Sexy Beast
Thursday 24, Hyperreal Film Club
Over a decade before Scarlett Johansson’s alien was tramping about the countryside eating men in Under the Skin, director Jonathan Glazer was honing his sensibilities for a terrifying villain with Sexy Beast, a crime thriller starring Ben Kingsley as a Cockney-accented psychopathic gangster in an Oscar-nominated performance. Ex-safecracker Gal Dove (Ray Winstone) is pursued by Kingsley’s Don Logan, who shows up to his idyllic retirement to con him into one last big job. Attempting to safeguard said idyll with his beautiful wife, Dove helps Logan drill into a vault from the neighboring Turkish bath. A darkly comic caper on its own, this beast is elevated by Kingsley’s performance, which Roger Ebert noted upon its release in 2001 “has to be seen to be believed.” – Lina Fisher
The Toxic Avenger: The Musical
Through August 10, Austin Playhouse
Who (Billy Joel aside) are the greatest cultural exports from New Jersey? Well, that would be Bon Jovi and that mop-swinging hero known as the Toxic Avenger! It’s the east side of the Hudson representing as Austin-based theatre company Doctuh Mistuh mounts a new production of the New York Outer Critics Circle winner. Set in NJ’s most polluted neighborhood, Tromaville, with music by Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan, it’s a goo-covered night of romance, intrigue, and insanity as Melvin Ferd the Third aka Toxie takes on polluters and corrupt politicians. Catch this stage version before the new movie, directed by Austin’s own Macon Blair, erupts into cinemas this August. – Richard Whittaker
2025 Torch Fellows Reading
Thursday 24, George Washington Carver Museum
Dedicated to featuring Black women writers since its start in 2006 by founder Amanda Johnston, Torch Literary Arts dedicates this Thursday night to eight of its writing fellows. All eight writers come from this year’s Torch retreat and hail from around the world: Jumi Bello, Jassmine Parks, .CHISARAOKWU., Otito Greg-Obi, Kenndall Wallace, Kennetha Bigham-Tsaim, Starr Davis, and Idza Luhumyo. Each will read from their current works-in-progress, which cover poetry, prose (fiction and non), and script. Snag a spot for free, or make a donation with RSVP to help Torch continue their mission. – James Scott
Not Quite Dead Yet: Holly Jackson Meet & Greet
Thursday 24, Central Presbyterian Church
Not knowing Holly Jackson is a telltale sign that you don’t have any adolescents in your life. As the reigning queen of the teen murder mystery scene, Jackson’s books flew off the shelves of every library I’ve ever seen. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was the teen girl equivalent of the My Favorite Murder podcast, I swear on my life. Now that her Good Girl series has wrapped up (and debuted in visual form on Netflix), Jackson has turned her crime-solving focus toward adult readers. Not Quite Dead Yet has a woman solving her own murder before she dies. Get dibs on a signed copy with the extra gift of a chat from Jackson herself. – Cat McCarrey
Classic Game Fest
Friday 25 – Sunday 27, Palmer Events Center
If you miss blowing into game cartridges, Classic Game Fest is for you. Three days filled with bountiful retro video games, panels, and musical performances emanate from Palmer Events Center. Attendees can partake in tournaments for classics such as Halo 2 (original XBOX version), Super Smash Bros., and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (arcade version). Guest speakers include Tim Kitzrow (voice of NBA Jam) and former Atari game designer Howard Scott Warshaw. Babality punctuates CGF on Sunday afternoon with a set covering songs scored for video games. – Derek Udensi
Disney’s Mary Poppins
Through August 10, McCollough Theatre
Penguins, spoonfuls of sugar, and “jolly ’olidays” – if that’s all you remember about Mary Poppins, then let Summer Stock Austin’s production of the Disney musical based on P.L. Travers’ beloved kids book set you straight. It’s really the story of a magical nanny who goes where she’s needed, and Poppins is definitely needed to help save the Banks’ family from a life stymied by corporate ambition, where joy and charity are regarded as weaknesses. Of course, there’s also all those unforgettable songs courtesy of the Sherman brothers. Now, deep breath, chin up, mouth wide, and one, two, three, four – Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! – Richard Whittaker
Stickman: The Disposable Heroes Tour
Friday 25, AO5 Gallery
Rock & roll’s eternal internal contradiction is in how it blurs the line between iconic and iconoclastic. Maybe that’s why Trevor Stickel, aka Stickman, has become so popular among musicians who are also art collectors – his glossy pop-realism a perfect format for his rock-influenced works. Sometimes based in portraiture, sometimes more expressionistic in their inspiration, he’s paid tribute on canvas to hall-of-famers as diverse as Depeche Mode and Dolly Parton. Come meet the artist on this special evening. – Richard Whittaker
Backyard BBQ
Friday 25, Meanwhile Brewing Co.
Uptown Sports Club and Meanwhile Brewing Co. are collaborating again on a four-part barbecue series featuring guest chefs, live music, local vendors, and more – and 100% of the proceeds are being donated to the Community Foundation of the Hill Country’s flood relief efforts. First up: Chefs from Oseyo and Lao’d Bar team up for an evening celebrating Asian barbecue. Uptown Sports Club fills out the menu, while Meanwhile contributes a limited edition cocktail and draft beer. Acclimated Assassin spins vinyl during dinner, followed by live performances by Candy Riot and Calico Sky. Future Friday barbecues feature comestibles by Cuyo, Discada, La Volta, Distant Relatives, Mum Foods, Franklin BBQ, and Loro. – Kimberley Jones
Adventure Time Night
Friday 25, Tiny Minotaur Tavern
Enjoyers of 2010s Cartoon Network tomfoolery (RIP, king) will find much to celebrate at this costume night. Hitting the Minotaur’s Rift this Friday is Pendleton Ward’s wacky animated epic, whose goofy characters graced thousands of backpacks, shirts, and – apropos – costume counters throughout our previous decade. Honor your favorite Ooo citizen by wearing their garb, whether that be a bubblegum pink princess dress, blue hero’s T-shirt, or yellow dog suit – or just come along and enjoy the post-postapocalyptic vibes. – James Scott
Austin Town Hall
Friday 25, Delco Activity Center
A who’s-who of Texas progressives comes to town to discuss state and federal issues. State Rep. James Talarico, fresh off his Joe Rogan appearance, has been repping the left in a district north of town for years. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s district includes much of San Antonio, and he has long been a face of blue politics in Texas. Lastly, perennial candidate and sometimes holder of blue Texas dreams Beto O’Rourke joins the lineup. Wondering how the party moves forward without losing its identity? Here’s to hoping they have answers. – James Renovitch
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Friday 25 & Monday 28 – Wednesday 30, Alamo Slaughter Lane, Lakeline & Mueller
No one starts out on top, which means that even the great Gru was once an aspiring villain rather than a reformed one. Drafthouse’s summer series Kids Camp screens the Despicable Me spinoff for all those who either missed the Minions’ prequel sequel when it first ran in 2022 or are just that addicted to these jaundiced French freaks and their period-piece antics. Set in the Seventies, the film follows a wee Gru as he attempts to join supervillian squad the Vicious 6, to expectedly chaotic results. – James Scott
The Summer of King
Through August 31, Outpost 512, Taylor
Listen, don’t we all need a little spookiness in our hearts to combat the relentless joy of sunny summer? The good folks at Outpost 512 have you covered with their latest pop culture art extravaganza. Over 40 artists contributed pieces inspired by the undisputed king of horror himself, Stephen King. Does your taste tend toward the bloody drips of Carrie? Check out Carrie White’s profile on a poster, or her tiny figurine in a tampon box. Like the vampiric creepiness of Salem’s Lot? There’s a plethora of floating Freddys for your pleasure. And don’t worry, Dark Tower aficionados: There’s plenty of Western-tinged gunslinger art to ogle. With art almost as prolific as King’s writing career, it’s a feast for every fan. – Cat McCarrey
Uninvited (1988)
Friday 25, We Luv Video
We Luv is back again with more weird, wild stuff: a direct-to-video gem from low-budget badass Greydon Clark, director of five movies lampooned by RiffTrax, including this one and the abysmal Star Games (1998). This “unrelentingly bonkers summer jam” centers on a mutant cat inside a larger cat, who wreaks havoc on a luxury yacht headed for the Caymans. With inventive effects and the appearance of George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke, the Naked Gun franchise), it’s one of the better B-movies out there and a must-see for fans of feline-centric sci-fi. – Kat McNevins
Tiny Library
Saturday 26, Windsor Park Branch Library
The only way to make something you love even better is to shrink it into a tiny version. Book lovers can put that age-old wisdom to work on their curated literary collections at this library event. Create your own personal tiny library shelf, filled with adorably miniature versions of your favorite books and knickknacks, ready to sit inception-style on your normal-sized shelf. Or, invent an entirely imaginary shelf for display anywhere you’d like! The miniature world is your oyster. – Caroline Drew
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Through August 31, Georgetown Palace Theatre
With over 100 songs bearing her name as either writer or co-writer, Carole King’s catalog begged to be made into a musical. In 2013, Douglas McGrath answered that ask with jukebox song-and-dance romp Beautiful, which weaves King’s songs in with other contemporary tunes to tell the songstress’ story. The Palace puts on their staging this summer with direction by Stephanie Smith, kicking off this Friday, July 25, and featuring an ASL night on August 2. – James Scott
Deathdream
Saturday 26, We Luv Video
Bob Clark arguably invented the slasher in 1974 with the original Black Christmas, yet he’d already rewritten the rules of zombiedom two years earlier with Deathdream, aka Dead of Night, a film that is a truly horrifying reinvention of the Vietnam veteran flick. Grisly and heartrending, the story of a soldier who comes home from the grave is one of the most distressing visions of PTSD ever given flesh. More Coming Home than The Evil Dead, its caustic political commentary saw it shunned for years. Now, because of Clark’s incredible direction, the unrelenting script by his longtime collaborator Alan Ormsby, a heartbreaking turn by Richard Backus as Andy, the soldier who came home, and the genius decision to reunite Faces co-stars John Marley and Lynn Carlin as Andy’s parents, its dark power has only been more recognized over time. – Richard Whittaker
Stray Dog
Saturday 26 & Monday 28, AFS Cinema
Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 thriller stars a 29-year-old Toshiro Mifune as a cop whose gun is stolen by a pickpocket on the train. What ensues is a high-octane chase to recover the pistol and a journey through the underbelly of postwar Tokyo. Kurosawa apes the seedy noirs of Hollywood with the buddy relationship between Mifune’s rookie cop Murakami and Takashi Shimura’s veteran Detective Sato, as Murakami tries to save face by stealing back his weapon in time to prevent its involvement in more violent crimes. Set against a sweltering backdrop of sweaty nightclubs, monsoons, and baseball matches, it’s a perfect midsummer thriller. – Lina Fisher
Buddha’s Light International Association Presents the Peking Opera
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27, the Long Center
Peking Opera’s history goes all the way back to 1790, when opera troupes traveled to Beijing to entertain the emperor for a birthday party and the performers were so beloved they stuck around. Experience the magic for yourself over two days: Saturday night features a showcase with three excerpts including “Farewell My Concubine,” and Sunday’s matinee is an intriguing presentation of “Monkey King Fights the Skeleton Demon.” With unforgettable music, intricate costumes, and even acrobatics, it’s a spectacle fit for royalty. – Kat McNevins
Talking Bees Roadshow
Saturday 26, University Hills Branch Library
There’s a reason for all the buzz: Master beekeeper Konrad Bouffard from Round Rock Honey has hit the road, and he’s bringing his expert apian knowledge with him. Bouffard, in conjunction with H-E-B and the Healthy Hive Foundation, is coming to Austin to educate community members on just how sweet our bees can be. Participants will learn how bees make their honey, how to identify pollens and nectars by taste, and in what ways we Austinites can help save the bees. People of all ages are invited to join this free community event. – Julianna Plewes
Summer Vibe Artisan Market
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27, Distribution Hall
Over a hundred local artists and makers showcase their work this weekend on the Eastside. Bring the dog, family, and friends to find unique art and handmade goods. Marketgoers can enjoy local musicians live while sipping on free drinks from Dripping Springs Distilling and Topo Chico. Bluebonnet Coffee Bar provides the fresh brews, and local chefs the cuisine. The market is free to attend, will be mostly indoors, and the first 25 attendees get a swag bag filled by participating artists. – Sammie Seamon
Clay Reworkshop
Sunday 27, MASS Gallery
Wondering when you’ll get around to doing something with those broken ceramic pieces you’re saving? Maybe even wondering what it is you’ll do with them? I was too. Now, my pieces and I have peace of mind, thanks to this reworkshop. Let your shards aspire to something greater as a piece of MASS Gallery’s backyard communal sculpture project. No pieces, no problem: The talented artists leading this event will provide everything you need to pitch in to their mosaic and tile-inspired project. – Caroline Drew
Labubu & Chill
Sunday 27, Traphouse Caribbean
Snagging yourself a real deal ’Bubu really works up an appetite, which is probably why organizer Playtime With Panda secured this Fourth and Colorado Caribbean spot for their upcoming Pop-Mart-centric pop-up. Enjoy a plantain-packed pancake or waffle and Trap Juice while shopping trinket vendors offering deals on all your favorite little guys, from the ubiquitous monsters to Sonny Angels. Special freebies come with every meal purchase (while supplies last), and there’ll be exclusive giveaways throughout. Plus, this market’s family-friendly, so even kiddos can enjoy consumerist culture. – James Scott
Psycho Beach Party
Sunday 27, We Luv Video
Few phrases secure a film’s cult status like a Wikipedia entry starting with “based on the off-Broadway play,” and that’s exactly what this campy slasher’s got. With DNA from multiple decades’ pop-culture obsessions – Sixties beach movies, Fifties psycho-dramas, Eighties schlock – this tale of undiagnosed DID features not only out-of-date mental illness stereotypes but also IMDb gems like Dharma & Greg’s Thomas Gibson, Sabrina’s Beth Broderick, and the then-and-now Oscar-less Amy Adams. Surf on over to North Loop and enjoy this rockin’ retro romp for only $5. – James Scott
Viva Pachanga: Tarde de Liberacion
Sunday 27, the Cathedral
In May this year, longtime event organizer tk tunchez announced her departure from Austin. “After 15 years of building community-rooted, joy-centered, equity-led events in Austin – I’m transitioning out of the city,” she wrote. “This summer marks my final season here. But it also marks the start of something new.” This send-off season continues this Sunday with Frida Friday ATX throwing its final market in honor of namesake Frida Kahlo. Shop local vendors, enjoy live music by Mexican Boyfriend, art curated by Monica Ceniceros and ATX Gals, and delight in dances, ceremony, and more. – James Scott
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what’s happening now or in the coming week.
This article appears in July 25 • 2025.