Let’s Go to the Movies!

Written By Game Day

Last week, the Milan Town Hall in Milan, Ohio, served as the starting point for a marathon celebration of cinema. The date wasn't accidental – it marked the birthday of Thomas Edison, the town’s most famous son and a pivotal figure in the invention of the motion picture.

Screenings and events in all 88 counties,now through October.

See the full line-up at ohiogoestothemovies.org

The event was a tribute to the early days of film. Attendees gathered to watch a selection of Edison’s early short films, followed by the 1910 versions of Frankenstein and Alice in Wonderland.

It was a relaxed, community-focused evening that officially launched Ohio Goes to the Movies, a statewide initiative planning 250 screenings across all 88 counties to celebrate the U.S. Semiquincentennial.

And Cincinnati, you’re in luck! Ohio Goes to the Movies has a schedule packed with local screenings, many of which highlight famous actors and directors born right in the Queen City, like Steven Spielberg and Doris Day.

Spring Screenings

March 1: A triple header across different venues:

  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence at Cinemark Western Hills 14 (directed by Cincinnati-born Steven Spielberg).

  • The Color Purple at Cinemark Oakley Station.

  • Hook at Cinemark Milford (Clermont County).

April 5: Lover Come Back at the Mariemont Theatre, celebrating Cincinnati legend Doris Day.

April 21: Grant at the Gaslight Theater in Georgetown (Brown County), the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant.

Coming soon to a screen near you

The tour will move across the state, bringing a mix of Hollywood classics and Ohio-connected films to local theaters and parks. Here are a few highlights to look for in the coming months.

Celebrity & Filmmaker Appearances:

  • Cleveland Heights: Melissa Newman will host a screening of Cool Hand Luke, starring her father, Paul Newman, at the Cedar Lee Theatre.

  • Worthington: Actress Rachael Harris will be at the McConnell Arts Center for a screening of the comedy Best in Show.

  • Wooster: Producer Christopher Buchanan will participate in a Q&A following a showing of Raising Arizona.

Regional Favorites

  • Wapakoneta: The town will celebrate its aerospace heritage with screenings of First Man and Apollo 11.

  • Mansfield/Salem: Fans of The Shawshank Redemption can catch the film near its original filming locations.

  • Springfield: A special presentation of The Great Victory will take place at the High Street Church.

Outdoor Summer Series

As the weather warms up, the schedule shifts toward "Movies in the Park," including family-friendly hits like Spider-Man in Massillon and The Avengers in Lucas County.

The goal is to hit 250 events by the time the program wraps up in October. Most screenings are free to the public, though some require a reserved ticket due to venue capacity.

All OGTTM signature events are free, but because many are held in historic or smaller theaters, you usually need to reserve a "seat" on their website ahead of time. Each screening includes a pre-show presentation explaining why the film was chosen, whether it was the filming location, the director, or a featured actor from the area.

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