Good news for US-based fans of classic kung fu: Celestial Pictures has just launched a partnership with boutique theater chain Alamo Drafthouse to bring over several classic films from Shaw Brothers, the production powerhouse behind some of the most iconic action films of the 20th century.
Shaw Brothers churned out almost 1,000 films from 1951 through 1997 (and have sputtered out a few more off and on since then), including all-time classics like Five Fingers of Death, Invincible Shaolin, and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Their oeuvre has exerted extraordinary influence on American pop culture from Tarantino to Wu Tang (to Kendrick Lamar, to Migos, to Lupe Fiasco, etc), and now Celestial Pictures, which owns the rights to the Shaw Brothers legacy, is bringing a few choice cuts stateside for a series of screenings organized in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse and the American Genre Film Archive.
The screenings run from now through mid-May. Find the full schedule below, and if you’re not sure which Shaw flick might be right for you, feel free to consult this recently launched Shaw Brothers recommendation bot, which Celestial claims is the first of its kind.
36th Chamber of Shaolin
Feb 16 – Plaza Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Feb 26 – Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, TX)
Feb 27 – Howell Theater (Howell, MI)
approx. Mar 9 – Row House Cinema (Pittsburgh, PA)
Apr 24 – Alamo Drafthouse Winchester (Winchester, VA)
Apr 27 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
AVENGING EAGLE
Feb 24 – Quad Cinema (NYC)
BASTARD SWORDSMAN
Jun 5 – Alamo Drafthouse Littleton (Denver, CO)
BLACK MAGIC 2
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
BOXER’S OMEN
Apr 22 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
BUDDHA’S PALM
Apr 19 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
Jun 2 – Alamo Drafthouse Winchester (Winchester, VA)
COME DRINK WITH ME
approx. Mar 9 – Row House Cinema (Pittsburgh, PA)
Apr 13 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
Jun 19 – Alamo Drafthouse Winchester (Winchester, VA)
CRIPPLED AVENGERS
Apr 3 – Alamo Drafthouse Littleton (Denver, CO)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
THE DUEL
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
May 1 – Alamo Drafthouse Littleton (Denver, CO)
FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
approx. Mar 9 – Row House Cinema (Pittsburgh, PA)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
Apr 14 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
HUMAN LANTERNS
Apr 22 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
KING BOXER (aka The Five Fingers of Death)
approx Apr 5 – Chattanooga Film Festival (Chattanooga, TN)
LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA
approx. Mar 9 – Row House Cinema (Pittsburgh, PA)
MIGHTY PEKING MAN
Apr 6 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
approx. Apr 27 – Carolina Theater (Durham, NC)
ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN
Apr 27 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
SUPER INFRAMAN
approx Apr 5 – Chattanooga Film Festival (Chattanooga, TN)
Apr 6 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (Yonkers, NY)
May 12 – Alamo Drafthouse Winchester (Winchester, VA)
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Cover image: Celestial Pictures/Shaw Brothers Universe
