2026 Indonesian horror film Sleep No More (Monster Pabrik Rambut) in Pittsburgh, September 18, part of SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival.

The 2026 Indonesian horror film Sleep No More (Monster Pabrik Rambut) will play in Pittsburgh on September 18, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival. A synopsis, by SCREENSHOT:

CONTENT WARNING: Violence, Extreme Gore

Following the horrific death of their mother while on the job at a wig factory in Jakarta, sisters Putri (Rachel Amanda) and Ida (Lutesha) decide to visit the premises to investigate. Upon arriving at the gloomy, prison-like building, they meet the mysterious and intimidating Mrs. Maryati (Didik Nini Thowok), the owner of the Evergreen factory, who tells them they will have to work there to pay off the colossal debt their late mother had incurred to fund Ida’s education. There are great bonuses, but the workers live in an exhausted, zombie-like state. When more workplace accidents (and eventual deaths) occur, the sisters begin to investigate. This visceral, grotesque body horror underscores the relationship between violence and labor, and the ability of capitalism to both steal everything from the human body, even using magic as a labor-saving resource in the pursuit of global profit.

It plays from 8:00 pm at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff can use promo code ASIA2026 to get free tickets, but must show valid university ID at the door.

2025 Taiwanese film Before the Bright Day (南方時光) in Pittsburgh, September 18, for SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival.

The 2025 Taiwanese film Before the Bright Day (南方時光) will play in Pittsburgh on September 18, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival running from September 16 through 23. A synopsis, by SCREENSHOT:

Before the Bright Day, the poignant directorial debut of emerging Taiwanese filmmaker Shih-Han Tsao, captures a young man’s turbulent coming-of-age against the backdrop of the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis. Chou (Hsuan-Li Chen), labeled a “B-class loser” by his teacher, yearns for more than his uneventful adolescence—especially with Min, the girl he likes, placed in the elite A-class. Disillusioned by his bleak home life and drawn to rebellion, Chou idolizes a small-time gang leader named Button. But as political tensions rise and his family’s financial stability crumbles, Chou’s world begins to fall apart. Button leaves for the military, his high school crush’s family may emigrate from the threat of impending war, and Chou is caught smoking, which is cause for expulsion. Drifting without direction, he must navigate a society on edge, where youthful dreams and harsh realities collide. With raw emotion and historical resonance, Before the Bright Day explores identity, class, and disillusionment during a pivotal moment in Taiwan’s modern history.

It plays at 1:30 pm at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map), and tickets are available online. Tickets are free for CMU students and for University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff.

2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 24.

The 2026 Korean movie Hope (호프), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 9, will remain here through (at least) September 24.

A police chief, a policewoman and a group of hunters try to track down and kill a mysterious creature that's laying waste to a Korean village.

It plays locally at many area theaters, including: Squirrel Hill Manor, AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for film's 30th anniversary, in Pittsburgh area from September 17.

A 4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for the film's 30th anniversary will play in Pittsburgh from September 17. A synopsis, from the Anime News Network:

In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as "The Puppetmaster" begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster. The pursuit will call into question what makes a human and what is the Puppetmaster in a world where the distinction between human and machine is increasingly blurry.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and---on the 20th and 23rd only, for now---at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Concert film BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Buenos Aires: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh, October 24 and 25.

The upcoming concert film BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Buenos Aires: Live Viewing will play in Pittsburgh on October 24 and 25.

The first-ever BTS Live Viewing broadcast from South America. Experience the BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' in cinemas worldwide, broadcasting from Buenos Aires, Argentina! Marking the first time the band has ever performed in Argentina, this monumental concert will bring the explosive energy of the packed stadium straight to the big screen.

It plays locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2001 Japanese film Ichi the Killer (殺し屋1) at Parkway Theater, September 18.

The 2001 Japanese film Ichi the Killer (殺し屋1) will play at the Parkway Theater on September 18, the third installment in a run of three Asian Movie Madness films.

Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer (2001) is typically considered one of the most disturbing films ever made because it pushes violence and psychology to grotesque extremes. It’s even banned in Norway, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, outright.

As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of.

Tickets are $10 at the door. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map). 

New 4K restoration of 1964 Japanese horror film anthology Kwaidan (怪談) in Pittsburgh, from October 8.

The 1964 Japanese horror film anthology Kwaidan (怪談) will play in Pittsburgh from October 8 through 13, part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's International Art House series.

New 4K Restoration! Original Japanese Cut! 

Spirits in the drinking water, stolen ears, crabs with human faces: such are the endless wonders of Kwaidan. A haunting masterpiece of world cinema, Kwaidan remains one of the most visually astonishing horror films ever made. Directed by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi (Harakiri) and based on the collected folklore Lafcadio Hearn, this anthology film presents four supernatural tales: a doomed samurai haunted by his past, a snow spirit's deadly bargain, a blind musician performing for the dead, and a mysterious encounter with a man who cannot stop smiling. 

Produced during the golden age of Japanese cinema, Kwaidan was an ambitious and extraordinarily expensive undertaking, with Kobayashi constructing elaborate expressionistic sets that transform traditional ghost stories into breathtaking cinematic nightmares. Eschewing realism in favor of stylized color palettes, theatrical staging, and an eerie, avant-garde soundscape by composer Toru Takemitsu (Akira Kurosawa’s Ran), the film created a visual language that continues to influence filmmakers more than sixty years later. This new restoration of Kwaidan reflects the full, original three-hour cut of the film as originally released in Japan. 

It plays at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. 

Concert film SB19 Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale In Cinemas, with Filipino boy band SB19, in Pittsburgh October 8 and 11.

The upcoming concert film SB19 Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale In Cinemas, following Filipino boy band SB19, will play in Pittsburgh on October 8 and 11.

From the Philippines to the world, SB19’s historic Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale comes to cinemas worldwide. Captured before a record breaking crowd of nearly 100,000 fans, the film showcases the group’s biggest hits, spectacular production, and world class performances that have made SB19 one of Asia’s most influential acts. Presented in SCREENX and 4DX, audiences can experience the scale, sound, and energy of the concert like never before. Experience the power of GENTO, What?, and DAM as the Philippines’ biggest pop phenomenon takes over the big screen in an unforgettable celebration of music, fandom, and legacy. More than a concert film, it is the story of a movement– one built by five artists, millions of fans, and a dream that helped redefine Filipino music for a new generation.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2026 American film Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, starring Rinko Kikuchi, in Pittsburgh from September 25.

The 2026 American film Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, starring Rinko Kikuchi among other Japanese and international actors, will play in Pittsburgh from September 25.

Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. She must face what comes next as sparks fly.

It plays locally, so far, at the Manor Theatre in Squirrel Hill, and tickets are available online.

1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 16.

The 1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 3 in both standard format and a 4K re-release, will continue here in standard format through (at least) September 16.

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) in Pittsburgh, from September 9.

The 2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) will play in Pittsburgh from September 9.

A police chief, a policewoman and a group of hunters try to track down and kill a mysterious creature that's laying waste to a Korean village.

It plays locally at many area theaters, including: Squirrel Hill Manor, AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

2026 Korean film Colony (군체) in McKees Rocks, September 12.

The 2026 Korean film Colony (군체) will once again play in the Pittsburgh area on September 12, as the second installment of the Parkway Theater's Asian Movie Madness series this month.

Biotechnology professor Kwon Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) attends a conference at the Doongwoori Building, which spirals into chaos when a rapidly mutating virus is unleashed. Unlike traditional slow zombies, the infected individuals move with insect-like coordination, functioning similarly to a giant hive mind.

Tickets are $10 at the door. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

4K restoration of 1993 Japanese animated film Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) in Pittsburgh, October 4 and 7.

A new 4K restoration of 1993 Japanese animated film Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) will play at the Row House Hollywood on October 4 and 7.

Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels the land alone, lending his services to those with gold—or a worthy cause. His fearsome abilities have served him well, but a plot to overthrow the government threatens to end his wandering ways—and possibly his life.

There are five shows in total and tickets are available online. The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

Documentary Always Lalisa in Pittsburgh area, October 14 and 17.

An upcoming documentary Always Lalisa, following Blackpink's Lisa, will play in the Pittsburgh area on October 14 and 17.

Always Lalisa is a feature-length documentary following global superstar LISA during a transformative year away from Blackpink, the K-pop phenomenon that made her one of the world's most recognizable performers. As the group pauses activities, LISA embarks on the first true chapter of her solo career, confronting the question of who she is beyond Blackpink. The film follows LISA as she writes, records, and releases her debut solo album, Alter Ego, makes her acting debut in the third season of The White Lotus, and prepares for her first major solo performance at the 2025 Coachella Music Festival. Born and raised in Thailand, LISA left home at fourteen to train in South Korea's demanding K-pop system, ultimately rising to global superstardom. But forging her own path, particularly in the Western music market, brings new pressures, relentless scrutiny, and the challenge of redefining herself on her own terms. Intimate, emotional, and revealing, Always Lalisa captures an artist at a crossroads, documenting a year of risk, reinvention, and self-discovery as LISA begins to define not only her next chapter, but the woman and artist she wants to become.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

2025 Japanese animated film cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood (cocoon 〜ある夏の少女たちより〜) in Pittsburgh, from September 3.

The 2025 Japanese animated film cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood (cocoon 〜ある夏の少女たちより〜) will play in Pittsburgh from September 3. A synopsis from the distributor GKIDS:

San and Mayu attend an all-girls school on a warm and tranquil island. When war reaches their shores, they are ordered to help nurse the wounded in a military hospital hidden away in a cave. Amidst escalating death and brutality, the friends struggle to find solace in their fragile lives.

Based on the manga by Machiko Kyo, cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood is the debut feature from Yukimitsu Ina and animation studio SASAYURI, founded by former Studio Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno. The project brings together legendary veteran animators like Akihiko Yamashita and Shinji Otsuka, known for their work on PRINCESS MONONOKE and THE BOY AND THE HERON, with a new, young generation of animating talent. Featuring a stirring score from kensuke ushio (A Silent Voice, Chainsaw Man), the film is a devastating yet beautiful plea for peace.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront (tickets here) and the Row House Hollywood from the 4th, (tickets here). The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) in Pittsburgh, in standard format and a 4K re-release, from September 3.

The 1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) will play in Pittsburgh, in both standard format and a 4K re-release, from September 3.

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

The 4K re-release screens at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, while the standard format plays at the AMC Loews Waterfront. Tickets are available online.

New Chinese computer-animated film All Wishes Come True (八仙) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 9.

The Chinese computer-animated film All Wishes Come True (八仙), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 28, will remain in the area through (at least) September 9.

On a wondrous island where mortals and Immortals dwell as one, a legendary vault holds a fortune beyond dreaming. Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan have a plan. To crack that vault, these two mortals will pull off the impossible: pose as Immortals themselves. They gather six more misfits along the way: He Xiangu, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, and Zhang Guolao. Eight ordinary souls, one extraordinary heist, and death waiting for anyone caught trying to outsmart the heavens. But something far worse is already closing in: a shadow conspiracy that could undo the balance of all things. And our eight bumbling schemers stand right in its path. Inspired by the beloved Chinese legend of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, All Wishes Come True! opens in theaters this summer.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) at Parkway Theater, September 5.

Tickets are now available for the 2016 Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) at the Parkway Theater on September 5, part of an Asian Movie Madness series this month.

Train to Busan – terrifying 10th anniversary, in a newly remastered and revived version

A workaholic father and his young daughter board a high-speed bullet train from Seoul to Busan. A catastrophic viral outbreak sweeps across South Korea during their journey. Trapped in narrow train compartments, a small group of passengers must fight off hordes of infected individuals to stay alive.

The theater is offering movie tickets for $10, sold at the door only, or movie + dinner (chicken on a stick with rice and a spring roll) for $20. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

1926 Japanese silent film A Page of Madness (狂った一頁) returns to Pittsburgh, with metal and electronic score, September 2.

The Silent Light presents the 1926 Japanese silent film A Page of Madness (狂った一頁), with accompaniment by live metal and electronic score, on September 2 at Row House Hollywood.

Experience Kinugasa’s lost 1926 silent horror masterpiece A Page of Madness like never before, reimagined with a blistering live metal and electronic score by The Silent Light. This cinematic ritual of chaos and sound will be performed one night only live at Row House-Hollywood  on September 2, 2026.

4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for film's 30th anniversary, in Pittsburgh from September 17.

A 4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for the film's 30th anniversary will play in Pittsburgh from September 17. A synopsis, from the Anime News Network:

In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as "The Puppetmaster" begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster. The pursuit will call into question what makes a human and what is the Puppetmaster in a world where the distinction between human and machine is increasingly blurry.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and---on the 20th and 23rd only, for now---at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.