Magic at the Movies

Contact the Show! Mike dives into our special opportunity to host early screenings of The Brutalist at Classic Cinemas Lake XQ Theatre in Oak Park. In this episode, he shares bold awards predictions and explores the groundbreaking technology behind the film, including its striking use of VistaVision. Clocking in at just over three hours long, Mike’s got your back with pro tips for bathroom breaks...

Contact the Show! So...it's been 30 years since Seven changed the landscape of psychological thrillers with its chilling atmosphere, unforgettable performances, and one of the most shocking endings in film history. Join MIke for the dive deep into the dark genius of David Fincher’s direction, the incredible chemistry between Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, and the haunting reasons why this movi...

Contact the Show! Here at Classic Cinemas, i nnovation is under construction! Mike sits down with Ed Dobbs, our build-out and construction guru, to talk about the exciting improvements happening behind the scenes at Classic Cinemas—what’s ongoing, what’s ahead, and what moviegoers can look forward to in early 2025. From cutting-edge upgrades to comfort-focused enhancements, Ed shares how we’re wor...

Contact the Show! Mike grabs some time with Classic Cinemas CEO (and self-proclaimed Chief Popcorn Eater) to dive into the reviews that made us smile in 2024. From heartfelt shoutouts to laugh-out-loud moments, we’re celebrating what makes the movie magic happen: you! As we reflect on a year of kindness, cleanliness, and cost-friendly fun, we’re gearing up to make 2025 even better. Got a thought t...

Contact the Show! We call it, "the Concession Session !" Join Mike and his fellow snack enthusiast, Randy Pollock, as they dive into the ultimate movie-going debate: What’s the best snack to munch on when the lights go down? From salty to sweet and everything in between, they’ll share stories, guest favorites, and hilarious snack hot takes collected over the years. But the real showstopp...

Contact the Show! Mike invites Mark Mazrimas back for a sleigh ride deep into the North Pole of movie selections! Together, they explore the holiday films playing at all Classic Cinemas locations, sharing fun historical anecdotes about programming movies over their many years with the company. It's a lighthearted look at the 2024 holiday movie experience that only Classic Cinemas can deliver....

Contact the Show! Excitement is in the air this week with the release of Gladiator II and Wicked , but Mike and Jim can't resist taking a moment to discuss their February 1st — 2025 plans! They’re clearing their schedules for an epic Star Wars experience at the Tivoli Theatre. This unforgettable event features the O.G. Star Wars Trilogy in stunning 4K restoration, showcased on the big screen,...

Contact the Show! In this episode, Mike is joined by Angelique Barthel from the Variety Children’s Charity of Illinois to discuss an exciting initiative with Universal Pictures: limited-edition WICKED gold heart pins featuring beloved characters Glinda and Elphaba. These exclusive collector’s pins are available now at Classic Cinemas box offices and concession stands for a minimum donation of $3.0...

Contact the Show! This episode of Magic at the Movies explores Mike’s take on our extraordinary holiday lineup at the iconic Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove. Prepare for an unforgettable season with festive fan favorites like Elf , Miracle on 34th Street , It’s a Wonderful Life , National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation , Die Hard , and many more. From heartwarming classics like Little Women and...

Contact the Show! Join us as Mike uncovers Robert Zemeckis's vision in the new release Here , where the legendary director reunites with Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and screenwriter Eric Roth to bring this technology-forward, historical fiction soon-to-be-masterpiece to life. Plus, Mike dives into other current films, and an upcoming lineup of holiday classics lighting up our beloved Tivoli Thea...

Contact the Show! Mike and Jim break down Conclave , the Vatican thriller based on Robert Harris’s 2016 novel. This high-stakes drama takes moviegoers inside the secretive world behind Vatican walls, revealing the power plays and politics involved in electing a new Pope. Tickets for Conclave , Venom 3 - The Last Dance , and all the movies playing this week at Classic Cinemas can be found here .

Contact the Show! In anticipation of the 25th anniversary screening of David Fincher’s Fight Club , Mike takes a deep dive into the film's realistic, story-driven depiction of cinema projection, which plays a key role in the movie's storyline. The discussion then explores the nuances of both modern film and digital cinema projection, prompting Mike to share anecdotes from his career as a...

Contact the Show! Mike chats with LA-based author Michael McClellan about his co-authored book with Stephen Farber, Cinema '62: The Greatest Year at the Movies . Michael will be presenting the book and hosting a special screening of 1962's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove on Monday, October 21st, at 7:30 PM. He’ll be available to discuss the iconic f...

Contact the Show! Episode 27 - Mike sits down with long-time Classic Cinemas pal, Mark Mazrimas, to discuss the jam-packed slate of current and specialty Halloween programming Classic Cinemas is bringing to our theatres this month. October offers an incredible opportunity to see classics that aren’t showing anywhere else, including Ghostbusters (1984), The Sixth Sense (1999), Whatever Happened to...

Contact the Show! Mike is beyond excited about his screening of Coppola's 25-years-in-the-making, soon-to-be-classic, epic science-fiction adventure Megalopolis . There are plenty of interesting takes on this film, but Mike hails it as "amazing... in every way that a film can be amazing." Sounds like a must-see. Tickets and showtimes available here.

Contact the Show! Mike dives deep, exploring how the Transformers franchise has shifted his perspective on filmmaking. He also delves into the upcoming art-house horror film The Substance , which some are calling Demi Moore's best work yet. Tickets for all the films we are talking about are available here.

Contact the Show! Mike dives into a packed week at the theatres, featuring a rare "unicorn" screening of Shoot the Moon (1982), an exclusive sneak peek at Transformers ONE , and a chilling look at the arthouse horror film The Substance starring Demi Moore. Plus, Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre welcomes Nicholas Meyer (screenwriter of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and The 7% Solution ) for a...

Contact the Show! Mike sits down with our resident technical guru and Master Booth Technician, Alan Gilbertson, to discuss what makes our XQ Premium Presentation so incredibly state-of-the-art. Tune in to hear about the what, why, and how of these upgrades and how they've positively transformed the movie-going experience. And as always, check out your local Classic Cinemas for the full XQ exp...

Contact the Show! Mike and Jim discuss the York Theatre's 100th anniversary and the exciting film programming that will celebrate a century of cinematic excellence. If you're interested in joining us on Sunday for the 100th Celebration, or attending any of the Wednesday films that follow, please visit us here for details.

Contact the Show! Well, this "wild ride" of comic book-to-film adaptations officially concludes with this episode. In Part Three, we take an in-depth look at the MCU and its interconnected storylines, explore Warner Brothers' response with the creation of Wonder Woman, and even give you a sneak peek into the 2025 world of Superman. We hope you enjoyed this three-part series and look...

Contact the Show! After last week’s comic book-style cliffhanger in part one, Mike swoops in to continue his comic book-to-movie adaptation anthology, covering the years 1998-2008. He kicks off with Wesley Snipes in Blade , explores the film births of X-Men , Spider-Man , and Iron Man , and does a deep dive into the darker evolution of the Batman franchise. You don’t want to miss this episode (and...

Contact the Show! Mike wraps up the summer of cinema by kicking off the first episode of his three-part series exploring the history of comic books and their adaptation to cinema over the past 75 years. He delves into the evolution of superhero filmed serials from the 1940s, progressing to the big screen adaptations of iconic characters like Superman and Batman from the 1970s to the early 1990s.

Contact the Show! Mike talks with Beth (from our Marketing department) about her and her book club's experience with the Colleen Hoover novel "It Ends With Us." They discuss the delicate subject matter presented in the book and the forthcoming movie adaptation. Join us for early screenings of the film, held on Wednesday 8/7 at 7pm at our Beloit, Charlestowne, LaGrange, Fox Lake, Tiv...

Contact the Show! In this episode, Mike reassures Tori (our Facilities Manager) that she doesn't need an extensive knowledge of the Marvel universe to enjoy the new Deadpool film. He explains that viewers can still be entertained, satisfied, and understand the film's premise without having been to Xavier's Institute for an education. However, for those interested, Mike dives deep in...

Contact the Show! Mike and Erik Childress (Chicago Film Critics Association, Rotten Tomatoes) talk throwback/classic films that are scheduled through the end of 2024 in our CLASSIC CINEMAS Critic's Classics series, now showing at our Elk Grove VIllage location. This in-depth episode covers Flash Gordon, the 4K restoration of One False Move, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Midnight Run, Brazil...