Calendar: July 25-31, 2025
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
This week, we need to retroactively cross eyes, dot tees, and finish with a few bits of business so we can run with a lean Calendar for two or three weeks before the fall school semesters start up in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. That said, today’s Report will counterbalance all our recent fawning over physical media by updating you on a few local/ish films that have made the jump to streaming recently. First, to revise a couple of details in regards to our friends at Acrostar Productions, the upcoming sequel RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES will be available very soon on services such as Vudo, Xumo, Plex, and Fawesome according to the film’s director and writer, Steve Herman, and indeed a drive to raise finishing funds for their new production, PERFECT SOUL, has been launched per producer Ann Myrna. Then, Ash Hamilton of Horror-Fix Feature Films announced on July 7 that his anthology, FINAL DAYS: TALES FROM THE END TIMES, had appeared on Tubi in addition to its other online homes like Fawesome, Amazon Prime, and several YouTube channels including Kings of Horror and FilmIsNow Horror Movies. Also, actor and Confidential pal Steve Christopher shared an update last week about the Aaron Warr-directed period piece, AMERICAN CRIMINALS, via an article published by WCBU radio; the retelling of the infamous Leopold and Loeb murder case will be given a red-carpet premiere in Peoria, where much of it was filmed, on Saturday, August 2, and also debut on Apple TV, UMAXX, and Prime the same day. Finally, filmmaker Peter McDowell revealed in the spring that his documentary, JIMMY IN SAIGON, would be available on Amazon Video, Prime, and Apple TV as of Tuesday, May 13. All of the above were created in part or whole in downstate Illinois and none to our knowledge, apart from CORN ZOMBIES 2 if it follows the path of Acrostar’s NIGHT OF THE DEAD SORORITY BABES, are guaranteed a home video release. Take advantage of them being at your fingertips, then, dearest viewers!
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scenes on the Small Screen
Looks like we’re also starting an unofficial “Get Your Desktop Cleaned Up, Mr. JaPan” series of quick pix as Images of the Week. Our humble editor is prone to copying this, that, and the other from the internet and keeping them for future use or reference. The problem is, it often takes a while for the files to make their way into directories for safety. (The cue to get on the stick is usually when Godzilla is almost completely covered, see below.) However, instead of tucking everything away and waiting for the right editorial at the right time to trot these digital goodies back out for our dearest readers, Ye Ed would like to share a few of his newest finds with the class before they go into hibernation on his laptop. Besides, if you’ve not yet discovered that he can put two-and-two together like no one else when it comes to the film history of the C-U, the proof will be in this pudding. So, what is he serving up for the week, anyway…
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We apparently forgot a detail in last week’s Images department, where we talked a bit more about the products of Saturn’s Core Audio & Video. In between the releases of DOGS IN QUICKSAND last Christmas and TWISTED ISSUES this month, the specialty label put out a nice package for YOU ARE ALONE, a drama made by the fringe culture documentary maker Gorman Bechard and first shown in 2005 at various festivals. (As CUBlog regulars learned a few years ago, Bechard is one-half of the core team with Fred Uhter who did WHERE ARE YOU NOW, JAY BENNETT?, the movie about the late local musician.) A copy of YOU ARE ALONE resides in the filmy confines of the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters and, although Ye Ed has yet to dive into its story of a pair of forlorn individuals, played by Jessica Bohl and Richard Brundage, who have a fateful encounter in forlorn lodging, played (at least in exteriors) by the former Duncan Hotel in New Haven, Connecticut, he did look up a vintage trailer for the film on YouTube as well as an IMDb entry where he could not help but notice this visual:
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The façade pictured is, of course, not of the Exile on Main Street record store that many of us are more than familiar with. The Exile on Main Street record store appearing in YOU ARE ALONE is located in Branford, just down I-95 from New Haven, and has been serving their community and music fans since 1993. You can visit them remotely through Facebook. You can also visit Jeff Brandt’s mainstay in Champaign seven days a week, in person or online. Learn more about YOU ARE ALONE and other Saturn’s Core titles up on the Vinegar Syndrome website; recent offerings have included a second volume of SOV madness from Chicagoland’s own “Ed Wood of the 21st Century,” David “the Rock” Nelson, a two-film collection presenting the live performance prowess of Lydia Lunch, and a pair of underground horror riots, BONE SICKNESS from director Brian Paulin (AT DAWN THEY SLEEP) and ROT from director and make-up effects guru Marcus Koch (100 TEARS). Support all the arts, folks!
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NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, THE HOME*, HOUSE ON EDEN, OH HI!, EDDINGTON*, F1 THE MOVIE, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (7/25 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (7/28, 7 p.m.), TOGETHER (7/29 on), THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE NAKED GUN (7/31 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, THE HOME, OH HI!, 28 YEARS LATER, EDDINGTON, ELIO (animation), F1 THE MOVIE, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, LILO & STITCH, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (7/25 on), ICK (7/27, 4 p.m.; 7/28-7/29, 7 p.m.), MAMMA MIA! (7/27, 3 & 7 p.m.; 7/30, 7 p.m.), TOGETHER (7/29 on), The Metropolitan Opera Encore: Roméo et Juliette (7/30, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), NOTHING BUT A WINNER (sports documentary) (7/31, 7 p.m.), THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE NAKED GUN (7/31 on)
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. THUNDERBOLTS* (7/31, 9 p.m., free)
@ Prairie Farm/Centennial Park, Champaign, IL
Champaign Park District presents “Moo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm” feat. HOME ON THE RANGE (animation) (7/25, 8 p.m., free)
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (7/25 on), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (7/29-7/30, 10 a.m., free)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
“PickleFest 2025” feat. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, LILO & STITCH (Screen 1), JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, SUPERMAN (Screen 2) (7/25-7/26), Nora Garcia Harroun celebration of life feat. PRIDE & PREJUDICE (2005) (7/27), THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (Screen 1), SUPERMAN (Screen 2) (7/28 on)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
SUPERMAN (7/25-7/27), TOGETHER (7/31)
LAST LISTING! @ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, OH HI!, EDDINGTON*, ELIO* (animation), I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, F1 THE MOVIE, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (7/25 on), Indian cinema: MAAREESAN* (Tamil w/Eng sub, 7/25-7/29), HARI HARA VEERA MALU: PART 1 (Telugu w/Eng sub, 7/25-7/30), and KINGDOM (Telugu w/Eng sub, 7/30), ICK (7/26, 3 p.m.), ROGER WATERS: THIS IS NOT A DRILL – LIVE FROM PRAGUE (concert film) (7/26, 3:20 p.m.), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (7/26-7/31, 11 a.m.), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (7/28, 7 p.m.), TOGETHER (7/29 on), NOTHING BUT A WINNER (sports documentary) (7/31, 7 p.m.), THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE NAKED GUN (7/31 on) *single screenings daily
Click this link to keep up with the showtimes for the venue above.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
“The Summer of Bond” series feat. TOMORROW NEVER DIES (7/25-7/27) and GOLDENEYE (7/26-7/27), the Normal and the Children’s Discovery Museum present WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (7/28, 1 p.m.; 7/30, 7 p.m.), JOIN OR DIE (documentary) (7/31)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
SMURFS (animation) (7/25-7/27)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH (7/25-7/27)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, F1 THE MOVIE (Screen 1), SUPERMAN, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH (Screen 2) (7/25-7/27, 7/30-7/31)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, THE HOME*, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, SMURFS (animation), JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, LILO & STITCH*, SUPERMAN (7/25 on), SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation) (7/30-7/31, 10 a.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read Reel Chicago and Screen Magazine.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
8/16
Pens to Lens Gala 2025*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 3 p.m.
8/16-8/17
“FischerFest”* celebrating Gene Hackman
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
9/17-9/21
32nd Chicago Underground Film Festival
@ ACX Harper Theater – Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
9/20-9/22
Champaign Film Society presents
the first CineSonic* music film festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL
10/15-10/26
61st Chicago International Film Festival
@ Music Box Theatre, etc., Chicago, IL
NEW! 11/7-11/8
24th Route 66 International Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
11/8-11/9
Dark History & Horror Con* 2025
feat. Screaming Mad Film Festival
@ The Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL
4/23-4/26, 2026
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Champaign Park District presents “Moo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm”
@ Prairie Farm/Centennial Park, Champaign, IL, 8 p.m., free
8/8: CHARLOTTE’S WEB (2006)
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad”
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m. Thursdays, free
8/7: LILO & STITCH; 8/14: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2025 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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