BY JACK CAMERON for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 6/26/2026
Those of you who wanted to spend part of your Father’s Day at the Grand Cinema this past Sunday were disappointed to learn that the owners of the Grand chose to close for the day out of an abundance of caution after receiving violent threats.
Despite rampant online speculation, the Grand’s executive director, Elizabeth Calhoun, said Monday, “To our knowledge, the threat was not, in any way, associated with our programming.”
The Tacoma Police Department fully searched the building on June 21 and found nothing concerning. Its investigation is ongoing. Management at the Grand has decided not to allow bags this week as part of its heightened security in the wake of the threat.
I can’t imagine that the Grand’s programming had anything to do with it, because it’s not like you’re required to go to a movie you don’t want to see.
And really, the Grand Tacoma Cinema has something for absolutely everyone.
If you’re looking for a big summer blockbuster, look no further than Steven Spielberg’s latest science-fiction epic, Disclosure Day. Spielberg has called this his follow-up to Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
If you’re looking for a summer scare, Obsession, a movie about a guy who wishes a woman would love him more than anything and gets his wish, has been scaring audiences for weeks now.
Then there is Leviticus. Leviticus is a horror movie about two young men trying to defeat an entity that takes the shape of what they desire most: each other. Writer-director Adrian Chiarella used extensive research on so-called gay conversion therapy techniques used around the world as inspiration for the central horror concept of the film. The first day of rehearsal became an impromptu road trip with Adrian and the two leads as they scouted locations and got to know each other.
Blue Heron follows a family of six as they adjust to their new life on Vancouver Island and deal with evolving family dynamics. Told largely through the perspective of the youngest child, this movie will tug at your heartstrings.
Or maybe you just want to watch big explosions. I’m old enough to remember seeing Terminator 2: Judgment Day on opening night in the theater. Much like Spielberg, James Cameron knows how to make a big-budget popcorn movie that looks great on the big screen. In celebration of its thirty-fifth anniversary, the Grand has a screening of Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m.
June isn’t over without this month’s entry in the Grand’s “You Haven’t Seen …?!” series, which showcases weird, cult or just plain bad movies with live commentary by local comedians. This month’s film is the 1994 not-quite-classic 3 Ninjas Kick Back.
According to multiple defectors from North Korea, 3 Ninjas Kick Back is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s favorite movie. There’s been no word on whether he might sneak into Tacoma for the showing on Monday, June 29, at 7 p.m., and the only way you’ll know is if you show up yourself.
And if you’d prefer your scares more reality-focused, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money is actor-turned-author and director Ben McKenzie’s deep dive into the world of cryptocurrency. There are two opportunities to see this documentary on Tuesday, June 30, at 1:45 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Pride at the Grand continues on Wednesdays with Rafiki. “Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but Kena and Ziki long for something more. Initially banned in Kenya for its portrayal of a homosexual relationship in a country where homosexuality is a crime, Rafiki was part of a landmark case that chipped away at the anti-LGBT laws of that country.
Across town in the Proctor District at the Blue Mouse, there’s a chance to see a film about the sport of flatland skimboarding. For Skimboarding is a 42-minute documentary showcasing an ambitious collection of new, innovative tricks and techniques. This film, created by Isaac Thomas, premieres Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.
To the surprise of no one, Toy Story 5 remains at the Blue Mouse for another week, with showings June 26 to 28 at 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a final chance to catch the popular Pixar sequel on Monday, June 29, at 7 p.m.
And it’s time to do the time warp again. The Blue Mouse’s monthly showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is this Saturday, June 27, at 11:30 p.m. Audience participation is highly encouraged.
Theaters such as the Blue Mouse and the Grand survive by their weekends. This past weekend, individuals caused one theater to shut down for a day. If you haven’t been to the movies in a while, this is a week they’d love to have you.
