The inaugural edition of Beyond Fest Chicago is nearly here, and the folks behind the festival have finally revealed the killer lineup coming to the Music Box Theatre. Presented in partnership with streamer MUBI, the first-ever Midwest edition of the genre festival will “further drive Beyond Fest’s commitment to the theatrical experience and its perennial championing of outsider visions, cult icons, and bold, new cinema voices.”
Opening night of the festival features the Midwest premiere of Curry Barker’s highly anticipated film Obsession, while a world premiere 35mm print of the Faces of Death remake will round out the festival for its closing night. The Music Box will also be home to a centerpiece screening of Ben Wheatley’s new film, Normal, on 35mm, with star Bob Odenkirk in attendance to present both it and a companion film, 1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Japanese film icon Meiko Kaji will also be returning to Beyond Fest after her first-ever US appearance at last year’s flagship LA festival. She’ll be in attendance for three screenings of some of her rarest and most magical films: Lady Snowblood, Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 on 35mm, and a brand new 2K restoration of Silver Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler.
But that’s not all. The festival will also be host to a screening of the documentary Boorman and the Devil, followed by a special showing of the very film the doc covers: Exorcist II: The Heretic. Other repertory classics joining the lineup include The Kid With the Golden Arm, Blood Brothers, a late night screening of Flesh for Frankenstein in honor of the late Udo Kier, and the world premiere of the 4K restoration of Speed Racer. They join a vast main screen program that also features Rose of Nevada, starring George MacKay and Callum Turner, The Furious, and Jorma Taccone’s Over Your Dead Body.
If that isn’t enough for you — or if you’re short on cash — then Beyond Fest Chicago has a massive surprise in store for you. They’re also hosting a second screen program of free-to-watch films, supplementing the main course courtesy of MUBI. Once audiences reserve tickets (beginning on April 1 for Music Box members and April 2 for the general public), they’ll be able to see films like The Yeti, Imposters, Roqia, Cruel Hands, Camp, Ikatan Darah, and more.
Beyond Fest Chicago runs from April 2 to April 5, 2026. Tickets for screenings go on sale to members on March 5 and to the general public on March 6. For more information and to check out the full lineup, you can check out Beyond Fest’s website.
