Dietrich Theater’s Fall Film Festival: “The Last Picture Shows”
For this week’s review slate, I initially intended on checking out two more film festival selections: “The Last Picture Show” and “The Salt Path.” Since I didn’t get a chance to check out the latter film, I will check out “The Salt Path”, along with some other Fall Fest selections I couldn’t get to, eventually once they’re available on streaming. Now, onto the topic of this review - the documentary “The Last Pictures Show.”
In this must-see documentary, Rustin Thompson journeys into the American West on a search for traces of what was once a center of small-town life: the movie theater.
“The Last Picture Shows” is a touching and surprisingly hopeful tribute to small town independent movie theaters.
Rather than being a purely somber critique of the film industry, this documentary functions as a strong embrace of the theatrical experience. I really enjoyed the heartwarming spotlight placed on independent theater owners, programmers, and local operators who work tirelessly against industry odds (and very restrictive studio mandates) to keep their doors open for their communities.
This documentary also does a great job balancing nostalgia with the hard-hitting financial realities facing modern exhibition. The film can bring a nostalgic smile to your face (as they talk about the love of movie theaters) and a tear to your eye by contrasting traditional moviegoing with the star realities of streaming, studio clearance rules and post-COVID challenges (that thousands of theaters had to deal with).
“The Last Picture Shows” also provides insights into how small, single screen or two screen theaters operate. It’s actually pretty eye-opening to see how major studio booking rules trap small exhibitors into holding onto underperforming blockbusters for weeks, providing a realistic look at the business mechanics required to keep movie magic alive.
The one main example used for the underperforming blockbusters was the 2023 DC Studios dud “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” In this documentary, a few of the theater owners/operators provide insight on how the studio mandates forced them to keep “Shazam 2” on their screens for a minimum required run - or several weeks - despite the movie flopping and drawing empty to near empty auditoriums.
The film’s visual approach is outstanding and often feels like a road trip photography book brought to life. Filmed across thousands of miles and over 100 distinct theaters throughout the American West, the imagery captures both restored neon marquees and quiet scenes of decay, giving the film a rich, atmospheric feel. The documentary also provides us with some beautiful landscape shots as well.
Rustin Thompson’s 2026 documentary “The Last Picture Shows” has received an overwhelmingly positive critical response. Critics have characterized the film as a heartfelt visual journey that transitions from a bittersweet meditation on declining rural theaters into an optimistic portrait of community resilience.
MPA: Not Rated (running time 75 minutes)
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