Supergirl (June 26), Minions & Monsters (July 1), The Odyssey (July 17), and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31) are hyped summer movies. But the season isn’t just about potential blockbusters—least ways, not in the Windy City where the Red Carpet is being rolled out for arthouse flicks, past classics, and immersive cinematic experiences.
Thanks to Titanic: A Voyage Through Time, history fans can step back to 1912 (while film fans can revisit 1997) to board the world’s most famous ship—minus the danger. The new virtual reality exploration lets guests walk the iconic Grand Staircase, enter dining rooms and private cabins, interface with historical figures, and witness the Titanic’s underwater wreckage. The VR adventure is 45 minutes (Thursdays through Sundays) at Germania Place in Old Town.
Chicago is among the select cities to screen Guido Chiesa’s award-winning drama For the Love of a Woman (2026) featuring Mili Avital, Ana Ularu, and Ori Pfeffer. Based on the acclaimed novel The Loves of Judith (1999) by Meir Shalev (translated by Barbara Harshav), the Italian film opens on July 10 at Wayfarer Theater. Next, the cinema will show Rachel Israel’s summer camp comedy The Floaters (2026) on August 7. That date also marks the opening of Alysa Nahmias’s joyous Girl Scout documentary Cookie Queens (2026) in AMC Theaters.
Scalpel Summer 2026 returns to the International Museum of Surgical Science’s Hall of Immortals for a July 23 screening of Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971). The Hammer Horror cult classic stars Ralph Bates (of the original Poldark series) and Bond girl Martine Beswick in the title roles. The evening includes a post-show Q&A with guest speaker Matt Kasin on Gothic pop culture and cinematic subversion.
Come July 31, Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Chase Sui Wonders, Johnny Knoxville, and Charli XCX can be seen in the boundary-breaking I Want Your Sex (2026) at Music Box Theatre. Written by Karley Sciortino and Gregg Araki, the Sundance Film Festival offering is equal parts rom-com, erotic satire and murder mystery.
No doubt, the film will be screened in the historic cinema’s new 98-seat third adjacent theater which opens on June 26. “The Music Box has always been more than a movie theater; it’s a cultural gathering place for Chicago,” says the venue’s owner Brody Sheldon. “With Theater 3, we’re creating new opportunities to support and showcase more work from Chicago filmmakers, expand access to independent cinema, and strengthen Chicago’s position as a leading center for arts and culture. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we’re honored to carry forward the legacy of this historic institution while investing in its next generation.”
Tonight, Music Box is screening Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Chicago-set classic, a post-film Q&A with First Assistant Director James R. Giovannetti Jr. is planned. The coming of age comedy by John Hughes features Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, and Charlie Sheen, as well as city landmarks such as the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
For those who want to further experience Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Hotel Zachary is offering A Day Off in Chicago. Inspired by the film, the package includes a private tour of the Art Institute; a pair of tickets to Skydeck Chicago for panoramic views of the city; two Chicago Cubs club box home plate tickets at Wrigley Field (section 22, row 14); two complimentary signature cocktails at Alma; and an overnight stay in a luxury suite overlooking the iconic ballpark.
Free Toyota Movie Nights at Gallagher Way take place across from Hotel Zachary. The summer lineup of outdoor screenings includes 1996’s Matilda (July 8); 2018’s Black Panther (July 29); 2006’s High School Musical (Aug. 12); 1996’s Happy Gilmore (Aug. 26); 2004’s National Treasure (Sep. 9); and 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (Sep. 30). Gates open at 6pm for the 7pm screenings on Wednesday nights.
Also free to the public is Porchlight Music Theatre’s popular songbook series Broadway in your Backyard (July 6-Sep. 19). Sponsored by Chicago Free For All Fund, this season features selections from the movie musicals Mary Poppins (1964), Hello, Dolly! (1969), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), The Wiz (1978), and Toy Story (1995).
The free outdoor concert series Rockin’ in the Park winds down with Rhythm of the Rocketman (Sep. 3) at Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park. The tribute show recreates some of Elton John’s biggest hits, including “Rocket Man” (1972) featured in the biopic RocketMan (2019), “Tiny Dancer” (1971) made famous in Almost Famous (2000) and “Your Song” (1970) sung in Moulin Rouge! (2001).
In 2004, Paramount Pictures released the Tina Fey film Mean Girls, not knowing it would one day become a musical play of the same name. Appropriately, the Chicago-area premiere (Aug. 26-Oct. 11) of this production opens at Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
In Glen Ellyn, the College of DuPage Theater Department presents the student production of Footloose (July 10-19) at the McAninch Arts Center. Based on the 1984 film of the same name, this live musical features the ’84 chart-toppers “Holding Out for a Hero, “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” “Almost Paradise” and “Footloose” of course.