12-year-old Mildred’s life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding — a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther. With Nell Fisher, Morgana O’Reilly, Michael Smiley.

“Ant Timpson’s heartwarming Bookworm is an effulgent love letter to ’80s kid cinema laced with a distinctly quirky, Kiwi dryness.” (Slant Magazine)

“This is great, emotive, and deeply funny stuff.” (Fiction Magazine)

“With near-perfect pacing and a gob-smacking density of punchlines, “Bookworm” is the sort of movie that will make you excited to repeatedly whisper, “Remember THAT?” — when you catch your breath from laughing (maybe even crying?), and the credits finally roll on a winding adventure that’s very Timpson and yet one of a kind… Adorable, complex, and deliriously entertaining.” (IndieWire)

Saturday, November 23
Doors 12:30 pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE

Kids pricing in effect! Kids under 13 just $7 HERE!

Catch all of the Rio Grind Film Fest’s programmed events with a $50 Festival Pass HERE

BOOKWORM (Ant Timpson, 2024 / 103 mins / PG) 11-year-old Mildred’s world is turned upside down when her estranged father, the washed-up magician Shawn Wise, comes to look after her and agrees to take her camping to find a mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

*Minors OK. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film only. Please redeem at the door.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Rio Theatre’s Box Office prior to showtime (subject to availability).
*Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.
*If you are looking to redeem either a Rio Theatre gift certificate or Groupon to any regular Rio Theatre screening: You can either email us in advance <[email protected]> and give us a “heads up,” or do it at the box office prior to showtime.

*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale.