Independent Movie Theaters in Houston: 8 Cinemas and Film Series

Houston has eight places to watch films outside of multiplex chains: a dine-in Art Deco revival showing arthouse releases, a media arts microcinema in the Second Ward, a non-profit cinema where you sit in 100-year-old church pews, and a drive-in with the downtown skyline behind the screen. This guide covers every currently operating independent cinema, microcinema and recurring film series in the city, verified as open in October 2026.

The quick list

• For arthouse releases and classics: River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W Gray St — the Art Deco cinema that reopened in October 2024.
• For curated international film series: MFAH Brown Auditorium Theater, Museum District — Korean Film Nights, Jazz on Film, Oscar short films.
• For experimental and media art: Aurora Picture Show, 5601A Navigation Blvd, Second Ward — Houston’s microcinema since 1998.
• For weeknight campus films: Rice Cinema, Sarofim Hall, Rice University — independent films, most weekends during the academic year.
• For films rooted in Houston’s Black heritage: DeLUXE Theater, 3303 Lyons Ave, Fifth Ward — a restored Streamline Moderne landmark with regular screenings.
• For international cinema: Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Blvd, Museum District — Screen Asia Summer Film Series plus annual festivals.
• For a drive-in with a skyline view: Moonstruck Drive-In, 45 N Delano St, East End — the city’s only twin-screen drive-in, Thursday through Sunday.
• To follow year-round indie programming: Houston Cinema Arts Society (cinemahtx.org) — year-round screenings and the annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival.

How we chose

Every venue and series on this list was confirmed as currently operating via its own official website or official social media as of October 2026. We skipped Alamo Drafthouse, whose last Houston-area location closed in February 2026. The original River Oaks Theatre also closed in 2021 — the venue at the same address is under entirely new management and confirmed open.

Classic arthouse cinemas

River Oaks Theatre · Montrose/River Oaks, 2009 W Gray St

The Art Deco cinema at the Montrose end of W Gray Street first opened in 1939. After closing in March 2021, it reopened on October 3, 2024 under Culinary Khancepts in a dine-in format: you order food and drinks from your seat via QR code during the film.

Programming covers arthouse releases, awards-season films, classic revivals and live events. Recurring series include “Nightmare Fuel” (horror classics) and a Houston Filmmaker Showcase. The Cinema Savant membership offers unlimited monthly screenings for a flat fee.

Call 713-496-3456 or check theriveroakstheatre.com for current showtimes; ticket pricing is not always listed in advance online.

Best for: arthouse film on a Friday night, classic revivals, or the Rocky Horror shadowcast. Montrose restaurants make the pre-show easy.

Museum film programs

MFAH Films · Museum District, 1001 Bissonnet St

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston runs one of the most consistently programmed film series of any art museum in Texas. The primary screening room is the Brown Auditorium Theater; the Lynn Wyatt Theater handles larger programs and festival nights. Recurring annual series include Korean Film Nights (typically late October through November), Jazz on Film (typically June), and the Oscar-nominated short films program (typically February or March). The museum co-hosts the Houston Cinema Arts Festival each October at both theaters.

MFAH members typically receive discounted or free admission to screenings depending on their tier. Check mfah.org/films for a rolling calendar — the MFAH publishes its film schedule a full season ahead.

Best for: themed international series, the Oscar short film programs, or pairing a film with a gallery visit the same afternoon. Dinner options are in our Museum District restaurant guide.

Asia Society Texas Center · Museum District, 1370 Southmore Blvd

Asia Society Texas presents films about Asia and the Asian diaspora throughout the year. The Screen Asia Summer Film Series (typically June through August) runs several weeks of curated screenings, and the Indian Film Festival Houston (typically late February) adds films, filmmaker Q&As and a reception. Single-screening tickets are typically around $20; day passes are available for festival programming.

Call 713-496-9901 or check asiasociety.org/texas for the current season schedule.

Best for: international films from South, East and Southeast Asia that rarely get a Houston theatrical run.

Microcinemas and community screens

Aurora Picture Show · Second Ward, 5601A Navigation Blvd

Aurora Picture Show has operated as Houston’s microcinema since 1998, presenting experimental film, video art, live performance, artist talks and media installations near the Houston Ship Channel. The programming is artist-driven and emphasizes work that doesn’t fit broadcast or multiplex formats.

Recurring series include Extremely Shorts (very short films), Night Light (outdoor evening screenings) and BYOB (Bring Your Own Body, an audience-participation format). Summer arts camps and educational programs run year-round.

Aurora is a small space — many events sell out. Sign up for the email list at aurorapictureshow.org before you look for tickets elsewhere.

Insider tip: Aurora was founded by artists, and post-screening conversations with filmmakers are often as good as the films themselves. The venue has hosted video artists whose work later toured internationally.

Best for: experimental cinema, media art, and evenings where you want to be in the same room as the person who made the work.

DeLUXE Theater · Fifth Ward, 3303 Lyons Ave

The DeLUXE Theater is a restored Streamline Moderne building at 3303 Lyons Ave that served as a cultural anchor of Houston’s Fifth Ward through the mid-twentieth century. Today it hosts theater, dance, music, film and community gatherings, with a programmatic emphasis on African-American creative heritage. Film screenings are part of its regular calendar, and the Houston Cinema Arts Festival uses it as one of its annual venues.

Call (281) 968-0059 or check thedeluxetheater.com for current film dates.

Best for: films that connect to Houston’s Black arts history, and events where the building itself is part of the experience.

Rice Cinema · Rice University, 6100 Main St (Sarofim Hall)

Rice Cinema has screened films on the Rice University campus for decades and is open to the public. It shows independent features, documentaries and foreign-language films, typically on weekends during the academic year, from a theater in Sarofim Hall with a proper projection booth. Rice Cinema events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Call (713) 348-4853 or check cinema.rice.edu for the current schedule.

Best for: an affordable evening of independent or documentary cinema. The Museum District is nearby for dinner beforehand.

Drive-in

Moonstruck Drive-In · East End, 45 N Delano St

Houston’s only operating drive-in relocated to Delano Street in early 2025 and runs two screens Thursday through Sunday nights. The East End location places the downtown skyline directly behind the screen, an effect that works especially well on clear evenings. Programming mixes new releases with classic film nights. Food trucks rotate on site, and the venue is pet-friendly.

Arrive 30 minutes early for a good spot. Audio plays through your car’s FM radio. Check moonstruckdrivein.com for current showtimes and pricing.

Best for: date nights, summer evenings, or any film that earns an outdoor watch with a skyline behind it.

Following Houston’s indie film circuit

Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) · cinemahtx.org

HCAS is the organization behind the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, which runs every October and screens films at River Oaks Theatre, MFAH, Rice Cinema, DeLUXE Theater, Aurora Picture Show and additional city venues. Beyond the festival, HCAS programs year-round screenings: the CineSpace short film finalist series, a Texas Film Spotlight program and members-only advance screenings of premiere features. Many events are free for HCAS members.

cinemahtx.org is the most efficient single source for tracking what is screening across Houston’s independent film circuit at any given time.

Best for: staying current, catching a premiere before it leaves town, and making the most of the October festival season.

Save this checklist

• River Oaks Theatre and Rice Cinema both sell out for popular screenings — buy tickets online.
• MFAH members often pay less or nothing at film screenings; check your membership tier before you buy.
• Aurora Picture Show events are small and frequently sell out; sign up for their email list first.
• Moonstruck Drive-In uses FM radio for audio — confirm your car has a working FM receiver.
• Houston Cinema Arts Festival runs every October — book early for opening-night screenings.
• An HCAS membership pays for itself quickly if you attend three or more screenings per year.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is the River Oaks Theatre open again?

Yes. The River Oaks Theatre at 2009 W Gray St in Houston reopened on October 3, 2024, under new management (Culinary Khancepts), three years after its 2021 closure. It operates as a dine-in arthouse cinema with a Cinema Savant unlimited-screening membership.

Does MFAH show movies?

Yes. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston screens films year-round at the Brown Auditorium Theater, including recurring annual series such as Korean Film Nights, Jazz on Film, and Oscar-nominated short films. Check mfah.org/films for the current schedule.

Is there a drive-in movie theater in Houston?

Yes. Moonstruck Drive-In at 45 N Delano St in the East End is Houston’s only operating drive-in. It runs two screens Thursday through Sunday nights, with the downtown skyline visible behind the screen. Audio plays through your car’s FM radio.

What is Aurora Picture Show in Houston?

Aurora Picture Show, at 5601A Navigation Blvd in Houston’s Second Ward, is a microcinema and media arts organization founded in 1998. It presents experimental film, video art, live performance and artist talks, with recurring series including Extremely Shorts and Night Light.

When is the Houston Cinema Arts Festival?

The Houston Cinema Arts Festival runs annually in October, typically over about 10 days, at venues including River Oaks Theatre, MFAH, Rice Cinema, DeLUXE Theater and Aurora Picture Show. Tickets and schedules are at cinemahtx.org.

Are there any free independent film screenings in Houston?

Some MFAH screenings are free or discounted for museum members. Many Houston Cinema Arts Society screenings are free for HCAS members. Rice Cinema charges affordable student-level ticket prices. Check each venue’s site for current pricing, as it varies by event.