culture

Amarillo's Cinema Scene Heats Up: What's on Screen Now and Why Locals Are Talking

From a blockbuster retrospective at the Palace to a wildfire documentary at the Lyric, this week's film offerings reflect global tensions and local resilience.

By Amarillo Culture Desk · Published July 11, 2026

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The Palace Theatre on Polk Street is playing a double feature of disaster epics this weekend, and it's not just for the popcorn. 'Twister' and 'The Day After Tomorrow' are drawing crowds of 200-plus per screening, according to box office figures shared by the venue's general manager this morning. The reason: a real-world typhoon slamming China and a deadly wildfire in southern Spain have Amarrans seeking catharsis on the big screen.

Why now?

Two major weather catastrophes in the past week-China's second typhoon in seven days and Spain's deadliest wildfire in a decade, with at least 12 dead-have pushed climate disaster to the top of local conversation. At the Golden Light Cantina on South 1st Avenue, patrons were overheard debating whether Hollywood disaster movies help or hinder real-world preparedness. The Lyric Theatre, a nonprofit venue on 6th Street, is responding with a special Saturday matinee of the 2024 documentary 'Fire Season,' which focuses on the 2023 Maui wildfires. Admission is $12, and proceeds will go to the Amarillo chapter of the Red Cross.

Local connections and costs

The Amarillo Film Society, based at the historic Santa Fe Building on 9th Avenue, reports a 40 percent spike in membership inquiries since Monday. The group's director told me that members are specifically asking for screenings about environmental resilience. At the Uptown Shopping Center on Georgia Street, the Regal Cinemas is offering a 'Climate Survival Triple Bill' for $18: 'Interstellar,' 'The Martian,' and 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' The promotion launched Friday and has already sold out two showings.

According to data from the Amarillo Arts Commission, average ticket prices in the city have held steady at $11.50 for adults this summer, slightly below the national average of $12.83. That's making cinema a cheap escape as wildfire news from Europe dominates social feeds. A survey conducted by the commission in June found that 34 percent of Amarrans said they go to the movies at least once a month, up from 29 percent in 2023.

What's next and practical advice

The Palace Theatre on Polk Street will host a panel discussion on Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m., titled 'When Fiction Meets Fire: Cinema's Role in Disaster Awareness.' Tickets are $15, or $10 for students with ID. The Lyric will continue its documentary series through July 25, with a screening of 'The Great Green Wall' on July 18. For those who prefer to stay indoors, the Amarillo Public Library downtown on South Grant Street has a free streaming archive of 20 climate-related films available via its digital catalog-just show your library card. If you want to see what the fuss is about, get to the Palace by 8 p.m. Saturday; the last time they ran 'Twister,' the fire marshal had to turn away 50 people.