ATLANTA—As the Rialto Center for the Arts celebrates its milestone 30th Season at Georgia State University, the historic Downtown Atlanta venue is returning to one of its earliest traditions: the movies.
This fall, the new Rialto Film Series brings classics and longtime favorites back to the big screen, offering the Georgia State campus and the greater Atlanta community an affordable new way to experience the Rialto.
The series is a fitting addition to the 30th anniversary celebration. Long before the Rialto became the performing arts center audiences know today, the venue began its life as a movie house. The theater opened in 1916 and has remained part of Downtown Atlanta’s cultural landscape for more than a century.
In 2023, the Rialto took a major step toward reconnecting with that history by installing a new 4K digital cinema projector and a 35-foot-wide screen. The upgrades expanded the venue’s ability to present film screenings, premieres, and other cinematic experiences alongside its established live performance programming. The venue has since hosted film premieres, Atlanta Film Festival events and Georgia State student film programming.
Now, the Rialto Film Series makes movies a regular part of the audience experience.
The Fall 2026 lineup includes:
- "Young Frankenstein" showing in 4K - Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m.
- "Friday Night Lights" - Thursday, Nov. 19 | 7:30 p.m.
- "Elf" - Tuesday, Dec. 8 | 7 p.m.
The fall lineup is only the beginning, with additional films planned as the Rialto continues its 30th Season.
Film Series tickets are $7, making it easy to plan an affordable night at the movies in Downtown Atlanta. Free validated parking is also available for Film Series events at the 100 Peachtree Parking Garage, 123 Fairlie St. NW. Guests should bring their parking ticket to the Rialto lobby for validation.
For tickets and Film Series information, visit Rialto.GSU.edu.