From classic comedies to horror movies to musicals to restorations, this fall’s slate of films at Cornell Cinema offers many options for connection and inspiration.
“Films above all make us feel things — joy, sadness, fear, astonishment, empathy, nostalgia, frustration, anticipation,” said Molly Ryan, Cornell Cinema director. “Watching a film at Cornell Cinema means we get to think and feel deeply together as a community, which makes us more connected, empathic, and engaged.”
The fall season includes more than a dozen unique film series and kicks off Aug. 28 with a new 4K restoration of Wim Wender’s 1984 film “Paris, Texas.” The film is part of the cinema’s series “Robby Müller: Light Work,” which centers the luminary Dutch cinematographer Robby Müller, who influenced a generation of filmmakers.
The season also includes ample opportunities for discovery and delight, including “Screwball Comedies from the ‘30s and ‘40s,” which explores a genre of films that emerged during the Great Depression featuring witty dialogue, memorable characters and an ever-evolving set of comedic mishaps.
The "Technicolor Musicals" series showcases films that feature the groundbreaking, color filmmaking technologies that transformed cinema. The series includes one film from each decade of Technicolor’s golden age, from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Cornell Cinema is also partnering with the LGBT Resource Center and QGrads to present “Queer Classics,” a selection of cult classic films that center LGBTQ+ stories of laughter, love, and resilience.
“It feels like a radical act to center joy, community, and connection during polarized times, and that is what we're aiming to do at Cornell Cinema this semester,” Ryan said. “I am grateful for the many partners whose ideas and expertise have helped shape our fall program.”
Cornell Cinema is again offering an All-Access Pass, which includes admission to all regular Cornell Cinema screenings for the entire academic year — plus a discount on special events. Prices are $40 for general admission, $30 for students (including all College and K-12 students), $36 for Cornell faculty and staff, and $25 for Cornell graduate & professional students. Passes are valid through May 2026.
“I hope Cornell Cinema this semester can feel like both a respite and a site of transformation: a place that brings together strangers, neighbors, and friends to experience films that can help us to better understand each other and to imagine new futures for our shared world,” Ryan said.
Additional films will be announced throughout the semester, so audience members can sign up for Cornell Cinema’s email list and follow Cornell Cinema on social media to receive the latest updates.
