The Last Picture Shows

The Last Picture Shows (2026)

0.0 2026 78 min —

Director: Rustin Thompson

Did you know? The film's title is a deliberate homage to Peter Bogdanovich's *The Last Picture Show* (1971), but Rustin Thompson actually drove over 10,000 miles through ten states to visit 123 theaters, discovering that, unlike the fictional town of Anarene, many of these real-life cinemas are still alive and thriving.
Why Watch: In an era of streaming isolation, *The Last Picture Shows* is a poignant, cinematic road trip that explores the soul of America through its dying and surviving movie theaters. Filmmaker Rustin Thompson masterfully weaves the ghost of Bogdanovich's classic with real-world struggles, creating a bittersweet ode to community that will make you want to buy a ticket and save your local cinema. For anyone who loves film history or believes in the magic of the big screen, this documentary is an essential, heart-wrenching watch.
Documentary

Across ten states and 10,825 miles, visiting 123 theaters, filmmaker Rustin Thompson embarks on a cinematic road trip through the American West in his latest work, *The Last Picture Shows*. He hunts for the ghosts of small-town life—the movie theaters that once served as community cornerstones. Along the way, he uncovers forgotten cinemas left to decay, theaters clinging to survival, and those recently shuttered. Yet, he also discovers bright spots: venues that, thanks to devoted stewards, are not just hanging on but flourishing. Between destinations, Thompson weaves in poetic clips from Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 classic *The Last Picture Show* and reflects on the film exhibition industry’s past and present struggles. *The Last Picture Shows* reminds us that even in vast cinema deserts, oases of gathering and wonder persist—places where the movie house still sparks imagination, contemplation, and human connection.

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