The city that launched the most influential duo in American film criticism is marking a major milestone this fall. The Chicago Film Office and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are celebrating 50 years of Siskel & Ebert with a month-long tribute at the Chicago Cultural Center, honoring the legacy of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and the Chicago roots that shaped their groundbreaking show.
What began in 1975 as Opening Soon… At a Theater Near You on WTTW evolved into a national phenomenon that introduced mainstream audiences to spirited debate, sharp criticism, and the iconic “two thumbs up.” Their chemistry, rivalry, and uncompromising opinions helped turn film criticism into a part of cultural conversation and it all started in a public-television studio on State Street.
The celebration features a curated lineup of screenings, special events, and archival presentations that revisit films the critics championed and moments that defined their partnership. Highlights include reenactments of early episodes, deep dives into their reviewing style, and opportunities for audiences to engage with the same spirited give-and-take that made the duo essential viewing for decades.
For Chicago’s film community, the anniversary underscores the city’s lasting influence on national media through two journalists who never left their newsroom sensibilities behind. Both Siskel, of the Chicago Tribune, and Ebert, of the Chicago Sun-Times, approached each episode with a newspaper critic’s discipline, a dynamic that gave the show its authenticity and helped elevate Chicago as a powerhouse in film discourse.
The tribute also reflects how their legacy continues to resonate. Many of the films included in the series earned wider acclaim after the duo championed them, and their approach to criticism still informs today’s reviewers.
Chicago’s month-long celebration not only honors two legendary critics but also pays tribute to a moment when a local PBS experiment reshaped how the world talks about movies. Fifty years later, we still feel their impact.
All screenings will take place in the historic Claudia Cassidy Theater, located within the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington Street).
Event Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 5 – 7 p.m.
EVE’S BAYOU (1997, dir. Kasi Lemmons, 109 min.)
Selected by Chaz Ebert, in attendance for post-screening discussion
Set in 1960s Louisiana, Eve’s Bayou follows a young girl whose discovery of her father’s infidelities shatters her childhood innocence. Director Kasi Lemmons delivers a haunting debut that blends Southern Gothic atmosphere with themes of memory and betrayal. Named Roger Ebert’s best film of 1997, the film features powerhouse performances led by Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett.
Wednesday, Nov. 12 – 7 p.m.
BREAKING AWAY (1979, dir. Peter Yates, 100 min.)
Selected by ‘Sneak Previews’ Thea Flaum, in attendance for post-screening discussion
Breaking Away tells the story of four working-class friends in Bloomington, Indiana, who challenge wealthy college students in a local bike race. With early standout performances from Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, and Jackie Earle Haley, the film is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale. Beloved by Siskel & Ebert, the pair famously offered refunds to any viewers unsatisfied with its charm.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 – 7 p.m.
DRUGSTORE COWBOY (1989, dir. Gus Van Sant, 100 min.)
Selected by FACETS programming director Charles Coleman, in attendance for post-screening discussion
Based on the autobiographical novel by James Fogle, this dreamy and wry drama features an indelible performance by Matt Dillon as the leader of a drug-addled gang drifting their way through the 1970s Pacific Northwest in search of the next drugstore to rob and the next high to hit. The breakout second feature by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho) ranked high on both critics’ 1989 best of lists and led Ebert to praise it in the tradition of American outlaw road movies like Easy Rider and Bonnie and Clyde.
Saturday, Nov. 22 – 2 p.m.
Siskel & Ebert at 50: A Live Performance
Roger Ebert (Zack Mast) and Gene Siskel (Stephen Winchell) are back in the balcony, watching recreated film clips from their past, arguing about their meaning and sharing historical context. With a live accompaniment from Jeffrey Thomas and his band of the Sneak Previews theme and the original “Root Beer Rag” theme, Siskel & Ebert at 50 features additional performances by Rachel Wilson and Tim Sozsko in the “clips.” Produced by a Pocket Guide to Hell, WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer will introduce the event, and a conversation among Sneak Previews producers Thea Flaum and Michelle McKenzie-Voigt moderated by Chicago Tribune’s Rick Kogan follows the 40-minute performance.
Tuesday, Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.
LONE STAR (1996, dir. John Sayles, 135 min.)
Selected by Filmspotting co-founder Adam Kempenaar, in attendance for a live podcast recording with Michael Phillips
Lone Star begins with the discovery of a skeleton in a Texas border town, sparking an investigation that unearths buried histories of racial tension and family secrets. John Sayles weaves a complex, novelistic mystery anchored by Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Peña’s career-best performance. Widely considered one of Sayles’ finest works, the film landed on both Siskel and Ebert’s top 10 lists of 1996.
For more information and to register for the Siskel & Ebert at 50 events.
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