Film Series

Community Partnership

Screenings in partnership with local organizations and businesses.

Des Moines Latino Film Festival

Join us April 15-18 at Varsity Cinema for a celebration of Latino culture, connection, and community in Des Moines!

Filmmaker in Person

Q&As and discussions with filmmakers presented in partnership with the Iowa Arts Council.

Midnights @ 10

Late-night classics, horror and genre flicks. Thursday nights at 10pm.

Movie Bash

Classic, Nostalgic, Quotable, Memeable Movies. Audience interaction, such as call and response, loud laughter, quoting iconic lines, etc., throughout the film is encouraged!

National Theatre Live

The best of British Theater exclusively at the Varsity Cinema, presented in collaboration with Des Moines Playhouse.

OLLI at Drake

Classic films followed by a discussion led by an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Drake instructor.

One Night Only

Experience the greatest musicians of all-time in concert films, music documentaries and more. On screen at The Varsity for ONE NIGHT ONLY.

Restoration Celebration

Restored, Rediscovered, Rereleased: Classic films and hidden gems that are back on the big screen at The Varsity.

Roosevelt Fundraiser

Ten percent of box office sales April 4-6 will be donated to the Roosevelt Senior Party Fundraiser.

Science on Screen

A series of great films paired with presentations from scientists and scientific thinkers.

Sensory Friendly

These screenings feature softer sound, dimmed lighting, and a relaxed environment where talking, moving, and self-soothing are welcome!

Varsity Pride

Proudly programming LGBTQ+ stories 12 months a year with the help of our Varsity Pride Advisory Board. Presented in partnership with Krause Group.