Sat. Jun. 6 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 30min | NR | Action/War | USA 

These twelve army convicts are murderers, thieves, misfits, dirtbags, freaks . . . and the Nazi’s worst nightmare. Come see them take the fascists by their swastikas on the Senate’s big screen in The Dirty Dozen! 

Directed by the maverick filmmaker Robert Aldrich (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane) this influential action extravaganza stars an unmatched ensemble led by Lee Marvin and featuring Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, and Donald Sutherland. In the lead up to D-Day the higher ups in the European theater decide to exploit the desperation of their worst soldiers awaiting execution on military death row. To earn their freedom these convicts must take a crash course in commando tactics from the hard-nosed Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) before setting off on a suicide mission deep in Nazi territory. That freedom may be a pipe dream, but it’s better than rotting in a jail cell waiting for the hangman’s noose. 

It’s dark, violent, cynical, gritty, exciting, bombastic, and arguably nihilistic. But most of all it’s a fun time at the movies, filled with black humor, thrills, and raucous energy. Boundary pushing for the time, the explicit violence shocked and disgusted some critics just as it enthralled audiences who flocked to the theaters to see these filthy guys eliminate some of Hitler’s top men.  

So get your gang together and come see this ultimate buddy war film at the Senate! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. May 30 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Film – 3:00 PM 

Tickets - $6  

1hr 32min | PG | Comedy/Family | USA 

In the name of the father, son and holy piledriver, get ready for Nacho Libre! The Senate Theater is bringing everyone’s favorite Catholic themed Lucha Libre comedy starring Jack Black to the big screen for a one-time only matinee! 

Based loosely on a real Mexican Catholic priest, this outrageous family comedy follows the antics, (in and out of the wrestling ring) of the often clueless but goodhearted Ignacio, a friar and cook at a monastery and orphanage in Oaxaca. Ignacio, frustrated with the meager meals he and the monks provide, begins to moonlight as a professional wrestler. Despite a series of wacky setbacks, Ignacio remains determined to transform his dreams of wrestling glory into improved conditions at the orphanage in which he serves, the only home he has ever known. 

The follow-up to director Jared Hess’ indie comedy phenomenon Napoleon Dynamite, this broad and beloved comedy was dismissed by critics on its release. But fan devotion has since body slammed those naysayers into submission, pummeling them with windup punches, clotheslines and flying kicks until their snobbery gets booed out of the arena of public opinion.  

Pin this date to your calendar. See Nacho Libre at the Senate! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Cairo Station (1958) 

Sat. May 9 

Doors – 3:30 PM  

Organ Overture – 4:00 PM  

Film – 4:30 PM  

Tickets - $ 

1hr 17min | NR | Crime/Drama| Egypt 

Presented with the Arab American National Museum for the Arab Film Festival 

The Senate Theater, as part of the 2026 Arab Film Festival, is excited to screen Cairo Station, a masterpiece from Egypt’s golden age of cinema. Now newly restored, this crime drama blends influences from Italian neorealism and film-noir to tell a story of class conflict, violence and sexual repression.  

Released at the height of Egyptian cinema, when it was the world’s third largest industry, this film was directed by the legendary and acclaimed Youssef Chahine. Chahine, who also stars in the film and would have turned 100 years old this year, took advantage of the short period between the fall of the Egyptian monarchy and the nationalization of the film industry to push boundaries. Much revered by the international film community, he was an artist who rankled authorities and challenged his audience.  

Cairo Station, for example, tells of a newspaper seller’s sexual obsession in a city rocked by a serial killer’s spree. Its controversial themes, bold style, dark tone, and sympathetic portrayal of a victim of sexual violence made Egyptian audiences uncomfortable. More accustomed to happy endings and straightforward melodrama, Cairo Station was a box-office failure at home but was a film festival favorite abroad. Still, it was quickly forgotten. 

Thankfully critics and cinephiles, along with generations of Arab filmmakers saw its value, reviving its reputation starting in the 1970s. Now you can see this provocative and influential classic on the big screen as it was meant to be experienced, fully restored and with an introduction from Dr. Matthew Jaber Stiffler of the Arab Film Festival. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Sheik (1921)  

Fri. May 8 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15  

1hr 26min | NR | Romance/Adventure| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Scott Smith 

Presented with the Arab American National Museum for the Arab Film Festival 

Century old art can be, to use the parlance of our times, problematic. It can be said that The Sheik, with its dated cultural stereotypes and sexual politics, is just that. However, it is also a film about confronting the darkness in one’s past and moving forward with moral clarity. 

Which is why Silents at the Senate and the Arab Film Festival are excited to screen this silent era blockbuster on our big screen. And to reiterate the importance of artistic preservation, this rousing tale will be presented as it was seen in 1921, with a live organ score (on our nearly century old Mighty Wurlitzer) by the indominable Scott Smith! Providing historical and cultural context will be Dr. Matthew Jaber Stiffler from the Arab Film Festival, who will introduce the film. 

Based on the wildly popular “desert romance” novel of the same name, this adventure melodrama was the breakout role for the most adored sex symbol of the 1920s, Rudolph Valentino. In keeping with the then current trends of exoticism and orientalist portrayals of Arabs in western popular culture, it is draped lavishly in billowy fabric and adorned judiciously with the seductive, vaguely “ethnic” face of its star. Modern audiences may not find this story particularly romantic, but its craftsmanship and the striking visage of Mr. Valentino remain as compelling as ever.   

Come see it at The Senate on the big screen and behold what brought last centuries earliest cinematic worshipers to the temple of their idol! 

Following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers and the organist will be around to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment!

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Blazing Saddles (1974) 16mm Film Presentation 

Sat. May 2 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 33min | R | Comedy | USA 

Presented in collaboration with Motor City Cinema Society 

Blazing Saddles is full of beans. It’s an explosively funny spoof. It’s full of hot, hilarious air. It’s a real gas.  

And the Senate Theater is playing it on 16mm film, courtesy of our friends at Motor City Cinema Society! 

An irreverent and witty comedy shootout at the “Is it OK if I laugh at this?” Corral, this 70s classic isn’t just an excuse for flatulence-based humor. It takes a sharpened razor to the Western genre’s filthy prospector beard, uncovering the dark racial history and myth building at the heart of the form and America itself. But always with a laugh. Belly laughs so hearty your guts might bust, making you wonder how they found a take where the actors don’t break.  

Wind across the desolate beauty of a mesa! 

Yes, you can almost smell the sweat and feel the dust blowing. Just like any quality cowboy flick Blazing Saddles is full of wide-open vistas and rousing music. The only difference being that you must imagine director Mel Brooks shout, “Cut!” The cheese (of the highest quality) so irresistibly pungent that he himself could hardly go on. But then, beneath the hilarity is a righteousness, asking us to reflect and rise above our past. It says, “Pull up! Pull! My finger points at you, yes. But it also points beyond. To a promised land!”  

See you at the Senate! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Cinema Paradiso (1988) 

Sat. Apr. 25 

Doors – 6:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 6:30 PM  

Film – 7:00 PM  

Tickets - $10  

2hr 4min | PG | Drama | Italy/France 

Presented in partnership with WRCJ’s “The Soundtrack” with Haley Taylor to celebrate their 1 year anniversary! 

Post Film Q & A with Haley Taylor 

Together with WRCJ’s film score focused radio program “The Soundtrack” the Senate Theater invites you to a special screening of Cinema Paradiso! To celebrate the magic of the movies (and The Soundtrack’s one year anniversary) we’re bringing this international art house sensation and its finely tuned romantic score to the big screen. You’ll be swept away by the ecstatic synthesis of moving pictures and moving melody by Italian master Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea Morricone. 

Winner of the Grand Prix du Jury at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and the 1989 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Cinema Paradiso is a poignant, tearjerking, ecstatically life-affirming trip through melancholy, joy, art and longing!  

This coming-of-age classic explores the power of cinema and nostalgia, told in vivid flashback through the eyes of a film director as he recollects the formative events of his childhood. Cinema Paradiso asks how the pull of a home left behind, the residue of youthful yearning for more, and the artist’s drive to create can continuously shape the understanding of oneself. Can we find truth through expression and reflection, through mutable memory, through the metamorphic potential of cinema—its extraordinary synthesis of sound and vision? 

Message From Our Partner:

This event celebrates the first anniversary of The Soundtrack, and the community that has grown around it. The show was created to explore the power of film music: the way a melody can bring us back to a place, a person, or a moment in our lives. With this screening of Cinema Paradiso, we’re stepping beyond radio to experience that connection together, in a theater, the way film was meant to be seen and heard.

Cinema Paradiso, with its unforgettable score by Ennio Morricone, is ultimately a story about memory, mentorship, and the lifelong impact of cinema. It reflects the heart of what The Soundtrack is about: the relationship between music and storytelling, and the people who carry those stories forward.

This evening is an opportunity to bring listeners, film lovers, and our broader community into the same room, not just to watch a film, but to share in the experience of it. Following the screening, we’ll host a live Q&A with the audience to talk about The Soundtrack, Cinema Paradiso, and The Senate Theater.

I’m especially grateful to partner with The Senate Theater, a historic space that embodies the enduring magic of film and music. Together, we’re celebrating not just an anniversary, but the shared experience that makes public radio, and cinema, so meaningful.

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992)  

Sat. Apr. 25 

Doors – 1:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 1:30 PM  

Films – 2:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 16min | G | Family/Fantasy | USA/Australia 

Special guests Green Living Science   

A curious fairy, a rad dude, and a batty bat fight for the survival of the rainforest in the classic 90s family film Fern Gully, starring Tim Curry, Robin Williams, and Christian Slater. 

The denizens of Fern Gully have lived in ecological harmony for millennia, free from the voracious consumption of human civilization. Until one day they see smoke on the horizon, a harbinger of an existential threat. Soon they are under attack by the machinery of man and the very spirit of destruction, an oily smoke monster known as Hexxus. Can their ancient magic stand up to this new threat? 

Find out at the Senate Theater’s Earth Day screening of this 90s kids flick. It has what producers proudly declared a “blatantly environmental” message. It has a rapping lizard (voiced by Tone-loc) and a rapping bat (Robin Williams). It has magic, thrills, and indelible imagery. It has the ability to stir up the passionate environmental consciousness in us all.  

About our special guest: 

Green Living Science, a Detroit-based environmental education and green space stewardship nonprofit focused on recycling, sustainability, and community engagement, will be in attendance at the special screening of FernGully. For the past 15 years, the organization has brought interactive environmental lessons to more than 200,000 students, supported neighborhood parks throughout Detroit, provided recycling resources, and helped local businesses strengthen their sustainability practices. At the screening, representatives from Green Living Science will be on hand to celebrate the film’s environmental message with families and young moviegoers, offering fun and educational materials—including free activity books for kids—so children can continue learning about protecting the planet long after the movie ends. Their presence adds a hands-on, community-focused element to the event, helping inspire the next generation of planet protectors while connecting Detroit families with local environmental champions who work every day to keep the city greener.    

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Silents at the Senate Presents: Our Hospitality (1923)  

Sat. Apr. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12  

1hr 13min | NR | Comedy| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Stephen Warner 

Daring rescues, narrow escapes, and gags galore, all with a live organ score! 

Silents at the Senate continues its 2026 season with actor/director Buster Keaton’s seminal silent comedy, Our Hospitality. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Stephen Warner on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, the eighth largest instrument of its kind ever constructed!  

Using the famous real-life family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys as inspiration, Keaton’s second feature was a groundbreaking work, seamlessly weaving its comedy and signature Keaton stunt work into a drama of generational bloodletting. Here Keaton proved himself not only a brilliant stager of gags and thrilling physical feats, but a true cinematic artist.  

And, as always, following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. Additionally, the organist for the evening will be available to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Fri. Apr. 10

Doors – 6:00 PM  

Film – 7:00 PM  

Tickets - $10 

Q&A with director Stephen McGee after the film

Resurgo: The Rise from Within is a landmark documentary from director Stephen McGee and poet-producer Jessica Care Moore, created from twenty years of immersive filmmaking in Detroit. Drawing from millions of photographs and thousands of hours of footage, the film rejects the decades-old national narrative of Detroit as a symbol of decline. Instead, it presents a powerful, people-centered portrait of a city defined by creativity, endurance, and humanity. Through intimate storytelling, poetic narration, and stunning cinematography, Resurgo reframes Detroit for both longtime residents and global audiences, offering a truer and more dignified reflection of the city’s soul.

The documentary has generated exceptional audience response and critical momentum. Resurgo won Best Feature Film at the Fresh Coast Film Festival and has been recognized by reviewers for its emotional honesty, visual depth, and social relevance. Screenings across Michigan have consistently sold out or neared capacity, often ending in standing ovations and extended Q&A sessions, many lasting an hour or more, with audiences fully engaged until the final moment. Each event has sparked meaningful conversation about Detroit’s identity and the importance of narrative ownership, underscoring the film’s cultural and community impact.

As word spreads, Resurgo is rapidly becoming a catalyst for renewed civic pride and broader national attention. Viewers frequently describe the film as transformative,reshaping their understanding of Detroit and revealing stories rarely seen in mainstream media. With its blend of historical archive, artistic voice, and lived experience, Resurgo is not only documenting a city’s evolution but contributing to it. The project stands poised to influence how Detroit is perceived for years to come, marking it as one of the most significant and emotionally resonant films to emerge from the region in decades.

Following the film will be a Q+A with director Stephen McGee.

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

DIFA 11

 11th annual Detroit International Festival of Animation Saturday, April 4, 2026

Doors Open 7pm

Organ Pre-show 7:30pm

Showtime 8pm


Join us for the 11th annual DETROIT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION (DIFA) on Saturday, April 4th, 2026. Immerse yourself in an eclectic 90-minute mix of animated shorts showcasing a vibrant selection of works from both local and international animators.

Set in the historic Senate Theater in Detroit, this 1920’s Art Deco gem is not only known for its visual charm but also houses the world’s 8th largest Wurlitzer pipe organ. Enjoy the classic concession stand, comfortable lounging areas, and the added convenience of secure parking.

Be sure to arrive early to catch the enchanting Wurlitzer Pipe Organ pre-show by the Detroit Theater Organ Society.

Admission is $10 and half of all ticket sales go to support the continued preservation and operations of the Senate Theater.

Doors open at 7pm, with organ performance at 7:30pm and showtime at 8pm.

For more details, visit difestofanim.com, or follow @difestofanim on your favorite social medias.

Please note, parental guidance is suggested due to some mature content and language.

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Mar. 21 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12  

1hr 35min | NR | Drama | USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott 

What is lust against the power of love? What are the temptations of modernity against the bedrock of human connection? 

Find out as Silents at the Senate begins its 2026 season with F.W. Murnau’s silent film, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Dennis Scott on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. This massive and magnificent instrument is the eighth largest instrument of its kind and made its debut inside Detroit’s Fisher Theater in 1928, one year after this film was first screened! 

Released on the eve of the sound era and a Best Picture winner at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1929, Sunrise is considered a masterpiece of silent cinema, representing the zenith of purely visual storytelling. Its groundbreaking techniques in cinematography and special effects tell a story of a marriage threatened by temptation and deadly sin, using intertitles sparingly in favor of action and expressive acting. The result is a superlative work, with all the impressionistic power of poetry. 

Though it was one of the first films released with synchronized music and sound effects, patrons at the Senate will be treated to a live score from the aforementioned Mr. Scott, one of today’s premiere silent film accompanists. 

And, as always, following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. Additionally, the organist for the evening will be available to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Detroit Rock City: Rock ‘n’ Roll Film Screening & Party

Fri. Mar. 13

Tickets – $10 ($15 includes Detroit Rock City button)

Doors, Vendors and KISS Facepainting – 6:00 PM

Detroit Rock n Roll DJ Set from Adam Stanfel – 6:30 PM until 7:15 PM

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM

Film – 8:00 PM | 1hr 35min | R | Comedy/Musical | USA

- KISS/Detroit rock themed trivia before the film and at intermission with GeminEye Tarot

- Hosted by 94.7 WCSX’s Doni Flynn

- Record vendor – Gingko Records (@gingko_records)

- Costume contest (KISS/Rock n Roll/Detroit Rock City themed)

It’s 313 Day. And for those who want to rock ‘n’ roll all night, (if you want to party every day, that’s your business) we’re gettin’ you started with a killer night of film and rock in the motor city to benefit the Senate Theater! On top of a screening of the world’s premiere flick about teenagers on a mission to see the world’s premiere rock band (1999’s Detroit Rock City) you can expect vendors, a DJ set, KISS facepainting and trivia.  

And be sure to dress to kill for your chance to win the costume contest. Come in full KISS garb! Dress as your favorite rock star or Detroit Rock City character! Just bring your baddest, glamest, rock ‘n’ roll self! Get wild! Get crazy! Get prizes! 

But whatever you come as just be sure to secure your tickets so you can celebrate the spirit of rock n roll at the Senate, Detroit’s most rocking film theater!  

About the movie: 

In the fall of 1978 four teenage burnouts from Ohio embark on a Rock n Roll odyssey. They must dodge hostile disco dudes, carry out reform school breakouts, and even risk their immortal souls for a chance to see their idols in concert at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. This teen comedy is a love letter to youthful rebellion and the connective power of a shared musical obsession. It features performances from Edward Furlong, (Terminator 2) Natasha Lyonne, (American Pie) and the original lineup of KISS, all bringing the attitude and irreverence they’re known for. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

with promotional support from:

Daisies (1966)  

Sat. Mar. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 16min | NR | Comedy/Chaos | Czechoslovakia 

Preshow includes a 22min Short Film – At the World Cafeteria directed by Věra Chytilová

Audacity. Anarchy. Daisies.  

Hedonism. Nihilism. Daisies. 

Gluttony. Debauchery. Daisies. 

Experimentation. Provocation. Daisies. 

Out of the creative fecundity of the 1960’s Czechoslovak New Wave sprung Daisies, a satirical comedy born of the mind of writer/director Věra Chytilová and her collaborators Pavel Juráček and Ester Krumbachová. Playful and surreal, this critique of authority, patriarchy and empty decadence delivers catharsis just as it evokes discomfiture. With a manic visual approach and antagonistic attitude it presents a sly condemnation of a social order that would rather look away politely than confront the inequality and oppression at the heart of society.  

Ostensibly about two young women named Marie on an extended spree of gleeful depravity, Daisies demands your attention. What you make of it—a profound political statement or just a far-out trip into absurdity—is up to you. 

Don’t miss your chance to see it at the Senate on the big screen. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Feb. 28 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 0min | R | Action/Horror | USA 

Between the realms of man and the immortal rends Blade, vampire hunter, fighting blood lust with a thirst for vengeance. 

Directed by special effects master Stephen Norrington and starring the eternally cool Wesley Snipes, Blade is a dark horror take on the superhero genre. It combines gory monster action with pulpy comic book storytelling, decked out in leather and sporting a techno inflected score. It’s the cinematic equivalent of wearing sunglasses at night while wielding a samurai sword and having the confidence and charisma to actually pull it off.  

Detailing the exploits of Eric Brooks (alias Blade), a half-man half-vampire “daywalker” with a mission to destroy the creatures responsible for his condition and the death of his mother, Blade is a tale of obsession, revenge and hubris. With the help of a father-figure with munitions expertise, Blade wages war on vampires, a tortured soul pitting itself against superhuman evil. But can our hero keep this ancient power at bay when an upstart vampire faction plots to enslave all of humanity? 

However it ends, Blade will do it with style. See him in action at the Senate. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Fri. Feb. 27 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1r 56min | R | Crime/Drama | USA/France/Germany/Japan 

Guest Introduction by Dr. Justin Williams, Associate Professor of History and Director of the African American Studies Programs at University of Detroit Mercy

A hitman with a warrior code. A samurai with guns. A movie with a vibe.  

Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Forrest Whitaker and featuring a score and soundtrack from hip-hop luminary RZA, is a strange and beguiling film. Its meaning elusive, it strikes a dreamy balance between genre tropes and the cool, off-kilter hangout style typical of its director.  

It tells of Ghost Dog, a killer for hire in late 1990s New Jersey whose strict adherence to the samurai warrior code keeps him eternally bound to his mafia masters. He walks alone through a nihilistic world, alienated from these modern times, meditating upon death and the philosophies of the ancients. When a job goes wrong, only a centuries old Japanese text, a dovecote of homing pigeons, and a local ice cream vendor who he can’t understand can keep him from the despair of the world and the desolation he inflicts. That, and some firearms training. 

See it at the Senate. See it on the big screen. It is the way.  

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Feb. 14 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 1min | UR | Crime/Romance | USA 

Can love conquer all? What about bullets, a whole lot of cocaine, and a bunch of bloodthirsty gangsters? Find out in True Romance, a bombastic and quirkily stylish sleeper hit from the 1990s! 

Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Crimson Tide) directs Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in this tale of romance and criminal violence written by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, Kill Bill). Taking inspiration from mid-century pulp magazines and heavily indebted to both the sordid story of Bonnie and Clyde and the crime novels of Elmore Leonard, True Romance begins in the grit of a 1990s Detroit and ends in the bright glare of Los Angeles. It follows two lovers, pitting their budding romance against the dangers of the seedy underworld, populated by strange and dangerous men (Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt and more.) 

It may be bloody, but so too is the heart.  

See it unrated and as the director intended on the big screen with us! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Feb. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 12min | R | Romance/Drama | USA 

Love, sex, race, politics, ambition, drugs, gender, religion, family strife, struggle, violence, hatred. Everything.  

This February Spike Lee’s provocative romantic drama Jungle Fever brings it all to big screen at the Senate! A modern classic of American cinema from a master of the artform, it stars Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra alongside a stacked supporting cast, (Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturo, Anthony Quinn, Ossie Davis and more) and features original music from Stevie Wonder. 

Inside a world of simmering racial tensions, unchecked misogyny, and the still raging crack epidemic of the early 90s, this story of an interracial extra-marital affair explores its complex themes with the daring, witty and sometimes surreal style typical of its acclaimed director. Released in 1991 two years after his signature work Do the Right Thing was met with commercial success and critical acclaim, Jungle Fever further solidified Lee’s reputation as a singular artist. Bold and unsparing, sometimes chaotic, constantly questioning and loudly political, this is a director who is always and unabashedly himself.  

Nobody makes Spike Lee Joints but Spike Lee, and this film is no exception.  

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Feb. 7 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Films – 3:00 PM  

Tickets – $6 (12 AND UNDER FREE) 

Program Runtime – 1hr 33min 

Presented digitally and on 16mm film! 

Get ready for an afternoon of family fun at the Senate with a variety show of vintage animation. From living vegetables to caped crusaders and from scheming kitty cats to fightin’ sailors, these cartoon classics are just an ol’ fashioned good time for everyone!  

Producers of Popeye, Betty Boop and Superman cartoons, Fleischer Studios was once the premiere animation studio in the world, competing head-to-head with Walt Disney. Thanks to its grittier style and technical innovations, its most popular creations have remained vital for decades, long after the studio that gave birth to them was folded into Paramount Pictures in 1942.  

We can’t wait to share them with you. And, thanks to our friends at Motor City Cinema Society, the final three shorts of the afternoon will be presented on 16mm film! 

Film Schedule: 

Part 1 – appox. 43 min 

The Fresh Vegetable Mystery (1939) – 6min (digital) 

A Kick in Time (1939) – 8min (digital) 

Superman (1941) – 10min (digital) 

Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves (1937) – 17min (digital) 

Intermission – 20min 

Part 2 – approx. 50min 

Hold It (1938) – 7min (digital) 

Educated Fish (1937) – 7min (digital) 

Poor Cinderella (1934, Betty Boop) – 11min (16mm) 

The Bulleteers (1942, Superman) – 8min (16mm) 

Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936) – 18min (16mm) 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Jan. 31 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture by Dave Calendine – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 35min | PG | Comedy/War | USA 

If Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb was a person, it could start collecting social security in 2026. Which is to say, (with apologies to 62-year-olds across America) this film is old. However, its deadly serious message, delivered with a 50 megaton dose of zany irreverence, is not.   

A satirical take on the Cold War era, it took aim at Red Scare paranoia, conspiratorial thinking, and the precarity of our post-atomic world, seeking mutually assured destruction for all its unsuspecting targets. Its terrifying scenario imagines the consequences of a rogue general intent on kicking off nuclear war, and the woefully unprepared executive branch tasked with stopping him before it’s too late. But with jokes. 

Starring the chameleonic Peter Sellers, (in a triple role as the U.S. president, a British air force captain, and the titular doctor) Dr. Strangelove is a comedy classic for its age, this age, and whatever age comes next. And though we may never know the nature of the world our cinephile children will inherit, they will surely be able to return to the wit and enduring relevance of this film for generations—provided humanity keeps a sense of humor and has a way to watch it in the bunker.  

Just kidding. But not really. See you at the Senate!  

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Jan. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 58min | G | Comedy/Romance | USA 

A princess. A reporter. A fabled city. A timeless romance. 

See Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in William Wyler’s Roman Holiday! This award-winning romantic comedy about the intensity of love and the weight of one’s responsibilities has wooed audiences for over seventy years. See it on the big screen at Detroit’s oldest surviving neighborhood movie theater. 

Secretly co-written by Dalton Trumbo, who was then on the infamous Hollywood blacklist, Roman Holiday was filmed on location in Rome and has long sat within the Hollywood pantheon of all-time greats. It follows the unexpected and instantly deep connection between an incognito European princess and a charming American reporter. Over the course of a single, whirlwind day the pair embark on an enchanting (and often silly) tour of one of the world’s most iconic cities, zooming through the ancient streets on the 20th century Italian version of a fairytale steed: a Vespa motor scooter.  

It’s classic movie escapism with a hint of melancholy that will surely find its place in your heart. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Jan. 10 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 37min | R | Crime/Thriller | USA 

Didya hear the one ‘bout the funny lookin’ fella, the real super lady detective, and the woodchipper?   

It’s called Fargo and, oh jeez, whadya know? It’s playing at the Senate Theater for a 30th anniversary screening!  

Revolving around the bloody consequences of a foolhardy kidnapping scheme, Fargo was a hit with critics and audiences, earning this modest but masterful film a pile of accolades and a lucrative run at the box office. Since its release, the Coen Brothers’ witty neo-noir thriller has evolved from a popular phenomenon to a revered modern classic.   

It's a potent mixture of rich and folksy characterization, memorable quotations, and an unnerving combination of farce and senseless violence—not to mention iconic turns from stars Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, and Steve Buscemi. And in the preceding three decades it has proven to be endlessly rewatchable, a superlative entertainment that nevertheless reveals the bleak but alluring depths of humanity—the primordial corruption that lives within and permeates the vast, metaphysical plains that separate us all.  

It’s a darn tootin’ good movie, dontcha know! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Jan. 3 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 31min | NR | Drama/Romance | USA 

Sure, you’ve seen the old black and white classics, but have you born witness to “Forbidden Hollywood?” 

Kick off your new year right, (and oh, so delightfully wrong) with a cinematic journey into the salacious, controversial, and provocative pre-code era of American movies with Josef von Sternberg’s Morocco!  

Starring the singularly iconoclastic Marlene Dietrich and the singularly tall and handsome Gary Cooper, this torrid tale of love and lust against the backdrop of colonial conflict defiantly walked on the very edge of acceptability. Its frank representation of sexuality and boundary pushing exploration of gender norms made it a hit with audiences of the 1930s. And, wooing the critics and fellow filmmakers, it’s masterful blending of audio and visual storytelling confidently bridged the gap between the silent and sound eras of filmmaking.  

In short, it was and remains an artistic and technical triumph, as bold as it is beautiful. Don’t miss it! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Scrooged (1988) 

Sat. Dec. 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 40min | PG-13 | Comedy/Fantasy | USA 

Cutthroat TV executive Frank Cross doesn’t know the meaning of Christmas. Focused solely upon his personal ambitions, he is as uncaring and callous as Ebeneezer Scrooge.  

Only a quadruple haunting will allow him to see the error of his ways.  

In the tradition of It’s A Wonderful Life, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray was met by mixed to negative reviews from critics who were put off by the film's juxtaposition of sentimentality and cynicism. But ultimately filmgoers recognized this Reagan era retelling of Dickens’ classic as a worthy addition to the Yuletide cinematic canon. At its heart it is a tale of hope, declaring joyfully that even in a world under siege by nastiness and greed the goodness in us all can always be rekindled.  

Whether you’re a Victorian merchant or a Me Generation media executive, there’s nothing like a metaphysical exploration of your empathy deficit to really kick start your shriveled conscience. Come to the Senate for proof this holiday season! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Rankin/Bass Holiday Shorts FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING

Sat. Dec. 13 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Films – 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) 

25min | NR | Family | USA 

A Year Without a Santa Clause (1974) 

51min | NR | Family | USA 

 Get into the spirit of the season at the Senate Theater with two animated Christmas classics from Rankin/Bass productions, the studio that brought you Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! This matinee event will be free for anyone 12 and under. Children of all ages can expect to encounter a very special—and jolly—guest who would love to hear what you want under your Christmas tree this year! 

We’re excited to share in the holiday magic with you. These two films about rediscovering the power of generosity and the joy of believing, (plus a very sensitive Santa Claus) will equally delight nostalgia seekers, animation lovers, and children of all ages.  

You and your family don’t want to miss these classic and original Christmas songs, the signature  
“animagic” style, and especially the one-of-a-kind strangeness of Heat Miser and Snow Miser, troll-like keepers of the elements.  

See you at the Senate!  And don’t forget to bring your Christmas cheer. Santa Claus is counting on you! 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Detroit Premiere! Locally Produced Documentary!

Fri. Dec. 5

Doors – 6:30 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:00 PM  

Film – 7:30 PM

Director Q&A to follow film

Tickets - $12  

1hr 51min | NR | Documentary | USA 

Amid the radical politics and cultural upheaval of the late 1960s, a series of brutal murders targeting young women gripped the twin university towns of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. This independent and locally-made documentary examines not just a series of crimes, but the social and political tensions that enabled them—many of which still resonate today. Followed by a Q+A with Director Andrew Templeton.

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Nov 29

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Cast/Crew Q&A – 8:00 PM

Film – 9:00 PM  

This is the Detroit premiere of a brand new classic of Chicano cinema!

Starring Mr. Homicide, Pete Vásquez, Angel Salazar, Omar Gooding and Panchito Gómez, this film unites icons from Blood in Blood Out, Mi Vida Loca, Scarface, Colors, American Me, and more.

Sat. Nov 29

Doors – 4:00 PM  

Film – 5:00 PM  

This is the Detroit premiere of a brand new classic of Chicano cinema!

Starring Mr. Homicide, Pete Vásquez, Angel Salazar, Omar Gooding and Panchito Gómez, this film unites icons from Blood in Blood Out, Mi Vida Loca, Scarface, Colors, American Me, and more.

Friday, November 21, 2025 | 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Doors — 7:00 p.m.

Organ Overture — 7:30 p.m.

Films — 8:00 p.m.

1hr | Mini Q&A to Follow
Tickets — Free with RSVP | Limited Tickets Available | Donations with RSVP support Senate Theater preservation

A Red Carpet Event

The Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA) proudly presents In Sequence, the highly anticipated premiere of its 2024–2025 Film Fellows — four visionary filmmakers whose short films explore lineage, identity, and legacy through a distinctly Detroit lens. The premiere will be held at the historic Senate Theatre, where audiences will experience a powerful collection of original films that reflect the spirit, complexity, and creativity of Detroit’s storytelling tradition.

The 2024–2025 DNA Film Fellowship supports emerging filmmakers of color in Metro Detroit in developing, producing, and premiering deeply personal films that challenge dominant narratives and expand cinematic language.

“At DNA, we believe that narrative power belongs in the hands of the people living the stories. This cohort represents the future of Detroit cinema — bold, diverse, and deeply intentional about the stories they tell and who they tell them for.”
— Ashley Calhoun, Interim Executive Artistic Director, Detroit Narrative Agency

The Films

To Move in My Mother’s Prayers

Director: Diop Russell | Producer: Leah Hill
A rebellious, nonbinary teenager wrestles with their hardworking single mom over joining the Legacy League—an elite organization for high school girls.

Heaven in Detroit

Director: Chris “INPAQ” Sutton | Producer: Miles N. Reuben
After the unexpected loss of his mother, a young house-head searches for his own sense of paradise and purpose on the last night of Detroit’s iconic LGBT+ sanctuary—Club Heaven. 

MIN EEDI | From My Hand

Director: Costa Kazaleh Sirdenis | Producer: Frisly Soberanis
After the sudden loss of his Mother from cancer in 2022, a Palestinian American artist recalls and reaffirms his Mother’s life from Palestine to Detroit. Min Eedi exists to reflect the family's extensive material archive of his Mother, and the memory that exists of her within the realms of grieving.

Until It Feels Like Worship

Director: Ifayomí Christine | Producer: Nina Young
Isolated by years of grief, a woman allows the wisdom of her ancestors to guide her into a living practice of joy, ritual, and connection. 

About Detroit Narrative Agency

Founded in 2015 by ill weaver and adrienne maree brown, with support from Jeanette Lee of Allied Media Projects, the Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA) was created to disrupt harmful and incomplete stories about Detroit. For decades, mainstream narratives have portrayed the city as broken or in need of saving—first through deficit and later through gentrified “revival.” DNA exists to amplify the Detroit that has always been saving itself: the Detroit rooted in resistance, creativity, and collective power.

Through mentorship, funding, and hands-on production opportunities, DNA supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color filmmakers in telling authentic, community-centered stories. The agency is building a film and media ecosystem that reflects Detroit’s brilliance—locally and globally.

FREE SCREENING COMPLIMENTS OF DISTRICT 6 DETROIT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GABRIELA SANITAGO-ROMERO!