Reels at the Rialto 2026

Rialto Square Theatre is excited to announce our year-round movie series called “Reels at the Rialto.” This movie series is a nod to our Vaudeville movie palace past. “It’s important for us to offer a wide variety of entertainment options for the residents of Joliet and surrounding areas,” says Wade Welsh, Rialto Square Theatre Executive Director. “We are thrilled to partner with incredible sponsors to make these movies affordable for everyone.” The sponsors of the Reels at the Rialto movie series are D’Arcy Buick GMC, Rendel’s, Rod Baker Ford, The Rialto Volunteers, and Castle Law.
Tickets for all other reels are $5 each and will be available in advance or on the day of the reel at the Rialto Square Theatre Box Office. Tickets are unavailable online and are now on sale at the box office. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime; a free organ concert will begin when doors open, and all movies start at 7 PM*. All seating will be general admission—first come, first served. Bar and concessions (including freshly popped popcorn) will be available for purchase.
The 2026 Reels at the Rialto Movies Series at the Rialto Square Theatre will include the following mix of popular movies, old favorites, and some family-friendly titles.
Romancing the Stone
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 45 minutes
A dowdy romantic-adventure writer is hurled into a real-life adventure in the Colombian jungle to save her sister, who will be killed if a treasure map is not delivered to her captors.
Big
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 2 hours and 3 minutes
At a carnival, young Josh Baskin wishes he was big, only to wake up the next morning and discover his wish came true. But the more Josh experiences life as an adult, the more he longs for the simple joys of childhood.
Heidi (1937)
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7 PM
G | 1 hour and 28 minutes
A plucky little orphan girl gets dumped abruptly into her gruff, hermit grandfather’s care, then later gets retaken and delivered as a companion for an injured girl.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 50 minutes
In 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels.
The Empire Strikes Back
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 7 PM
G | 2 hours
After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.
Hocus Pocus
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 36 minutes
A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
*No films will be presented during the summer as the theatre will be closed from June through mid-September for a comprehensive HVAC renovation.
Movies for November and December will be announced as part of Home for the Holidays 2026.
All seats are $5, and seating is general admission. For more information, please visit www.RialtoSquare.com/movies, or call the Rialto Square Theatre Box Office at 815.726.6600. The box office is located at 102 N. Chicago Street in downtown Joliet.




