The Varsity Cinema

The Varsity Cinema Des Moines' nonprofit community art house cinema.
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What an unforgettable Pride Kickoff Extravaganza last night! 🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to all who showed up, dressed up, and enjoyed o...
05/29/2026

What an unforgettable Pride Kickoff Extravaganza last night! 🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to all who showed up, dressed up, and enjoyed our screening of BOTTOMS. And a big thank you to all the local organizations who came out to support the community and share resources. Progress Iowa Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Capital City Pride One Iowa Polk County Democrats Iowa Pride Ensembles

We have an exciting slate of films lined up for the rest of Pride! See you here. 🌈✨

Pride Programming: https://varsitydesmoines.com/film-series/varsity-pride/

05/28/2026

Enter the Backrooms. Now playing.

From A24, Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in Kane Parsons’ debut feature BACKROOMS, in which a strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom…

Our Pride Kickoff event is almost here! Join us this Thursday at 6:30pm for community partner tables from local LGBTQ+ o...
05/27/2026

Our Pride Kickoff event is almost here! Join us this Thursday at 6:30pm for community partner tables from local LGBTQ+ organizations followed by a 7pm screening of BOTTOMS. Also, be sure to dress up in your best campy high school attire and come strut your stuff before the show!💃 Swipe for some inspo to get you started — but make it your own and show off our Varsity red & blue school colors.

Tickets at: https://varsitydesmoines.com/movies/bottoms-/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or

05/27/2026

Tickets are on sale NOW for Spielberg’s DISCLOSURE DAY — opening June 12 with early screenings June 11. 🛸

Join us June 20 at 7pm for a Filmmaker-in-Person screening of F*CKTOYS — a wild, unfiltered romp about a part-time s*x w...
05/26/2026

Join us June 20 at 7pm for a Filmmaker-in-Person screening of F*CKTOYS — a wild, unfiltered romp about a part-time s*x worker, full-time chaos magnet, who is convinced the universe has it out for her. Seeking a cosmic reset after a swampy tarot reading, she sets off on a bizarre quest through Trashtown, USA, a dystopian, neon-drenched sprawl of assorted oddballs.

It’s a surrealist and satirical odyssey with a cast to match that includes 13 Reasons Why’s Brandon Flynn, The Comeback’s Damian Young, and a knockout performance by Heated Rivalry’s François Arnaud.

Stick around after the film for a live, in-person Q&A with writer/director/star Annapurna Sriram! 🎤

Tickets at: https://varsitydesmoines.com/movies/f**ktoys/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or

05/25/2026

We’re kicking off our Pride programming this week! Join us Thursday night for a screening of BOTTOMS with community LGBTQ+ organizations on site. And, in line with the film, the category for this event is High School Realness. 📓💅 Dress up as iconic high school archetypes with a twist. Our “school colors” are red and blue. Camp it up and strut your style before the show!

05/23/2026

BACKROOMS. May 29.

You don’t have to boost this drink. 😉 Just meet us at Concessions before you catch I LOVE BOOSTERS — the latest high-cam...
05/22/2026

You don’t have to boost this drink. 😉 Just meet us at Concessions before you catch I LOVE BOOSTERS — the latest high-camp flick from Boots Riley, starring the inimitable Keke Palmer. 💅 Now playing!

Seats are going fast for our Filmmaker-in-Person screening of DIAMOND DIPLOMACY on Wednesday, May 27! ⚾️Director Yuriko ...
05/21/2026

Seats are going fast for our Filmmaker-in-Person screening of DIAMOND DIPLOMACY on Wednesday, May 27! ⚾️

Director Yuriko Gamo-Romer will join us for a Q&A following the documentary, which explores the complex relationship between the U.S. and Japan through their shared love of baseball. Presented by Iowa Sister States, Japan America Society of Iowa and Des Moines Sister Cities Commission.

DIAMOND DIPLOMACY features a cross-cultural lineup of baseball legends, including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ichiro Suzuki (newly inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer), and Shohei Ohtani, and makes a powerful case for sports as a conduit for international healing, connection, and resilience.

https://varsitydesmoines.com/showtimes/diamond-diplomacy/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=or

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1207 25th Street
Des Moines, IA
50311

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