new in theaters

I WANT YOUR SEX★★★1/2 A successful artist (Olivia Wilde) draws her aimless, much younger assistant (Cooper Hoffman) into a BDSM relationship in this comedy from Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin). (90 min, R. Partizanfilm, Savoy; reviewed 7/29)

PETER ASHER: EVERYWHERE MAN: Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine’s documentary traces the career of the manager and producer who helped shape the careers of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. (117 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY: The world has forgotten that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) exists, but can he stay under the radar? Destin Daniel Cretton directed the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, also starring Zendaya and Mark Ruffalo. (145 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

currently playing

BACKROOMS★★★★ In Kane Parsons’ debut horror feature, an interdimensional portal appears to open beneath a furniture store. “Everything Must Go” edition features bonus footage. (110 min, R. Sunset; reviewed 6/3)

DISCLOSURE DAY★★1/2 Steven Spielberg returns to science fiction with this thriller in which humanity makes contact with aliens. Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colin Firth star. (145 min, PG-13. Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 6/17)

HADESTOWN: THE MUSICAL★★★★ Live recordings from the London production of Anaïs Mitchell’s stage show bring the Vermonter’s Tony Award-winning fusion of dystopia and Greek mythology to the screen. Brett Sullivan directed. (141 min, NR. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Savoy; reviewed 7/29)

THE INVITE★★★★ A dinner party holds big surprises for two couples (Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) in Wilde’s remake of Spanish comedy The People Upstairs. (107 min, R. Majestic, Partizanfilm, Savoy, Sunset)

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD: Sasha Waters’ documentary chronicles the life of the poet who was also a queer icon. (91 min, NR. Catamount, Savoy)

MINIONS & MONSTERS★★★1/2 The Minions cause chaos trying to make a monster flick in 1920s Hollywood in this animated comedy featuring the voices of Pierre Coffin, Allison Janney and George Lucas himself. (90 min, PG. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Welden)

MOANA★★ Catherine Laga’aia plays the title character in this live-action version of the 2016 Disney musical, also starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Thomas Kail. (115 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden)

MOTOR CITY★★★ In this retro action thriller set in Detroit, an ex-con (Alan Ritchson) seeks vengeance on the gangsters who framed him for a crime. Potsy Ponciroli directed. (103 min, R. Majestic)

OBSESSION★★★★1/2 A young man makes the mistake of wishing on a charm that his crush would fall in love with him in Curry Barker’s horror film. (Sunset; reviewed 5/20)

THE ODYSSEY★★★★ Christopher Nolan offers his take on the Homeric epic of a weary warrior (Matt Damon) trying to return home. With Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. (180 min, R. Bethel, Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 7/22)

ROSE OF NEVADA★★★★ In Mark Jenkin’s science fiction film, a fishing boat that vanished for 30 years reappears in a Cornish village with mystical powers. George MacKay and Callum Turner star. (114 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

TOY STORY 5★★★1/2 Electronics are the threat in the latest installment of Pixar’s animated series in which living toys confront big problems. (102 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

older films and special screenings

HELL’S HINGES (VTIFF, Wed 5 only)

LATCHO DROM (VTIFF, Sat only)

ROMAN HOLIDAY (Partizanfilm, Wed 29 only)

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 55TH ANNIVERSARY (Big Picture, Sun only; Essex, Sun & Wed 5 only)

YOYO (Partizanfilm, Fri only)

open theaters

  • (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)
  • BETHEL DRIVE-IN: 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, 728-3740, betheldrivein.com
  • BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info. Closed through April 29.
  • *BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com
  • CAPITOL THEATER: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com
  • CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org
  • CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com
  • ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com
  • MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com
  • MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com.
  • PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com
  • *PARTIZANFILM: 230 College St., Unit 13, Burlington, 276-4588, partizanfilm.org
  • PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE:
    11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com
  • SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com
  • THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org
  • STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com
  • STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com
  • SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com
  • *WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

This article appears in July 29 • 2026.

Margot Harrison is a consulting editor and film critic at Seven Days. Her film reviews appear every week in the paper and online. In 2024, she won the Jim Ridley Award for arts criticism from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. Her book reviews...