Tampa Theatre’s Taylor Screening Room will host a special one-day-only showing of Once Upon a Time in a Cinema on Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. The 2026 drama runs 1 hour and 33 minutes and carries an NR rating. The film centers on Earl Clancy, a beleaguered movie theater owner whose business is threatened by a string of disasters that could bring everything crashing down. Through his struggles, the story becomes a loving tribute to the theatrical experience and to the communities that gather inside movie houses.
Writer-director David Gleeson drew inspiration from his own upbringing in a family of cinema owners, including a father whose 78-year career is believed to be the longest in the cinema business in Ireland. That personal connection gives the film an added sense of authenticity as it reflects on the value of independent theaters and the shared experience of watching movies together.
The screening is part of Tampa Theatre’s summer lineup celebrating local and independent cinema, alongside other special film events. For movie lovers who appreciate the magic of seeing stories unfold on the big screen, Once Upon a Time in a Cinema offers both a heartfelt narrative and a reminder of why cinemas still matter.