BY JACK CAMERON for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 11/6/2026
Dr. Seuss’s “Cat in the Hat” invades the Blue Mouse Theatre, this time in computer animation. And it’s time for the Free Family Movie. Over at the Grand, they have winners of Sundance and Cannes and the Weird Elephant brings the Stephen King classic “Maximum Overdrive” on Friday. Let’s dive into what this week has to offer at Tacoma’s independent movie theaters.
The Blue Mouse Theatre – 2611 North Proctor
“Cat in the Hat” – Nov. 6-8 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm. Nov. 9 at 7:00pm.
Everybody loves Dr. Seuss. So it’s no surprise that they keep trying to do a “Cat in the Hat” movie. Perhaps this time they’ve done it. The Cat in the Hat was always too chaotic for even Jim Carrey to do in live action. So perhaps animation is the way to go. This time the Cat is voiced by Bill Hader.
“Lego Batman” – FREE FAMILY MOVIE – Nov. 7 at 11:00am.
November’s Free Family Movie sponsored by Ice Cream Social is “Lego Batman.” What can I say? It’s Lego. It’s Batman. Do you need to know that Will Arnett does the voice of Batman? Probably not. All you need to know is it’s a wild and wacky time with Lego Batman and it’s free.
The Grand Tacoma Cinema – 606 Fawcett Avenue
“La Bola Negra” – Nov. 6 & 7 at 12:30pm, 4:00pm, 7:30pm. Nov. 8 at 12:30pm, 4:15pm, 7:30pm. Nov. 9 & 10 at 1:30pm, 4:00pm, 7:00pm. Nov. 11 at 12:30pm, 4:00pm, 7:30pm. Nov. 12 at 1:30pm, 4:00pm.
Cannes-winning co-directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis, bring you an epic story told in three generations of men around pivotal times in Spanish history. This Spanish film is Spain’s entry for Best International Feature for the Academy Awards. Check it out while you can.
“The Scout” – Nov. 10 at 1:45pm, 7:00pm.
Paula Andrea Gonzalez-Nasser used to be a location scout. She’d find places for productions to film. So it makes sense that her debut film as a writer/director is about being a location scout. Sofia is a location scout in New York City who spends her day inviting herself into the private areas of people’s lives in the search of locations that fit the demands of her bosses. As she does this, she finds a certain poetry and beauty in the humanity she encounters.
“Soul Patrol” – Nov. 11 at 7:00pm
This documentary reveals the untold story of the Vietnam War’s first Black special ops team. With new interviews with survivors and never-before-seen footage, Soul Patrol begins on the war’s 50th anniversary. The contradiction of serving their country in the midst of the Civil Rights movement and obvious racial inequality haunts these men. It won the Director Award for U.S. Documentary this year at Sundance.
“Maximum Overdrive” – WEIRD ELEPHANT – Nov. 6 at 10:00pm.
There are a lot of Stephen King movies out there, but there’s only one the man himself directed. Back for its 40th anniversary, the movie where vehicles come to life and try to kill everyone is screening Friday for Weird Elephant. You don’t get much weirder than this.
“Wicker” – Nov. 6 at 11:15am, 3:40pm, 7:30pm, 9:50pm. Nov. 7 at 5:00pm, 7:20pm, 9:45pm. Nov. 8 at 1:15pm, 3:30pm, 5:45pm, 8:00pm. Nov. 9 at 1:40pm, 4:35pm, 7:20pm. Nov. 10 at 4:40pm, 7:45pm. Nov. 11 at 1:15pm, 3:30pm, 5:45pm, 8:00pm. Nov. 12 at 1:35pm, 4:40pm.
A comedic fable about a woman played by Olivia Colman who commissions the local basketmaker (played by Peter Dinklage) to build her a husband made of wicker, played by Alexander Skarsgård. This promises to be a romantic and odd movie. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” – Nov. 6 at 1:35pm. Nov. 7 at 2:20pm. Nov. 8 at 11:15am. Nov. 9 & 10 2:00pm. Nov. 11 at 11:15am. Nov. 12 at 1:25pm.
If I told you only the title of this movie and that many critics are saying that both John Turturro and Steve Buscemi may finally get those Oscars they deserve with this movie, that alone should be enough to get you in the theater. In fact, I can’t think of anything better to say. Go see it while you can. It looks like this is the last week for this one.
“Wildwood” – Nov. 6 at 11:25am, 2:10pm, 4:50pm. Nov. 7 at 11:25am, 4:25pm. Nov. 8 at 11:40am, 2:30pm, 5:20pm. Nov. 9 at 4:45pm, 7:40pm. Nov. 10 at 1:15pm, 4:20pm. Nov. 11 at 11:15am, 1:50pm, 4:25pm. Nov. 12 at 1:15pm, 4:00pm.
From the people who brought you “Kubo and the Two Strings” comes a love letter to Portland, Oregon. If you’re a fan of stopmotion animation, you owe it to yourself to see this movie on the big screen. When a teenager’s baby brother is kidnapped by crows and taken to the mysterious Wildwood forest, she’ll brave everything to get her baby brother back.
“You Can See Everything” – Nov. 6 at 11:35am, 3:20pm, 7:00pm. Nov. 7 at 11:15am, 2:45pm, 6:20pm. Nov. 8 at 11:30am, 3:15pm, 7:00pm. Nov. 9 at 1:15pm, 4:10pm, 7:30pm. Nov. 10 at 4:10pm, 7:20pm. Nov. 11 at 11:40am, 3:15pm, 6:50pm. Nov. 12 at 3:25pm.
Imagine a simple blood test that would flag any ailments you might have. That was the basic idea behind the company Theranos. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder, drummed up millions in venture capital, but the secret of Theranos was that it never even came close to working. Comedian Nathan Fielder works with documentarian Lance Oppenheim in uncovering just who Elizabeth Holmes is and what she’s about. The trailer for this documentary was so creepy that people are already making memes of it. Tickets are selling fast for this one.
For more information on upcoming movies visit grandcinema.com and bluemousetheatre.com.
Look, I know I said last week “Wild Horse Nine” was coming out. I lied. I’m just so excited about it. It’s actually coming out next week. Honest.
No. Really.
