Springtime is an interesting season for movies at The Grand. The hubbub of awards are over, no one is bashing you over the head with summer hits, and some memorable films get quietly released. These films tend to hold their own better than the average movie and have an often distinct, not-your-run-of-the-mill personality to boot.

The Season of the Unexpected

Ex Machina, The Lobster, Embrace of the Serpent, Boy and the World, Janis: Little Girl Blue, What We Do In The Shadows, Timbuktu - just to name a few - all opened on our screens during the months of March-May. One would be hard-pressed to put these movies into one category, but what they do have in common is that each contains a complete worldview inside of their run time. They are the kinds of movies - and the kinds of storytelling - that stick with me afterwards.

Acclaimed Films Enter Quietly

Spring means we have room on our screens for some of the smaller films that were nominated during award season but were not yet available in the US. The Red Turtle (nominated for best animated film) and Tanna (nominated for best foreign language film) are both opening soon and represent the kind of projects that require immense dedication from a filmmaking team without the guarantee of accolades or large audiences.

Annual Diversity Film Series

Besides our regular screenings, we will also host the Tacoma Community College Diversity Series which plays throughout April. These six different stories thoughtfully explore diverse individuals and cultures, highlighting the need to celebrate the "other" and learn more about the world around us.

As if that weren’t enough, I have three words for you: THE… BLACK… STALLION. The poetry in the first half of that movie is as sweeping as any ever created, either on page or screen, and the second half made my little kid heart as full as it could be. I never got the chance to see it on the big screen, so I can’t wait.

Here are just a few of the films coming this spring, I hope you get a chance to meet them:


Some of the above films only play for a single day, so be sure to follow the links and mark your calendar if you are interested in seeing them on the big screen.