Beyond Fest Expands to Chicago with 30 Films at the Music Box Theatre This April
- Horror Movies Uncut
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
Beyond Fest Expands to the Windy City with Four-Day Genre Explosion at Music Box Theatre
Just yesterday I found myself talking with a few people about festival season and the upcoming madness of SXSW, when a question randomly popped into my head: whatever happened to Beyond Fest’s Chicago expansion?
The idea had been floating around for months — whispers that the legendary Los Angeles genre festival might be planting a flag in the Midwest. Then, almost on cue, the press release dropped.
Beyond Fest is officially heading to Chicago.
Presented by MUBI, Beyond Chicago will run April 2–5 at the iconic Music Box Theatre, bringing 30 films across four days of international genre cinema, repertory screenings, cult discoveries, and special guest appearances.
If you know Beyond Fest’s reputation in Los Angeles, you already understand the assignment: packed houses, rare prints, and filmmakers showing up in person to celebrate the weird, the wild, and the unforgettable corners of genre filmmaking.
Chicago is about to get that same energy.
Opening and Closing the Fest with Horror and Shock
The festival kicks off with Curry Barker’s horror breakout Obsession, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in bold genre storytelling.
Closing night belongs to Daniel Goldhaber’s reinvention of the infamous shock documentary Faces of Death — screening on 35mm in its world premiere presentation.
That’s a statement piece if there ever was one.
Beyond Fest has always been about the theatrical experience, and the Chicago edition is leaning heavily into that ethos with multiple 35mm presentations and restorations.
Bob Odenkirk, RZA, and Genre Icons Join the Lineup
Beyond Chicago is bringing serious star power to the Music Box stage.
Bob Odenkirk will appear for the Centerpiece Screening of Ben Wheatley’s action spectacle Normal — presented on 35mm — and will also host a screening of Joseph Sargent’s classic crime thriller The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Meanwhile, hip-hop legend RZA brings his contemporary exploitation film One Spoon of Chocolate to the festival and will introduce a special 35mm screening of the Shaw Brothers martial arts classic The Kid with the Golden Arm.
It’s the kind of programming blend Beyond Fest is known for — modern genre premieres paired with historic cinema reverence.
Cult Cinema, Martial Arts Chaos, and Genre Fireworks
Beyond Chicago’s lineup is stacked with international genre titles and festival favorites.
Among the highlights:
Jorma Taccone’s violent dark comedy Over Your Dead Body
Kenji Tanigaki’s action spectacle The Furious
Mark Jenkin’s haunting thriller Rose of Nevada
The world premiere 4K restoration of Speed Racer with Lilly Wachowski in attendance
A rare late-night screening of John Boorman’s Exorcist II: The Heretic
Japanese cinema legend Meiko Kaji will also appear for a trio of screenings celebrating her iconic career, including Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41, Lady Snowblood, and Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler.
And if that’s not enough chaos for one weekend, the festival also hosts the documentary Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt, with band members Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in attendance.
A Free Program of Global Genre Discoveries
One of the most exciting aspects of Beyond Chicago is a 15-film discovery program, completely free thanks to MUBI.
This slate highlights emerging filmmakers and international genre voices, including:
Ikatan Darah – the explosive Indonesian action film produced by Iko Uwais
The Yeti – a brand-new American creature feature
Roqia – a chilling Algerian horror film
Imposters – the SXSW sci-fi mind-bender
Phase – a haunting indie science-fiction drama
Flush, Camp, and Cruel Hands
Two dedicated short-film blocks will also spotlight both Chicago filmmakers and international newcomers.
Beyond Fest Lands in the Midwest
For years, Beyond Fest has been one of the most electric genre events in the world. Its Los Angeles edition regularly sells out massive theaters and attracts filmmakers, actors, and die-hard fans alike.
Bringing that energy to Chicago — especially inside the historic Music Box Theatre — feels like a natural expansion.
And judging by this lineup, Beyond Chicago isn’t easing into the Midwest.
It’s kicking the door down.
Tickets go on sale March 5 for Music Box members and March 6 for the general public, with free screening tickets available starting April 1 for members and April 2 for everyone else.
For the full lineup and schedule, visit beyondfest.com or musicboxtheatre.com.
Chicago horror fans — consider this your warning.
Festival season just got a lot louder.