Billings’ Babcock Theatre Is Back With $6 Movies This Weekend

My family and I attended HarvestFest in downtown Billings last weekend, and one thing that made us smile was right above the sidewalk.

“We are so back.”

After what feels like a lifetime of walking past the Babcock Theatre and seeing it still under construction, we were so excited to see those words on the marquee. Right underneath them was the news we’d been waiting for: grand reopening, October 16.

If you’ve been watching the progress, too, you probably understand our excitement. The Babcock is just about ready to throw open its doors again, and you can celebrate with a $6 movie.

Babcock Theatre in Billings Reopens October 16

Art House has announced that the Babcock Theatre’s public grand reopening is Friday, October 16, 2026, with special screenings continuing through Sunday, October 18.

That gives you a whole weekend to plan a return visit. Whether you’re looking for something to do with the kids or an affordable date night downtown, the reopening lineup has several classics to choose from.

Why Billings’ Babcock Theatre Closed in 2025

The Babcock closed after a section of its ceiling collapsed on May 28, 2025. Reopening required repairs, along with working through insurance issues and questions about the theater’s future.

In April 2026, the City of Billings sold the theater to Art House for $1. That ownership change allowed the nonprofit to move forward with repairs, and construction crews put scaffolding in place in June.

READ MORE: Before It Held Fine Art, This Billings Museum Held Inmates Behind Bars

Now, instead of walking past and wondering when you’ll be able to go inside again, you have a reopening date to look forward to.

Babcock Theatre Renovations Include Ceiling and Balcony Improvements

If you’ve visited the Babcock before, you'll notice changes when you return.

In a September interview with Q2, Art House Executive Director Matt Blakeslee described improvements that included replacing the entire ceiling, widening balcony aisles, adding handrails, and installing a tech booth to support more concerts.

He said the wider aisles would reduce seating slightly, from about 720 seats to approximately 700. Blakeslee also said the theater would feel brighter and cleaner when audiences returned.

Babcock Reopening Weekend Movie Tickets Are $6

Here’s the part that makes planning a visit a little easier on your wallet: tickets for the reopening screenings are $6 for everyone.

You don’t need an Art House membership to get that special price.

Maybe there’s a movie you’ve always wanted your kids to experience on a theater screen. Or maybe you’d like to revisit something you loved years ago. Here’s what’s playing.

Babcock Theatre Grand Reopening Movie Schedule

The official reopening schedule includes six screenings:

Friday, October 16: The Goonies at 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 17: The General at 1 p.m., The Wizard of Oz at 3:30 p.m. and Jurassic Park at 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 18: The Searchers at 2 p.m. and Psycho at 6 p.m.

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Where to Get Billings Babcock Theatre Reopening Tickets

Choose your screening and find ticket options on Art House’s Babcock Grand Reopening page.

For our family, seeing that marquee during HarvestFest was an exciting surprise. If you’ve also been walking past and waiting, you can finally put a date on the calendar.