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!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) 

Sat. Nov 8 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Film – 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 33min |PG| Family/Action | Hong Kong/USA 

 Something is a-Foot at the Senate. Only turtle power and a rat with sage advice can keep it bay. 

No, we’re not making a funny here. We’re going to party like it’s 1990 with a totally radical matinee screening of 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! 

This martial arts comedy about radioactive brothers fighting crime in New York City will make you want to shout, “cowabunga!” Marking the theatrical debut of the world’s foremost band of wise-cracking reptilian mutants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of the most successful independent films ever released.  

Its success lies not just in the satisfying action and rebellious attitude, but in the endearing and whimsical production design, with iconic costumes designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Which is why we invited our special guest for the afternoon, Ninja Turtle superfan Michele Ivey. Her passion for the Turtles led her to amass an impressive collection of related memorabilia, which will be on display in our lobby for your viewing pleasure before the film and at intermission!  

See you there, dudes and dudettes!  

About our special guest: 

Michele Ivey is best known for her appearances on TV shows such as VH1’s Totally Obsessed, Anderson Cooper Live, and FANatical. She can also be seen in documentaries such as The Turtle Power Documentary and The Toys That Made Us. All these series focus on her passion for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.   

Michele became a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1989, and kept pushing her fandom to whole new levels as she did children birthday parties, going backstage at their live concerts, visiting the set of the Next Mutation TV series, and making friends with the behind the scenes talent. She even worked on a few official TMNT projects from a Next Mutation Sticker Album to the 2007 TMNT Movie.  

As a loud Ninja Turtle fan, Michele finds all fans are equal and feels that the unique items in her collection should be out there for all the fandom. She brings her collection to conventions, galleries, and other events to share with the fandom. She also shares even more through her YouTube show “Cowabunga Corner”, with reviews, event coverage, and interviews with fans and the talent behind TMNT!  

Come by to see some of Michele’s collection of Ninja Turtle history from the merchandise you could find at the stores to original production items like original comic and animation artwork, rare toys, and movie props. While none of her collection is for sale, she’s happy to display and share the history of TMNT, and learn more from fellow fans.   

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

Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980) 

Sat. Nov 1 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 42min |R| Martial Arts/Horror/Comedy | Hong Kong 

 Sorcery and possession. Ghosts and zombies. High kicks and hijinks.   

. . . A hopping vampire?  

It’s the trailblazing action horror comedy kung fu mashup, Encounters of the Spooky Kind, written, directed and starring Hong Kong legend, Sammo Hung! Released on the cusp of a long string of hits for Hung, (including several action comedies with his drama academy classmate, Jackie Chan) this sensational martial arts romp follows the exploits of Bold Cheung, a hapless rickshaw driver facing haunted temples, monsters in various stages of decomposition, an unfriendly sorcerer, and his unfaithful wife.  

With timing and finesse, (both in the comedy and fight choreography) Encounters helped set a new standard in the martial arts action comedy subgenre. And, by adding to the mix supernatural horror influenced by Chinese folklore, it even started a sub-subgenre of “hopping vampire” flicks based on the mythological jiangshi, reanimated corpses who have come to suck your. . . vital force.  

It’s eerie. It’s exciting. It’s absurd. It’s a lark.  

It’s at the Senate. 

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

Suspiria (1977) 3rd Annual Halloween Fundraiser and Costume Party 

Sat. Oct. 25 

Doors – 6:00 PM 

DJ Adam Stanfel (aka DEATH) 6:45-7:30 PM

Spooooky Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM  

1hr 35min | R | Mystery/Horror | Italy

Tickets – $10 

Costume contest 

Seasonal Vibes 

Join us for a special screening of Dario Argento’s supernatural horror classic Suspiria, a movie that synthesizes its sound and vision to such an extent it might just be about trippy colors and totally sick music. What happens on screen? Murder and magic at the intersection of ballet and an actual coven of witches. What happens in your mind? A descent into our collective, primordial terror, conjured from the mind of a cinematic sorcerer.  

All proceeds support the Senate Theater and the further restoration of our historic Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. 

In addition to our usual film screening, you can expect an Death himself as DJ, extra special spooky organ overture, vendors costume contest and eerie seasonal music. Admission starts at $10 but further donations of any amount are graciously accepted.  

Vendor List:
Cherismagikalmanifestations

Beth_amber_detroit

MichelleL. Unique Jackets

Green Brain Comics

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

Frankenstein (1931) PLUS Silent Frankenstein (1910) 

Sat. Oct. 18 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

Frankenstein (1910)  

Live organ accompaniment by Dave Calendine

16min |NR| Horror| USA 

Frankenstein (1931) 

1hr 11min |NR| Horror | USA 

Demoralizing! Gruesome! Unsuitable for the nervous! Banned for “strangeness”! Blasphemous! Morally debased! It must be 1931’s Frankenstein! 

Don’t miss this Universal monster classic at the Senate, starring Boris Karlof as the monster! Based on Mary Shelley’s famous gothic novel about the folly of man and the potentially destructive nature of creation, Frank Whale's adaptation was a sensational and controversial hit. Today it remains true to say IT'S ALIVE . . . with lavish photography, iconic makeup, and timeless chills and thrills!

And before the feature we are excited to present, with live organ accompaniment from Dave Calendine, a short silent film version of this familiar tale. Produced in 1910 by Thomas Edison’s Edison Studios, this one-reeler is a very loose but fascinating adaptation. It is the very first screen appearance of Frankenstein and a great chance to behold a feat of early 20th century technology, the Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ in action! 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) 

Sat. Oct. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12 

1hr 15min | NR | Horror | Germany

Live Organ Accompaniment by Stephen Warner 

Pipe chamber tour to follow 

 Silents at the Senate returns for its fall 2025 season with a masterwork of German Expressionism, Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with live organ accompaniment from Stephen Warner on our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ! 

This art film dressed as a nightmare dazzles the eyes and spirit with style and substance, predating the current trend of “elevated horror” by about a century. Using twisted and distorted sets and telling a tale of murder and madness, this anti-authoritarian allegory explores the hypnotic allure of power, its ability to coax from us our free will. 

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 

Frankenweenie (2012) PLUS Frankenweenie (1984) 

Sat. Oct. 4 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Film – 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

Frankenweenie (1984) 

30min | PG | Family | USA 

Frankenweenie (2012) 

1hr 27min | PG | Family | USA 

 Are you unwilling to relinquish the unconditional love of a deceased pet but savvy enough to know there is no “nice farm upstate?”  

Why not take a page from ol’ Victor Von and try giving your dearly departed a little jolt? That irreplaceable little scamp will be back up and running in no time. 

Any unintended consequences are, however, not the responsibility of The Senate Theater and are, in fact, simply the plot of Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie. This beautifully animated stop-motion gem features the vocal talents of Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara. It is a playful retelling of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein and an affectionate satire of the 1931 film adaptation starring Boris Karlof, replacing Karlof’s lumbering monster with a bull terrier named Sparky. 

But it’s also an expansion of its director's breakout short film of the same name, 1984’s Frankenweenie, featuring Shelley Duvall and Daniel Stern. And no this isn’t a case of re-animation. The original is all live-action, and we’re screening it before the feature. 

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

Thur. Oct. 2

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:40 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12

Cast & Crew Q&A to follow film

1hr 38min | NR | Horror/Sci-fi/Comedy | Canada

The Senate Theater is excited to present this independent film out of Canada on its "Drac Attack" tour of North America! Be sure to stick around after the film for a Q&A with the cast and crew!

If you put Mel Brooks, Ed Wood, and South Park into a blender you’d get VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! an over-the-top comedy which satirizes and pays homage to drive-in, creature-feature horror films of the 1950’s. It’s the latest film from award-winning writer-director Mike Stasko (The Birder, Boys vs. Girls) and award-winning comedy writers Jakob Skrzypa and Alex Forman (Your Money’s No Good Here, Fun Uncle, Funny or Die).

Vampire Zombies…From Space! features a horde of appearances by cult icons including Night of the Living Dead’s Judith O’Dea, Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman, Tim & Eric’s David Liebe Hart, and SAW VI’s Simon Reynolds.

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

El Cantante (2006) 

Sat. Sep. 27 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 46min | R | Drama/Musical | USA 

Come see “the singer of all singers” on the big screen at the Senate! 

With a powerhouse performance from Jennifer Lopez and a soundtrack that will have you dancing in the aisles, this musical biopic is an unsparing but adoring exploration of the life of salsa legend Héctor Lavoe. Told from the perspective of his widow (Lopez) the film follows Lavoe (Marc Anthony) on his journey from a Puerto Rican nobody to a genre innovator, all while fighting his inner demons and the pressures of fame. 

At his best, throughout his tragically brief life, Lavoe personified that special ingredient that made salsa—a blending of rhythms and modes from Cuba and Puerto Rico—into a phenomenon of Latin music in the 1970s and 80s. In his commanding voice and electrifying charisma was a powerful, vivacious energy. In his songs and in his soul was an irresistible call to dance, to celebrate, to live.  

In El Cantante the many sides of the man are laid bare. But the love inherent in his enduring art shines brightest. And, for one night only you can see—and hear—it at the Senate! 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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

The Most Dangerous Game (1932) 

Sat. Sep. 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 18min | NR | Horror/Adventure | USA 

Is this screening of a classic “pre-code,” psycho-sexual adventure involving hunting humans for sport a family friendly event? 

Not really—too much carnage—though you could afford to bring the whole family at these prices!  

The Most Dangerous Game was the first film adaptation of the classic short story, telling the tale of shipwreck survivors confronted with a double threat of aristocratic excess and hedonistic depravity. It stars Joel McCrea, (archetypal burly leading blonde man) the original scream queen Fay Wray (King Kong) and Leslie Banks as an exiled Russian nobleman with sadistic proclivities.  

Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack using the same jungle sets from his next film, King Kong, its violence and sexual themes led to walkouts during its original theatrical run. It may even shock some today, making it a perfect example of the short lived free-wheeling era of early 1930s Hollywood before the self-censorship of the “Hays Code” took hold. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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

FREE

We’re bringing LILY to the Senate Theater for a public screening in collaboration with Who Got the Props, one of the biggest breaking jams in the Midwest.

Date: August 29th, 2025
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Senate Theater
6424 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48210

Come through for a night of cinema, music, and drinks.

Sat. Aug. 9  

Doors – 8:00 PM 

Film – Dusk (approx. 9:00 PM) 

Tickets - GRATIS! (FREE!) 

1hr 19min | NR | Horror/Mystery | USA 

En Español (with English subtitles) 

Es verano en el Senado y una vez más con calor, sudorosos y raros con una serie de películas para satisfacer tu ardiente deseo de tonterías y subculturas, exageramientos y cultos, e incluso un superhéroe/detective/héroe popular mexicano de lucha libre!

¡El Santo (con Demonio Azul and Mil Mascaras) en Las momias de Guanajuato!

Únase a nosotros para esta PROYECCIÓN GRATUITA AL AIRE LIBRE en el Senate Coney Lot (al lado del teatro en Michigan Ave.) y disfrute de esta exagerada y cursi pieza de la historia de la cultura pop mexicana.

¡NO OLVIDES TRAER TU PROPIA SILLA!

¡EL PUESTO DE CONCESIONES Y LOS BAÑOS ESTARÁN DISPONIBLES DENTRO DEL TEATRO!

It’s summer at the Senate and we’re once again getting Hot, Sweaty & Weird with a series of flicks to satisfy your burning desire for schlock and subculture, camp and cult, and even a wrestling Mexican superhero/detective/folk hero! 

El Santo (with Blue Demon and Mil Mascaras) in Las momias de Guanajuato!

Come join us for this FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING in the Senate Coney Lot (next door to the theater on Michigan Ave.) and enjoy this campy piece of Mexican pop culture history. 

DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR! 

CONCESSIONS STAND AND BATHROOMS WILL BE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE THEATER! 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 54min | R | Surrealist Fantasy/Adventure | Mexico 

For one night only, the Senate Theater invites you to attempt an ascent through the unseen, mystical world of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain.  

Taking its inspiration from 16th century spiritual treatise and an allegorical novel from a 20th century French surrealist, this cult classic out of Mexico is a symbolic trip and stylistic triumph. It overflows with metaphysical philosophy, making cross-cultural religious allusions as it dazzles with surrealist, psychedelic imagery. Essentially it tells the story of a thief climbing a tower. But in the reality of The Holy Mountain, ascending becomes transcendence and what is “real” is revealed to be but a plane on which we project our perceptions. 

Join us for this decidedly strange installment of our Hot, Sweaty & Weird summer series, where the movies are offbeat, the air conditioning is non-existent, and our doors, (of perception and otherwise) are wide open. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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