Moonlight & Movies

Moonlight & Movies returns and is here to stay year-round! Join us for a series of screenings inspired by the Museum's current exhibitions, New York, New Music: 1980 - 1986 (opened June 11, 2021) and Puppets of New York (opened August 12, 2021). These films explore some of the dazzling cultural movements, fashion trends, unexpected events, and exceptional artists that defined New York's music scene of the 1980's and captivated the world.

Event Thursday, August 11, 6:30pm

Moonlight & Movies | Man Push Cart

Join us for a screening of the acclaimed independent film "Man Push Cart" (2005), with an introduction by Oscar-nominated director Ramin Bahrani and Dan Barry, senior writer at The New York Times.

Movie poster for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Event Thursday, June 30, 7:30pm

Moonlight & Movies | Hedwig and the Angry Inch

An outdoor screening of the cult rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, with an introduction by Chiquitita and Charlene Incarnate.

Event Friday, April 1, 6:00pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Being John Malkovich

A screening of Spike Jonze's cult film Being John Malkovich, introduced by Monxo López, curator of Puppets of New York, and veteran marionettist Vít Hořejš.

Movie poster for "Born in Flames." A woman is staring at the camera with her hands crossed.

Event Thursday, March 10, 6:30pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Born in Flames

Celebrate Women's History Month with Lizzie Borden's unforgettable 1983 indie feminist film, Born in Flames.

Event Thursday, February 24, 6:30pm

Past Event: The Brother from Another Planet with Joe Morton

An Afrofuturist film night featuring John Sayles' "The Brother from Another Planet," introduced by actor Joe Morton.

A series of images from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival: B.B King playing the guitar, a crowd of festival attendees, Mahalia Jackson singing, Nina Simone singing, and Sly & The Family Stone singing. Text on the bottom reads: “A Questlove Jawn, Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not be Televised)”

Event Friday, February 18, 6:30pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Summer of Soul

Join us for a screening of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson's Oscar-nominated documentary "Summer of Soul," introduced by "The Harlem Ambassador" Musa Jackson and Harlem community arts activist Yvette Russell.

A portrait of Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth sitting next to each other. Their bodies are colorized blue and the background is red.

Event Thursday, December 2, 6:30pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Stop Making Sense

A conversation with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of the Tom Tom Club and the Talking Heads, and journalist James Wolcott, followed by a screening of Stop Making Sense.

A series of three blurry images: B.B King playing the guitar, Mahalia Jackson looking up, and Sly & The Family Stone singing.

Event Thursday, November 11, 6:30pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Behind the Summer of Soul

A panel discussion with the producers of Questlove's documentary, "Summer of Soul," about the historic Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969.

Grandmaster Flash is standing outside during sunset. He is wearing a dark blue baseball cap, a white jean jacket, and a black t-shirt. His right hand is holding up a gold chain with a pendant that has his initials, GM.

Event Thursday, October 14, 6:30pm

Past Event: Moonlight & Movies | Wild Style

An outdoor screening of Wild Style preceded by a conversation with director Charlie Ahearn, hip-hop legend Grandmaster Flash, and music journalist Jeff Mao.