OKC theaters in November offer films for all seasons

Last Updated on October 31, 2023, 10:07 PM | Published: October 31, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – For all of Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather and outright defiance of traditional seasonal changes, there might be no period throughout the year more meteorologically confused than the stretch of autumn between Halloween and the winter holidays.

It’s not uncommon to see warm, sunny days and brisk, chilly nights, but you’re just as likely to get a little sweltering, summer-style heat or hard, frigid freezes sprinkled in there as well.

But if you’re the type that likes to match your movie viewing to whatever the sky is doing outside, you’re in luck this month, because OKC’s arthouses, indie theaters, and screening groups are presenting a lineup that seems to cover all the weather bases, from summer fun to darkest winter.

So let’s stave off that encroaching late-year depression and blast through all four seasons in a month, shall we?

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ – Flix Brewhouse – 10/31 – 11/2

Of course, there’s no better way to start bridging that gap between the spooky season and the coming winter than with this stone-cold multi-holiday classic.

Produced and conceived by the great Tim Burton, but actually directed by the arguably even more creative and original Henry Selick, this musical fantasia of Halloween’s collision with Christmas has been a staple for animation aficionados and burgeoning goth kids for decades now, and it’s still as beloved as ever.

If you’re a spooky-loving adult looking for a theater where you can get some booze with your BOO!s, Flix has you covered here. But if you’ve got children that haven’t yet experienced this left-field kids classic, now’s the time to introduce them, while the weather outside is still frightful.

For showtimes, tickets, and more information, visit flixbrewhouse.com.

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ – Now Playing Everywhere / Rodeo Cinema – 11/3 & 11/4

Perhaps the most important film production in Oklahoma history sees cinema’s greatest living filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, examining a bit of the state’s history itself.

Centering on the “Osage Murders” of the 1920s, in which our still-fledging state’s rightful Native residents were systematically eradicated for oil drilling land, “Killers of the Flower Moon” (feature photo) sports a blunt, harrowing tone and a mammoth three-and-a-half hour runtime.

But don’t let either of those facts dissuade you. This is essential viewing, not just because it’s a brand new Scorsese opus, but because of what it means for our state’s history, culture, and filmmaking community.

The titular “flower moon” represents springtime just as much as the creeping dread and suspense that feels just like Oklahoma in May.

If you want to catch this look at Oklahoma history in an equally historic part of town, see it at Rodeo Cinema in the Stockyards by visiting rodeocinema.org for showtimes, tickets, and more.

‘Captain Ron’ presented by VHS & Chill – Sailor & the Dock – 11/8

It’s a mid-autumn cold snap in landlocked Oklahoma, but thanks to the gonzo-style cult movie screening team VHS & Chill and the brand new, creatively nautical-themed retail, bar, and event space Sailor & the Dock, we can all pretend we’re on a sailboat in the summertime.

Grab a cocktail at the bar built out of a real sailboat and then settle in for one of the most underrated and overlooked 90s comedies, starring the inimitable Kurt Russell as a charismatic captain-for-hire taking a hapless suburban family out on their new boat for a summer at sea.

It’s reliably hilarious and comfortingly nostalgic, and we can all agree that Kurt Russell always looks great in an eye patch.

It’s a free event, but to RSVP, visit vhsandchill.net.

‘Anatomy of a Fall’ – Oklahoma City Museum of Art – 11/10 – 11/17

This bleak, mysterious, and murderous courtroom drama that rocked Cannes and nabbed the Palme d’Or gives new meaning to “the winter of our discontent.”

A man falls from a balcony and dies bloodied in the fresh French snow beneath. His wife is the main suspect and their young, blind son is the only potential witness.

It’s dark, it’s cold, it’s endlessly and breathlessly intriguing, and it’s absolutely going to be a major player during the upcoming awards season.

Better see it now before the mystery gets spoiled and while the cold outside matches the coldness of the film’s tone.

For showtimes, tickets, and more information, visit okcmoa.com.

‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” – Harkins Bricktown – 11/21

And of course, how can you pass up probably the very greatest Thanksgiving movie ever made?

Harkins’ unbeatable, weekly Tuesday Night Classics series serves up this John Hughes-directed comedy masterpiece just a couple days before the holiday, right about the time that you might most need an excuse to escape your in-laws.

It’s an ever-increasingly relevant tale of nightmarish holiday travel, as certifiable screen legends Steve Martin and John Candy battle traffic, the transportation system, and each other to get home for the holidays.

It’s practically required viewing by now, but on the big screen, it’s still as comforting and delicious as warm turkey gravy.

For showtimes, tickets, and more information, visit harkins.com.

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