Meet 10 Philly film clubs welcoming cinephiles from across the region

In the years since the pandemic, dozens of microcinemas and movie appreciation clubs have sprung up across the City of Brotherly Love, proving that the film freaks of Philadelphia are ready to step out of the shadows and into its uniquely scented streets. These folks are building a film scene from the ground up, showcasing a diverse lineup of screenings that truly offer something for everyone. Here are 10 of them, with programs for every kind of film lover.

Girls Like Horror

Girls Like Horror was started by filmmaker Christina Acevedo with the goal of creating a space for women to showcase their love of often male-associated genre films. According to their mission statement, they are “an inclusive film club shining light on horror films made by women AND scary/haunting/grotesque movies with strong, complex, multidimensional female protagonists.” The group “explores everything from cult classics to the latest releases,” and includes a mixer with each screening for likeminded horror fans to find one another. The club isn’t exclusive to just one gender: all horror fans are welcome, so long as they love a good scare.

Bloodsick Underground Cinema

Bloodsick Underground Cinema showcases the weirdest things underground film has to offer, from shot-on-video gorefests to mumblecore comedies. Run by filmmaker Brewce Longo, the group shares beautifully bizarre one-of-a-kind videos and films with the sickos of Philadelphia, providing a platform for low-budget labors of love that otherwise might never see the light of day. The group is currently gearing up for their first ever film festival, running the weekend of April 18-19, 2026 at PhilaMOCA and Ortlieb’s.

Space Melt Cinema

Space Melt Cinema is run by partners Matt (“Monty”) and Emily Monteverde alongside their longtime friend Nick McDowell. The group was inspired by weekly “Tubi Tuesday” watches with their friends, and has quickly grown into a genre-crossing club aiming to bring people together to celebrate weird cinema with a crowd. Their next screening is Small Soldiers (1998), which will take place April 11 at the Film Society Center in Center City.

Heavy Cycle Cinema

Heavy Cycle is one of multiple film clubs run in collaboration with Launderette Records, a thrift music shop and event space in Port Richmond. It highlights East Asian cinema, from crime to horror to kung fu. Their last screening was a Wuxia marathon which took place on March 19 in collaboration with fellow microcinema group Secret Handshake.

Secret Handshake

Secret Handshake focuses on unexpected double-features based around a shared theme. Showcased through The Head & the Hand Books in Fishtown, their previous screenings have included a Valentine’s Day showing of The Loved Ones (2009) and May (2002), and a Christmas double feature of The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) and Black Christmas (1974).

Sights & Sounds

With free screenings the second Wednesday of every month at the Neon Clown Dream Lounge in Fishtown, Sights & Sounds combines live vinyl DJ sets with cult classic films to create an audiovisual experience that teleports you back to groovier times. The group’s next screening will be House (1977), taking place on April 8 from 6pm-12am at the Neon Clown Dream Lounge.

BeReel Black Cinema Club

BeReel Black’s mission is to “spread the word about screenings happening in the city and attend as many as possible to have a Black presence at the cinema,” something they find “a huge pain point for indie cinemas nationally.” The group, led by Historic Germantown community engagement coordinator Stephanye R. Watts, has highlighted local screenings such as the 6k restoration premiere of previously lost film Riverbend (1989) at the Film Society Center.

VHS Club

VHS Club, curated by Nicole Goicuria, showcases iconic films via VHS tape in collaboration with the University City Arts League. While most screenings are free, the group often does sliding-scale based fundraisers such as a showing of Gaslight (1944) on March 22 that benefitted the Philadelphia branch of Take Back the Night. Their next screening will be “proto slasher” Alice, Sweet Alice (1976), showing at the Arts League at 7pm on April 10.

Reel Clueless

Mitch McCabe hosts Philadelphia’s only monthly movie trivia via Reel Clueless. The group typically does an hour of film trivia at a local bar followed by a screening of a themed flick. Their last screening was all about the Oscars, showing Who Framed Roger Rabbit following a night of Oscars-themed trivia on March 8, gearing up for the following weekend’s ceremony.

Screwball Screenings

Run by local filmmakers Noah Cohen and Rachel Buccilli, Screwball Screenings highlights the local film scene by showcasing shorts by Philly native filmmakers before a vintage cult classic. Though they’re most often found at Tattooed Mom on South Street, the group’s next screening is Femmes in Film, a showcase of shorts from local female and genderqueer filmmakers taking place 7pm at Fireball Printing on April 11 in collaboration with East Kensington Arts Committee.

Editor’s note: Our team is proud to announce that our Readers Decide campaign has met its initial $10,000 goal, securing our spring coverage. But if you haven’t given yet, there is still time to join the campaign (running through March 31), and secure our coverage for summer.