Hello Everyone!

Thanks to everyone who came out this past weekend - it was one of the best weekends of the year so far due in large part to cute & crazy kitties and a documentary about a beloved musician.  If you missed CAT VIDEO FEST 2025, we've added an encore for later in the month - Sat. Aug. 30 at Noon.  And if you still want to see IT'S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY, we've managed to fit in one show per day for one more week!

This Friday, we open 2 new films.  The first is a new movie from Spike Lee - HIGHEST 2 LOWEST - which is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film HIGH AND LOW (which was based on the 1959 novel KING'S RANSOM by Ed McBain).  The second film we're opening won the "NEXT Audience Award" at the Sundance Film Festival - EAST OF WALL.  

If you still need to see SKETCH or TOGETHER, you'll need to hurry.  Both films are only here until this Thursday (Aug. 14).

Tickets for HONEY, DON'T! (opening Aug. 21) and THE ROSES (opening Aug. 28) are both on sale now.  Tickets for DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (opening Sept. 11) go on sale next Tuesday, Aug. 19. (Click on any of those titles to learn more.)

"Open Caption Mondays" are a hit and much appreciated by many of our regulars.  On Monday, Aug. 18, our screenings of EAST OF WALL and HIGHEST 2 LOWEST will be presented with Open Captions (aka - captions presented on the screen). 

Synopsis for HIGHEST 2 LOWEST: "When a titan music mogul, widely known as having the 'best ears in the business,' is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma." (A24) THE NEON is exclusive on this new Spike Lee Joint - starring Denzel Washington & Jeffrey Wright!

Synopsis for EAST OF WALL:  "After the death of her husband, Tabatha—a young, tattooed, rebellious horse trainer—wrestles with financial insecurity and unresolved grief while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch in the Badlands." (Sony Classics)

NEON Nostalgia Night - 
ROMAN HOLIDAY

Hop on the back of the Vespa — we’re heading to ROMAN HOLIDAY! 🍕🍨🍊 Join us for a dreamy night of Italian romance, classic film, and indulgent treats at the next Nostalgia Night on August 14th!  Happy Hour starts at 6:00, and the movie starts at 7:30!
We'll have Illy’s Wood Fired Pizza, a full-on affogato bar (yes, espresso + gelato = heaven), and a perfectly bittersweet Aperol Spritz Happy Hour.

Tickets might be sold out for the screening, but that doesn't mean you can't join us on the patio for some fun!

Special thanks to our sponsor - Brian Sharp of SharpGroup Berkshire Hathaway Professional Home Realty.

THU, AUG 14 | 7:30

FRIDAY PATIO PARTY

THE NEON's Friday "Happy Hour" Patio Parties are wrapping up for the summer.  We've got one last special guest host along with music and a food truck lined up for Friday evening, August 15.  Mark your calendars and plan to join us for fun vibes, cocktails and great food!  Many thanks to our sponsor - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty - for their support in making these parties happen!

On August 15 from 5:30-7:30, join our host Rhine McLin!  DJ Mike7 will be spinning tunes, and De'Lish food truck will be parked out front!

THE LAST CLASS

YET ANOTHER ENCORE ADDED! American political economist, professor, author, and social media sensation Robert Reich teaches his final "Wealth and Poverty" class to 1,000 students at UC Berkeley, ending a 40-year career that reached 40,000 students. One thousand fill the biggest lecture hall on the UC Berkeley campus, the last class to receive Reich's wisdom and exhortations not to accept that the world has to stay the way it is. His belief in the next generation's ability to take on the fight is inspiring.
Our first screening was a huge success...so we added an encore.  That one sold out, too!  So we've added a second encore for August 23!
Tickets are $12.50 each.

SAT, AUG 16 | Noon -  SOLD OUT!
SAT, AUG 23 | Noon - TIX AVAILABLE!

MEET-UP AT THE MOVIES: 
THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE

This special cinematic event allows fans to come together and celebrate the enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead. This fan-favorite cult classic follows the legendary band on what at the time was believed to be their final performances, a five-night run at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom in October of 1974, the final night billed as “The Last One.” Featuring stellar live performances, mind-bending animation, interviews with band members and crew, the film has a rare focus on the band’s fans and their deep commitment to the Dead Head lifestyle. Be sure to stay till the end for the exclusive theatrical premier of “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider,” a bonus live performance from the October ‘74 Winterland shows not included in the official film release.
2 Special Screenings Only!  Tickets $15 each.

SUN, AUG 17 | 5:00
MON, AUG 25 | 7:30

CORNER STORE presents a  FREE Screening of  ALMOST FAMOUS!

Ian Mullen, a former employee at THE NEON, has written a screenplay inspired by his time of employment with us...and he's hosting a free screening of ALMOST FAMOUS (the classic Cameron Crowe film starring Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup and Frances McDormand) along with a pitch to tell us all about the upcoming project.

To read more about the project and reserve your FREE ticket for the evening, click the button below.

WED, AUG 20 | 7:30

PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE

"Victor & Mal's 'Cult Movie Night' returns for the month of August to celebrate the 40th anniversary and the life of our generation's most beloved TV character Pee-Wee Herman.  Originally released on August 11th 1985 and being the feature film debut of director Tim Burton, it was a match made in weirdo heaven... And being one of the most quotable, memorable films of our generation, there really is nothing like watching it with a group of Pee-Wee Fans.  So pull up on your bikes, and let's all have a Pee-Wee Party on August 21!  There will also be an extremely rare screening of the short film THE ORKLY KID starring E.G. Daily, who starred as Dottie PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE in a very early performance. THE ORKLEY KID is an incredibly unique short film from the BEAVER TRILOGY starring a young Crispin Glover in a performance you just have to see. Sponsored by Dayton's own Blood Scream Comics.  
Tickets are $13 each.

THU, AUG 21 | 7:30

CatVideoFest 2025

ENCORE ADDED! Due to the gigantic response we had to Aug. 9 & 10's CAT VIDEO FEST, the world's #1 cat video festival is coming back with an encore screening set for Aug. 30 at Noon. Oscilloscope Laboratories presents  CatVideoFest 2025, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. 
Each year, across the country, local theaters partner with nearby cat-focused charities, animal welfare associations and shelters alike — 10% of every ticket will go to The Human Society of Greater Dayton.

SAT, AUG 30 | 12:00 (Noon)

UNION

This one-time special screening of the award-winning documentary UNION is being presented by IUE-CWA Local 775 and 775 and the Dayton-Miami Valley Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
UNION is a documentary about the formation of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU). 
“Up against one of the most powerful companies on the planet, a group of Amazon workers embark on an unprecedented campaign to unionize their warehouse in Staten Island, New York.” 
Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Festival, UNION won the “U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change.” 
One time only - Tues, Sept 2 at 7:30 - followed by a Q&A panel!
Tickets are $10 each.

TUE, SEPT 2 | 7:30

SAVE THE DATE

On September 24, we will host a screening of WILLIS BING DAVIS - REACH HIGH & REACH BACK!  Sponsored by Twentig, Inc, this screening will be FREE and open to the public.  

"Few people have impacted the arts in Southwest Ohio quite like Willis 'Bing' Davis. An African American artist, educator and community activist from Dayton, Davis’ artwork is known for its incorporation of African and African American themes, as well as its focus on social justice issues. He works in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, clay and found object art...Today, in his mid-80s, Davis continues to create art, educate others and promote social justice causes in a variety of ways." (ThinkTV.org)

Join us for a special screening of REACH HIGH & REACH BACK along with Bing Davis and filmmakers Ann Rotolante and Rodney Veal. Tickets will be first-come, first-serve, with tickets available for in-person pick-up starting on Friday, Aug. 22 at Noon. (Limit 2 tickets per person. Tickets only available in-person at THE NEON during traditional operating hours.)

WED, SEPT. 24 | 7:30

ANIMATION MIXTAPE

Two-time Academy Award nominee and Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner Don Hertzfeldt partners with Ink Films to release ANIMATION MIXTAPE, an 85-minute short film program personally selected by Hertzfeldt.
An exclusive collection of animated shorts by talented artists from around the world, MIXTAPE features many recent films from up-and-coming animators next to classics that originally inspired Hertzfeldt to start animating.
Flying cows, mysterious gods and lyrical pandemonium: Don Hertzfeldt has made this just for you. Including a new animated introduction from Don and never before seen work from famed underground animator Bruce Bickford.

SAT, SEPT. 27 | Noon
SUN, SEPT. 28 | Noon

THE ROOM & BIG SHARK

Greg Sestero is coming back to THE NEON...and you're the first to know about it!

See the cult classic THE ROOM with an auditorium full of devotees - with your host, star of the movie and author of THE DISASTER ARTIST - Greg Sestero.  Tickets $22 each.

Later that night, see the recent, final cut of BIG SHARK - Tommy Wiseau's latest action comedy about three firefighters who have to save New Orleans from a giant shark attack - introduced by Sestero. Tickets $20 each.

Tickets will go on sale on our website this Friday!

THE ROOM:
WED, OCT. 8 | 7:30
BIG SHARK:
WED, OCT. 8 | 10:00

Thank you for all of your support,
Jonathan

WEDNESDAY, AUG 13 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 21:

TOGETHER (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 13 & 14): 5:10, 7:30
FINAL DAY - Aug. 14!

SKETCH (PG) 1 Hr 32 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 13 & 14): 3:00, 5:15
FINAL DAY - Aug. 14!

IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY (NR) 2 Hrs 12 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 13 & 14): 2:30
Friday & Saturday (Aug 15 & 16): 12:15
Sunday (Aug 17): 12:00
Monday & Tuesday (Aug 18 & 19): 4:40
Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 20 & 21): 2:30

NEON Nostalgia Night – ROMAN HOLIDAY (NR) 1 Hr 58 Min
Thursday (Aug 14): 7:30

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (R) 2 Hrs 13 Min
Friday (Aug 15): 1:15, 4:15, 7:15
Saturday (Aug 16): 1:45, 4:30, 7:15
Sunday (Aug 17): 1:15, 4:15, 7:15
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (Aug 18-20): 2:00, 4:45, 7:30
Thursday (Aug 21): 2:00, 4:45

EAST OF WALL (R) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday & Saturday (Aug 15 & 16): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Sunday (Aug 17): 2:50, 8:00
Monday & Tuesday (Aug 18 & 19): 2:30, 7:20
Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 20 & 21): 5:15

THE LAST CLASS (NR) 1 Hr 11 Min
Saturday (Aug 16): Noon

GRATEFUL DEAD (NR) 2 Hrs 32 Min
Sunday (Aug 17): 5:00

ALMOST FAMOUS & CORNER STORE Pitch (R) 2 Hrs 30 Min
Wednesday (Aug 20): 7:30

Cult Movie Night - PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE 2 Hrs
Thursday (Aug 21): 7:30

HONEY, DON’T! (R) 1 Hr 28 Min
Thursday (Aug 21): 7:45
More dates & times on our website.