Cornell Cinema kicks off its Fall 2026 season Aug. 27 with a weekend slate of films that bridges Hollywood spectacle, restored classics, animation and documentary filmmaking, offering a preview of a semester that ranges widely across genres, eras and nations.
“We aim for each semester’s film line-up to reflect the global diversity of our Cornell community,” said Molly Ryan, director of Cornell Cinema in the College of Arts & Sciences. “I am especially excited about the dynamic range of international films we are presenting this fall, spanning a century of filmmaking from Japanese director Teinosuke Kinugasa’s 1926 silent film ‘A Page of Madness’ through to the Ithaca premiere of Indonesian filmmaker Wregas Bhanuteja’s genre-bending 2026 trance film ‘Levitating.’”
The first film this year on Thursday is a new digital restoration of Ridley Scott's road movie “Thelma & Louise,” followed by a special screening of “Project Hail Mary” (2026), presented in partnership with the Carl Sagan Institute and the Cornell Astronomical Society on Friday, Aug. 28. Audiences can also revisit Mel Brooks' enduring comedy “The Producers,” see Satoshi Kon's psychological thriller “Perfect Blue” and attend the Ithaca premiere of the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Cutting Through Rocks.”
The "Too Cool for School" series turns its attention to high school and draws from films released across the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The series includes works by John Hughes, whose films helped define the teen movie genre, alongside titles from directors such as Amy Heckerling, Reginald Hudlin and Justin Lin.
On Sept. 9, Cornell Cinema will partner with the Department of Performing & Media Arts (PMA) on a special free screening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” including an on-campus visit by actress and alumna Dominique Thorne ’19. The film introduced Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius student inventor at MIT who becomes the superhero in “Ironheart,” featured in a Disney+ mini-series. Thorne is the 2026 Heermans-McCalmon Distinguished Guest Artist in PMA.
A century after the height of the silent era, Cornell Cinema will spotlight one of German cinema's landmark achievements. On Oct. 23, F.W. Murnau's “Faust” will be screened at Sage Chapel as part of the theater's annual silent film and live music event. The 1926 film, adapted from the classic legend of a man who bargains with the devil, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of silent filmmaking and visual effects.
Providing the soundtrack will be the Invincible Czars, who are returning to Ithaca with a newly-composed score blending classical influences with more contemporary sounds. The event is part of the broader "Altered States in Silent Cinema" series, which examines silent films preoccupied with hypnosis, possession, madness and the occult. The series will culminate in a special presentation of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at Bailey Hall with a live score by the Cornell Chamber Orchestra.
Later in the semester, Cornell Cinema's programming takes a darker turn with its “Noirvember” series. This year's lineup focuses on three influential films from the 1950s: Stanley Kubrick's “The Killing” brings a sharply constructed heist story to the screen, while Charles Laughton's “The Night of the Hunter” remains one of the most unsettling thrillers in American cinema. The series also includes Ida Lupino's “The Hitch-hiker,” notable as the only recognized classic film noir directed by a woman.
Throughout the fall, Cornell Cinema will continue presenting documentaries, international films, restorations and special events. Each semester, the Cinema also partners with departments, programs and student organizations to bring to campus films that amplify urgent global issues, highlight cutting-edge research, and spark community dialogue. Filmgoers can sign up for the email list to keep up to date.
“The cinema experience has a unique power to transform worldviews because it generates empathy for and helps us feel connected to our fellow human beings, both within the theatre and well beyond,” Ryan said. “We are pleased to see so many departments, programs and student organizations eagerly embracing the convening power and pedagogical potential of films through collaboration with Cornell Cinema.”
The Cornell Cinema All-Access Pass provides admission to all regular screenings throughout the academic year and discounts on select special events. Passes, valid through May 2027, cost $40 for general admission, $30 for students, $36 for Cornell faculty and staff and $25 for Cornell graduate and professional students. Passes and complete scheduling information are available at cinema.cornell.edu.
