Dearest Friends and Rio Family: Effective immediately. we will be temporarily dimming our lights and powering down the projector. Some events are being postponed, and others canceled – we will do our best to connect with ticket-holders and advise them of future plans as soon as they are made clear to us. In the meantime, stay safe out there! We’ll let you know when we’re able to start buttering your popcorn again, and we look forward to seeing you then. We’re gonna get through this, people! Until then, lots of love from everyone at the Rio. xoxox

“This is the story of the period between two world wars–an interim during which insanity cut loose, liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat.”

Released in 1940, THE GREAT DICTATOR remains a groundbreaking film; it’s a political satire comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring legendary British comic and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin. While Chaplin certainly had a deft hand in all of his films, THE GREAT DICTATOR is especially notable within his canon as it was his first real foray into the world of “talkies.”

At the time of its initial release, the United States was still at peace with Nazi Germany, though the seeds of discontent were firmly planted with many around the world. THE GREAT DICTATOR remains a telling, very contemporary, and very direct condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, fascism, antisemitism, the burgeoning Nazi movement, and everything else that was being sown in Europe at the time.

Chaplin stars in both leading roles: as a ruthless, fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber. Popular with audiences upon release, it would go one to become his most commercially successful film. Eighty years later, the film remains both fresh and compelling while historically significant as an important work of satire. Also starring Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie.

“Charlie Chaplin demonstrates that his comedic voice is undiminished by dialogue in this rousing satire of tyranny, which may be more distinguished by its uplifting humanism than its gags.” (Rotten Tomatoes)

“The first full-blown talkie from the biggest star of the silent era, complete with a message that Chaplin couldn’t have sent more loudly or clearly.” (Film.com)

Sunday, March 22
Doors 3:15 pm | Movie 3:45 pm
Advance tickets $13 HERE | $13 at the door

Why not make it a double feature with Taika Waititi’s Oscar-winning satire JOJO RABBIT at 6:20 pm?
See both for $17 advance HERE | $17 at the door

*Minors welcome in the balcony! Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service and main floor seating.
**Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single screening! Please redeem at the door.

THE GREAT DICTATOR (Charlie Chaplin, 1940 / 125 mins / G) Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel’s regime.