in a world populated by assholes, and that's his philosophy." more ›

Is our favorite princess movie on its way to becoming a cult film? Later this month, The Little Mermaid will be playing on the big screen for 11 straight nights at the Music Box Theater, but this time you get to do what we all do at home anyway: sing along to the movie. more ›

Dust those cobwebs off your costumes, folks. It’s the Saturday before a hump-day Halloween, so that means tonight is the night to let it all hang out. That is, if your costume is of that genre. Otherwise, check out these Halloween haunts: The Six Corners Monster Movie Festival in Portage Park features seven classic horror movies both today and tomorrow. Tonight: Nightmare on Elm Street at 8 p.m. Internet gossip columnist Perez Hilton hosts his... more ›

The cast of Family Guy will hit Chicago next month to present, live and uncensored, a “classic episode” of the animated series. Perhaps you love the show but would rather see it delivered by actors on book accompanied, Rocky Horror-style, by hundreds of Stewie groupies reciting their favorite punchlines. If so, get your butt down to the Chicago Theatre box office tomorrow morning in time to nab the close-enough-to-smell-Seth-Green’s-mousse seats. more ›

In his autobiography My Last Sigh, filmmaker Luis Bunuel describes going to the movies as a child during the silent era: "In addition to the traditional piano player, each theatre in Saragossa was equipped with its explicador, or narrator, who stood next to the screen and ‘explained’ the action to the audience." The movie experience wasn't just what was on the screen, there was also a live component. As we posted last week, in his... more ›

As has been pointed out elsewhere, Thanksgiving is often a time for families to get together and share some quality time. You just threw up in your mouth a little, didn’t you? Somewhere around Hour Four of your Familial Celebration of Overeating and Passive-Agressive Conversation, you’ll be looking for an out. If two hours of sitting in the dark while no one sharing your DNA says a thing sounds like heaven, then it’s off to... more ›

After an unfortunate incident a couple years ago involving “pumpkin spice” punch and a too-easily-removed Superman costume, Chicagoist tends to avoid big Halloween parties. Instead, we hole up with a list of video horrorflicks the night before (All Hallow’s Eve Eve?). But there are a few cinematic options this week for those looking for a communal, fright night experience. Doc Films at the University of Chicago is eschewing scary for sci-fi this week. Invaders from... more ›

Chicagoist remembers being at that awkward age where you’re too old to go trick-or-treating (without getting shitty looks from your neighbors) and too young to hit the bars. So to fill that void we’d rent scary movies. So a quick word to anyone who’s made that their plan this year: get your ass to the store today! If you show up on Saturday night, don’t expect them to have anything else but crappy sequels like Halloween 3, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, and The Rage: Carrie 2. It’s worth it to eat the late fee if it means you’ll have quality viewing options. more ›

Oh man! Chicagoist is having some major flashbacks today. No, we’re not still feeling the effects of the tequila shots. The trippiness is due to the return to Chicago of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. more ›

?) After all, this is the film that single-handedly destroyed the careers of Saved By The Bell star Elizabeth Berkley (NOO!!!) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (YES!!!), and it also tried (and failed) to bring the controversial NC-17 rating into the mainstream, thus pissing off Roger Ebert forever. Among its many other virtues, Showgirls notably features an extended conversation between strippers on the deliciousness of dog food. more ›

will head to Broadway eventually but will open first in Chicago later this year. The show will run December 21-January 16, and if you want to buy 20 or more tickets, you can buy them now. Ahem, Christmas present for your 19 children. more ›