Staff Picks
Step out of the rain and into an indie moviehouse this month! Here’s a sampling of what’s available on big screens all over town.
The Beacon
One of my all-time favorite movies, Wong Kar-wai’s melancholy masterpiece “In the Mood for Love,” screens at The Beacon on Valentine’s Day; it’s not exactly a feel-good love story, but oh, is it ever gorgeous. Also an option on the 14th: Clint Eastwood’s “The Bridges of Madison County.” Friday the 13th brings, appropriately, the horror classic “Friday the 13th.” And among The Beacon’s other eclectic offerings this month are two Vincente Minnelli musicals, “The Band Wagon” (Feb. 15, 16, 18) and “Bells Are Ringing” (Feb. 22, 23, 25); the multigenerational drama “All That’s Left of You,” Jordan’s entry for the international film Academy Award this year (Feb. 6, 9, 12); and Bob Fosse’s dark final film “Star 80” (Feb. 22, 25).
4405 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; 206-420-7328, thebeacon.film
Central Cinema
Ryan Coogler’s instant-classic horror film “Sinners,” recipient of a record 16 Academy Award nominations last month, plays at Central Cinema Feb. 6-11, alongside another classic: Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” playing Feb. 6-10. Valentine’s week brings everyone’s favorite rom-com, “When Harry Met Sally…,” screening alongside a more offbeat choice, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Both play Feb. 13-18. The Bruce Lee martial arts film “Game of Death” wraps up the month, alongside Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise” (both Feb. 20-25).
1411 21st Ave., Seattle; 206-328-3230, central-cinema.com
Grand Illusion
Though still officially closed as it seeks a new venue, the Grand Illusion continues to present pop-ups around town. At SIFF Film Center, it offers Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut “The Chronology of Water” (Feb. 12, 18), the 1974 Isaac Hayes blaxploitation film “Truck Turner” screening in 35mm (Feb. 5, 9), the Sundance prizewinner “Cactus Pears” (Feb. 8) and the newly restored 1978 Czech fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” (Feb. 11). At Northwest Film Forum, the G.I. presents a pair of newly restored John Woo action films, “Hard Boiled” (Feb. 17) and “A Better Tomorrow” (March 2), and a 50th-anniversary screening of the erotic film “The Opening of Misty Beethoven” (Feb. 10).
SIFF Film Center: 167 Republican St. on Seattle Center campus, Seattle; Northwest Film Forum: 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; grandillusioncinema.org
Northwest Film Forum
This month NWFF hosts the Sakinah Film Festival, a two-day showcase of short films from Muslim filmmakers around the world (Feb. 14-15). Also on screen: Todd Haynes’ beautiful Technicolor melodrama “Far From Heaven,” starring Julianne Moore (Feb. 20-22, Feb. 28-March 1); the 2025 Cannes Film Festival award winner “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” (Feb. 5-8); and video artist Kahlil Joseph’s “BLKNEWS: Terms & Conditions,” adapted from the filmmaker’s video installation (Feb. 21-22).
1515 12th Ave., Seattle; nwfilmforum.org
SIFF
SIFF’s “For Your Consideration” roundup of Oscar-nominated films, including every 2026 best picture nominee, occupies the vast screen at SIFF Cinema Downtown through Feb. 12. After that at the Downtown is the Noir City Seattle festival, produced by Czar of Noir Eddie Muller and featuring noir classics starring the likes of Lauren Bacall (“To Have and Have Not”), Frank Sinatra (“The Man With the Golden Arm”), Sammy Davis Jr. (“A Man Called Adam”), Rita Hayworth (“Gilda”) and Elvis Presley (“King Creole”). The festival runs Feb. 13-19; a full series pass is $150 ($125 SIFF members).
The series “The Pacific Northwestern” concludes this month with the 1959 Gary Cooper drama “The Hanging Tree” (filmed near Yakima; screening Feb. 10), Oregon filmmaker Kelly Reichardt’s acclaimed 2019 drama “First Cow” (Feb. 17) and Robert Altman’s 1971 classic “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” screening in 35mm Feb. 24, all at SIFF Film Center. And finally, the 10-film series “Martin Scorsese: Maestro of Cinema” gets underway at the SIFF Uptown with “Mean Streets” on Feb. 25 and a 50th-anniversary screening of “Taxi Driver” on March 4, continuing on Wednesday nights through April 29.
SIFF Film Center: 167 Republican St. on Seattle Center campus, Seattle; SIFF Cinema Downtown: 2100 Fourth Ave., Seattle; SIFF Uptown: 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle; 206-464-5830, siff.net
Majestic Bay
Should you be in need of an early Valentine’s outing, the Ballard indie theater’s popular Retro Nights (voted on by social media followers) presents the made-(partly)-in-Seattle Nora Ephron classic “Sleepless in Seattle” Feb. 11. See how many Seattle locations you can spot!
2044 N.W. Market St., Seattle; majesticbay.com
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