Desperate Living
Body
Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) and Grizelda Brown (Jean Hill) escape arrest by running away to Mortville, a fantastical, trash-filled slum ruled by the fascist Queen Carlotta (Edith Massey), where they receive alarming makeovers.
Van Smith, a Dreamland regular, designed the makeup and costumes, amalgamating the film’s garish outfits with drastically clashing textures and colors for a full-on assault on the eyes—and taste—of the audience. The third in John Waters’s so-called "trash trinity" that started with Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974), Desperate Living’s fantastical sets were designed by his frequent collaborator Vincent Peranio with literal trash from Baltimore streets for a truly tasteless look. - Academy Museum
This Week
Co-presented by the Goethe-Institut Boston.
Showtimes
From Academy Award winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley, and Paul Mescal.
Showtimes
“I wrote and directed it as one movie — and I’m so glad to give the fans the chance to see it as one movie." - Quentin Tarantino
Showtimes
The new movie from master filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho starring, Wagner Moura in a career-defining performance.
Showtimes
A film by Hikari, starring Brendan Fraser.
Showtimes
The new film from Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning.
Showtimes
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for his most dangerous case yet in the third and darkest chapter of Rian Johnson’s murder mystery opus.
Showtimes
A new film class taught by historian and educator Judi Freeman.
Showtimes
This Christmas, the snow hits the fan.
Showtimes
John McTiernan's Christmas classic, starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman.
Showtimes
The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge as told by everyone's favorite band of Muppets!
Showtimes
Post-film Q&A with director Oren Rudavsky, moderated by Dr. Ingrid Anderson, Associate Director at the Elie Wiesel Center.
Showtimes
© 2025 the Coolidge Theatre Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural and charitable organization.
