March Sets a Record for
Ohio Goes to the Movies — 46 Free Events!
COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 19, 2026) – Ohio Goes to the Movies (OGTTM), an America 250-Ohio Signature Event, is setting the bar high in March, the first full month of the program that runs through October, with 46 free events screening around the state. According to OGTTM Program Director Molly Kreuzman, movies selected range from blockbusters to classics, many featuring unique community connections, as detailed in the new monthly OGTTM Official Program, an online catalog with movie descriptions, run times and ratings, and Ohio connections.
OGTTM launched on February 11, with hundreds of venues planning their own unique events, some of which include pre- and post-event activities in addition to screening a movie(s) of their choice. Activities range from special guests and speakers to trivia events and red-carpet openings. All screenings feature an important Ohio connection, many of which are related to the host community.
March Movie Samplings Revealed!
Cinemark movie theaters across Ohio are marking March 1 (chosen because it is Ohio’s statehood day) as their OGTTM celebration with 14 different movies, all featuring an Ohio connection. Two of those Ohio connections – Rob Lowe (Dayton) and Steven Spielberg (Cincinnati) – involve special Cinemark themed events. The Rob Lowe Fest will include four Cinemark theaters: Cinemark The Greene screeningLowe’s early classic “The Outsiders,” Cinemark Huber Heights screening “Wayne’s World,” and Cinemark Dayton South and Sandusky’s Cinemark Stadium screening “Tommy Boy.” According to organizers, “The Outsiders” is Rob Lowe’s first film, and since he is from Dayton, it seemed fitting to play this one at The Greene.
The Steven Spielberg Fest will showcase three of the director/producer’s films: Cinemark Milford screening the family-friendly “Hook” on the film’s 35th anniversary; Cinemark Western Hills screening “AI,” a timely Spielberg film that celebrates its 25th anniversary; and Cinemark Oakley Station screening “The Color Purple.” The book was adapted into two films, and it’s been a while since the original has been on the big screen, so they are screening the 1985 film that Spielberg directed.
Women’s History Month
Recognized in March Movies
Toledo Lucas County Public Library will celebrate Women’s History Month with two special screenings. On March 4 guests can enjoy a film screening and panel discussion of “We Are the Toledo Troopers,” a 2023 documentary about the Toledo Troopers. Fifty-five years ago, the Toledo Troopers played their first professional women’s football game. They went on to win seven world championships from 1971 to 1979 in the Women’s Professional Football League and later the National Women’s Football League. In 1983, the Troopers were recognized as the “winningest team in professional football history” at the Pro Football Hall of Fame; they were also the first team to be inducted into Women’s Foundation Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
On March 7 the library will host a screening and discussion calledFrom Book to Movie: “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.”Carolyn Keene was the pen name of Toledoan Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Nancy Drew author. Following the film, Jennifer Fisher, president and founder of the Nancy Drew Sleuths, will discuss the original book and its revised editions, comparing them to the modern film version. She will also share her experience of attending the Hollywood film premiere. After the program, guests can visit the Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection in the Children’s Library. The Toledo Lucas County Public Library holds the largest public collection of Nancy Drew books and memorabilia in the United States.
The Mount Zion Black Cultural Center inAthens celebrates Women’s History Month on March 6 with its screening of “Hidden Figures” at Athena Cinema. The film highlights the remarkable contributions of the women behind Ohio astronaut John Glenn’s historic mission. The event, a collaboration between the Mount Zion Black Cultural Center and the Athens City Middle School Andrew Jackson Davison Club, will feature guest speaker Dr. Sarah Wyatt from Ohio University, who will discuss women’s careers in STEM.
Oscar Winners Featured in Academy Awards Month
Did you know that the 1952 Academy Award for Best Writing – Motion Picture Story went to Jackson, Ohio’s Frank Cavett for “The Greatest Show on Earth,” and it was not his first Oscar. You can learn more about Cavett and enjoy his dazzling film “The Greatest Show on Earth” at a circus-themed screening of the 74-year-old classic scheduled March 8 at the historic Markay Cultural Arts Center in Jackson. Cavett was known in Hollywood as author of 11 motion picture screenplays and as co-director and co-writer of “Going My Way,” for which Cavett won the 1945 Academy Award for Best Writing – Screenplay; the film also won the Best Picture Oscar.
Kent State University Museum, in partnership with Kent State Civic and Community Engagement, will host a special OGTTM evening event on March 26, celebrating Katharine Hepburn’s enduring influence on fashion, film and culture. “Breaking Fashion Barriers: Katharine Hepburn & Her Global Impact” features a reception, panel discussion and screening of 1941’s “The Philadelphia Story,” which earned multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor. The film not only showcases Hepburn’s iconic style and screen presence, but it also highlights the work of Columbus native Donald Ogden Stewart, who wrote the film’s Oscar-winning screenplay in 1941.
The museum, home to one of the most important period costume and fashionable dress collections in the country, houses Hepburn’s own costume collection, including theatrical costumes and personal items. Museum Director Sarah Spinner Lisak will moderate a panel featuring Catherine Leslie, School of Fashion faculty; Joanne Fenn, museum collections manager and registrar; Sara Hume, museum curator; and Em DeLoach, Civic and Community Engagement and School of Fashion student.
The 1935 film “Mutiny on the Bounty” won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor with Ohio’s Clark Gable starring. On March 28, the Puskarich Public Library in Cadiz will screen the film, and the local Clark Gable Foundation will provide the fun, including a period costume contest and trivia contest. The Clark Gable Museum will be open as well.
The Oscar-nominated 1960 film “Inherit the Wind” is being screened at the Pymatuning Valley Middle School/High School Performing Arts Center in Andover on March 13. The film’s strong Ohio connection is its adaptation from the acclaimed 1955 Broadway play about the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial written by Jerome Lawrence (Cleveland; The Ohio State University) and Robert E. Lee (Elyria; Ohio Wesleyan University).
Communities Celebrate
Local Connections and History
Across Ohio, communities selected movies with local connections. For example, Cleveland natives Joe and Anthony Russo are among the top-producing filmmakers in the business today. The breadth of their career is featured in the exhibit “Hollywood on the Cuyahoga” at the Cleveland History Center, which will host a screening of their early film “Welcome to Collinwood” on March 12. Activities willinclude a prescreen reception, a panel/networking component and access to the exhibit.
Peoples Bank Theatre in Marietta honorslocal film history with a special screening of the classic film “Battle Hymn”on March 29 while celebrating the theatre’s 10-year anniversary reopening. Originally released in 1957, “Battle Hymn” premiered in Marietta, debuting at the Colony Cinema and other local theaters. The premiere drew an estimated 25,000 people, making it one of the largest events ever to take place in Marietta. Hollywood star Rock Hudson, who portrayed the film’s lead character, visited the city for the festivities, which included a parade and a formal premiere ceremony at Marietta College. The occasion placed Marietta squarely in the national spotlight and remains a point of pride for the community. The March event will feature a red-carpet experienceprior to the screening, celebrating the glamour and excitement of the original 1957 premiere. Following the film, audiences are invited to stay for a guided post-film conversation, exploring the movie’s historical significance, its connection to Marietta and its enduring impact.
Showcasing Films Made in Ohio
On March 10, Shelby Theatres in Coshocton will host “Touchback,” a movie about a high school football star who loses his shot at a college scholarship due to a devasting injury but later gets a second chance at living his dream. The movie was filmed in the town and featured local football players, some of whom are expected to attend the screening.
Marvin Memorial Library in Shelby will screen “Fighting the Sky” on March 13. Select scenes were filmed in Shelby, with the library featured in one scene. The festivities will feature an alien theme, complete with an alien/green carpet event where guests will be encouraged to dress like aliens. Several community members were featured in the film; the director, Conrad Faraj, and actors are expected to attend.
Danbarry Cinemas in Chillicothe will screen “Without Her” on March 23, with the director, producer, writer and cast members available for questions. They also plan to collect donations for the Ross County Community Action, since the movie reflects issues that affect area residents. The story is told from the perspective of Sophia’s dog, whose owner faces the traumatic dilemma of leaving an abusive relationship.
Numerous OGTTM selections feature films made in Ohio, such as “Draft Day,” “Major League,” and “A Man Called Otto.” For the latter,Ohio actor Peter Lawson Jones (who appeared in the movie with Tom Hanks)will speak at two separate screenings: the Public Library of Steubenville Brilliant Branch on March 12 and Maumee Indoor Theatre on March 21.
Some screenings are very locally focused, such as the March 25 Miami Historical Society screening of “History in Your Own Backyard – Miamitown Videos” and the March 27 Pymatuning Area Chamber of Commerce screening of “The Ashtabula Train Disaster.”
“Our venue hosts selected a wide range of movie titles offering something for everyone! Ohio Goes to the Movies will deliver. You will be entertained and can share a fun movie experience with family, friends and community. You can discover Ohio’s small towns and large cities and their unique culture and attractions. It’s an economical road trip for solo travelers or multigenerational families, and everyone is invited to attend as many events as they like,” said Molly Kreuzman, Ohio Goes to the Movies program director. For the complete schedule of screenings, visit ohiogoestothemovies.org/events.
March 2026 Ohio Goes to the Movies Events
About Ohio Goes to the Movies
Ohio Goes to the Movies is a Signature Event of America 250-Ohio. The statewide cinematic celebration kicked off February 11, 2026, and will deliver more than 250 free movie events hosted by local venues in all 88 counties. The series continues through October as part of Ohio’s official commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. This first-ever initiative showcases Ohio’s long-standing influence on American film, its nationally recognized actors and directors and the iconic movies filmed across the state.
Media Contacts:
Betty Weibel, Yopko Penhallurick
216-956-4034 | bw@yp-pr.com
Jackie Reau, Game Day
513-708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com
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