The Shining Special IMAX Screening

The Bullock IMAX Theater is bringing Stanley Kubrick's The Shining to the biggest screen in Texas on Tuesday, August 25. It's part of the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series, which means this is one of those rare chances to see a movie you've probably seen a dozen times on a screen that actually does it justice. The original 1980 cut runs 146 minutes, and seeing it in IMAX gives those wide, empty hotel hallways and the Overlook's claustrophobic interiors a whole new kind of weight.

If you're not familiar with the story, it's Kubrick's horror adaptation of Stephen King's novel, and it's anchored by Jack Nicholson as the world's worst dad. He stars alongside Shelley Duvall, and the two of them carry the film as it descends into madness. It's a movie that works as much on the atmosphere as it does on the performances, and that's exactly why it suits a theater this size.

The venue itself is worth a mention. The Bullock IMAX Theater is housed in The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum at 1800 Congress Ave, and it's Austin's only IMAX theater. It's a 400-seat, state-of-the-art facility with a projector capable of both 2-D and 3-D projection, plus a movie-quality 35mm projector for special films. The theater has its own separate entrance, so it can open in the evenings and with extended weekend hours independently of the museum, and the lobby features a distinctive carpet pattern incorporating native Texas flora.

Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the film starts at 7:30 PM. Since it's a mid-week screening, you'll want to plan your evening around that start time. The Bullock IMAX Theater is at 1800 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701.