Something extraordinary happened a few weekends ago: the world collectively lost its mind over Spider-Man and an ancient Greek epic at the same time, delivering the biggest box office weekend in human history with a record $410 million. That’s $360 million for Spider-Man: Brand New Day alone (setting the record for the highest domestic opening weekend of all time), and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey pulling in another $51 million in its third weekend, because some films simply need to be seen “correctly” in their native IMAX.
Those films are just the latest in a year that’s already given us Toy Story 5 crossing $1 billion, Michael moonwalking past every musical biopic record, Project Hail Mary proving Ryan Gosling is a proper movie star, Obsession and Backrooms becoming the latest in horror movie over-performers, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie printing money on pure franchise muscle (God knows it wasn’t because of the quality of that movie because…yikes). It’s been quite a year, and if you’re in Tampa Bay, you don’t have to settle for a corporate megaplex to experience it.
From drive-ins and historic buildings to microcinemas and restaurants with screens in the back, there are plenty of unique and independent spots to catch movies this year. Whether you’re in for a blockbuster or the latest indie flick, give these spots a look. Support local while taking in the Hollywood renaissance unfolding before us. Here are some of our favorites.
711 N Franklin St, Tampa…