When you talk about movies in Newport, most people immediately think of the glitz of the Gilded Age or the salt-sprayed New England coast of Rhode Island. But honestly? It's way more complicated than just one city. Depending on who you're asking, "Newport" might mean a historic single-screen theater in the Northeast, a massive 20-screen multiplex in Kentucky, or even a horror-movie backdrop in South Wales.
Right now, in January 2026, the local film scene is doing something weird. It’s evolving. We’re seeing a strange mix of high-budget blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash fighting for oxygen alongside indie darlings and restored classics.
The Jane Pickens Factor
If you’re in Newport, RI, you basically have one home base for cinema: The Jane Pickens Film & Event Center. It’s a literal time capsule. Originally built in 1834 as a church, it didn't even start showing films until the 1920s. Today, it’s the last man standing in a town that used to be full of movie palaces like the Paramount and the Opera House.
Walking into the "JPT" feels like you've accidentally stepped into a 1950s newsreel. The velvet is red, the acoustics are echoey, and the programming is delightfully stubborn. This week, they’re screening Marty Supreme, that new Josh Safdie flick starring Timothée Chalamet. But they also have a weirdly specific event coming up on January 29: a screening of the 1927 silent classic Metropolis accompanied by a live musical score.
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It’s that kind of place. You don't just go there to eat popcorn; you go there because you’re a nerd for the medium.
Why Everyone Filmed Everything Here
You’ve seen Newport on screen, even if you didn’t realize it. The city is a cheat code for directors who need to look "old money" without building a set.
- The Great Gatsby (1974): They used the Rosecliff mansion to stand in for Gatsby’s estate. It’s peak Robert Redford.
- Moonrise Kingdom: Wes Anderson practically lived here while filming at Trinity Church and the Castle Hill Lighthouse.
- Hocus Pocus 2: Most of the "Salem" scenes? Yeah, that was Washington Square in Newport.
Honestly, the locals are kinda over the film crews, but the tourist dollars keep the mansions polished. There’s a certain irony in watching a movie about the ultra-rich inside a theater that used to be a church, surrounded by mansions that are now museums.
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The Newport Beach Scene (The Other One)
If we shift gears to the West Coast, the Newport Beach Film Festival is a whole different beast. While the Rhode Island scene is about history, the California scene is about the industry.
The 2026 festival dates are already being whispered about, and if the 2025 "Take 26" event was any indicator—where they premiered Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon—it’s going to be massive. This isn’t a small-town screening; it’s a strategic stop on the Oscar campaign trail. When you watch movies in Newport Beach, you’re often seeing films that won’t hit general theaters for another six months.
What’s Playing Right Now (January 2026)
If you’re just looking for a Friday night out, the current slate is a bit of a grab bag.
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- Avatar: Fire and Ash: It’s everywhere. If you have an IMAX nearby (like the AMC at Newport on the Levee), that’s where you’re going for the 3D spectacle.
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: This just opened. It’s the long-awaited Danny Boyle sequel, and word on the street is it’s actually terrifying.
- Hamnet: Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of the Maggie O'Farrell novel is currently the "prestige" pick for the month.
The Practical Reality
Look, moviegoing has changed. In Newport, Wales, the Cineworld at Spytty Park is leaning hard into "Event Cinema." They aren't just showing Zootopia 2; they’re running 48-hour marathons of Lord of the Rings extended editions. People don't leave their houses for a standard 2D screen as much anymore, so theaters are making everything an "experience."
Whether you’re at a historic landmark in RI or a massive luxury cinema in Oregon, the trend is clear: movies in Newport are surviving by being special, not just convenient.
To make the most of the local scene, check the specific schedules for the Jane Pickens Theater if you want culture, or head to the AMC Newport 20 if you want to see things explode in 4K. If you’re a filmmaker, keep an eye on the submission deadlines for the Newport Beach Film Festival, which usually wrap up by late spring. For the casual fan, the best move is to catch the Metropolis live-score event on the 29th—it's the kind of thing that only happens in a town that actually cares about its cinematic history.