Here We Go Again! [Special Screenings, Nov. 1-8]

They Live. When I saw that Roddy Piper of pro fake wrestling fame headed the cast of this John Carpenter movie in 1988, I figured it must suck so very, very hard. But the tale of an aimless wanderer who picks up a pair of sunglasses in LA that allow him to see things as they really are is actually a pretty solid horror-comedy worthy of its cult status. Keith David and Meg Foster co-star. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Ste. 100, Santa Ana, (714) 285-9422; thefridacinema.org. Thurs. Nov. 1, 2:30, 5:30, 8 & 10 p.m.; Fri., 10 p.m. $7-$10.

Never Heard. Josh Webber’s drama has a father (David Banner) accused of murder and incarcerated for a crime he swears he didn’t commit; his son (Romeo Miller) growing up on the streets of Los Angeles without a dad’s guidance; and the boy’s mother (Robin Givens) and grandmother (Karen Abercrombie) raising him alone. AMC Fullerton 20, 1001 S. Lemon St., Fullerton, (714) 992-6962; AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Big Newport 6, 300 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, 255 W. Birch St., Brea, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, 26602 Towne Center Dr., Foothill Ranch, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Metro Pointe Stadium 12, 901 South Coast Dr., Costa Mesa, (714) 428-0962; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342; Regal La Habra Stadium 16, 1351 W. Imperial Hwy., La Habra, (562) 690-4909; www.fathomevents.com. Thurs., Nov. 1, 7 p.m. $12.50.

Soufra. The inspiring, unifying documentary follows Mariam Shaar, who has spent all of her 69 years in a refugee camp south of Beirut, and other refugee women from throughout the Middle East launching a catering company called Soufra, which is Arabic for buffet. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435; arttheatrelongbeach.org. Thurs., Nov. 1, 7 p.m. $8.50-$11.50.

Thunder Road. According to the Frida, Jim Cummings’ award-winning film “follows Officer Jim Arnaud (Cummings), a decent man struggling with relationship and anger issues. After he loses his mother, he endeavors to do a better job raising his young daughter Crystal (Kendal Farr).” The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 2:30 & 5:30 p.m.; Sat., 12:30, 2:30, 5 & 7 p.m.; Sun., 11:30 a.m., 2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs., Nov. 8, 2, 4 & 6 p.m. $7-$10.

Biotech Science Theater 3000: Jurassic Park. Santiago Canyon College Biotech presents the first of what is hoped to be an annual event in which live science commentary accompanies a popular film. First up is Steven Spielberg’s 1993 sci-fi thriller based on Michael Crichton’s novel. Things go screwy on an island where cloned dinosaurs roam free in a wildlife park. Santiago Canyon College, Room SC105, 8045 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 628-4900. Fri., light refreshments, 6 p.m.; program, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Coco. It’s an outdoor screening of the 2017 computer-animated Disney Pixar hit about a 12-year-old (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) who is sent to the Land of the Dead. He will remain there forever unless he can return to the Land of the Living before Day of the Dead ends. Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Pkwy., Lake Forest; ca-lakeforest.civicplus.com. Fri., activities, 6 p.m.; screening, dusk. Free.

The Public Image Is Rotten. Tabbert Fiiller’s documentary examines John Lydon/Johnny Rotten’s career after the Sex Pistols, which has included fronting Public Image Ltd (PiL), a genre-jumping group that has lasted 15 times longer than the pioneering punk-rock band. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri.-Sat. & Wed., 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.

Planet of the Apes: 50th Anniversary. Charlton Heston stars in this 1968 classic that you damn dirty apes have surely seen, but probably never on the big screen, where it becomes even more epic. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., noon, 2:30 & 5 p.m.; Sun., noon, 2:30, 5 & 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.

Dragon Ball Z Saiyan Double Feature. Fathom Events and Toei Animation present the U.S. debuts of fully remastered animes dubbed into English. Dragon Ball Z: Bardock—The Father of Goku is about a low-class Saiyan soldier who unexpectedly inherits the ability to see into the future. Great, right? Wrong: His life takes a dramatic turn for the worse! Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn has an industrial disaster in Other World unleashing a monstrous beast and a dangerous plan to attack it. Only an unprecedented act of teamwork can save the universe. Audiences are also treated to special content and an exclusive Dragon Ball Super trading card (while supplies last). AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, 99 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 435-5754; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Big Newport 6, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, 9741 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Sat., 12:55 p.m.; Mon., 7 p.m. $12.50.

Three Tales. The documentary video opera, which was composed by Steve Reich with video by Beryl Korot, recalls three well-known events from the 20th century that reflect on the growth and implications of technology: the Hindenburg explosion, the Bikini Atoll nuclear tests and Dolly the cloned sheep. The performance features two sopranos, three tenors, a string quartet, percussion, keyboards and prerecorded audio that includes actual interviews. Scottish Rite Center, Ernest Borginine Theatre, 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach, (562) 470-7464; longbeachopera.org. Sat., 6 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m. $49-$110.

Repo! The Genetic Opera! The costumed shadowcast troupe Addicted to the Knife returns to dance and lip-sync to the 2008 horror-musical opus filled with dirty, gory excess, family melodrama, mysterious illnesses, mind-blowing future-drugs, designer organ repossessions, a few surprising cameos, and a superabundance of bloody stabs and slices. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., 11:30 p.m. $7-$10.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The pioneering midnight movie starts with the car of sweethearts Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) breaking down near the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). The transvestite scientist’s home also hosts a rocking biker (Meat Loaf), a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien) and assorted freaks, including a hunk of beefcake named “Rocky.” Live shadow-cast troupe Midnight Insanity performs. Art Theatre; arttheatrelongbeach.org. Sat., 11:55 p.m. $8.50-$11.50.

Mamma Mia! The Movie 10th Anniversary. Relive the 2008 musical set on a colorful Greek island with a wealth of ABBA songs. A bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) discovers in the diary of her mother (Meryl Streep) that one of three men could be her father. So the young woman invites the trio to the wedding . . . without informing her mom. The special featurette Meryl’s Big Number also screens. AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, (562) 435-5754 (no Sun., 4 p.m. show); Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Sun., 1 & 4 p.m.; Tues., 4 & 7 p.m. $12.50.

Free Screening With Director Sim Jae-myung. Center for Critical Korean Studies presents a film directed by Sim Jae-myung, who is better known as the CEO of Myung Film; the producer of Cart, Venus Talk and Architecture 101; and an outspoken advocate for female filmmakers. UC Irvine, McCormick Hall, Humanities Gateway 1070, First Floor, Campus and West Peltason drives, Irvine, (949) 824-6117. Mon., 2 p.m. Free.

Big Trouble In Little China. In John Carpenter’s cult classic from 1986, Kurt Russell is hard-boiled truck driver Jack Burton, who gets caught in a bizarre conflict in (and below) San Francisco’s Chinatown involving an ancient Chinese prince, a crime lord and a beautiful green-eyed woman who grew up to be a Sex and the City MILF. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon.-Tues., 2:30, 5, 7 & 9 p.m. $7-$10.

V for Vendetta. James McTeigue’s socio-political commentary based on Alan Moore’s graphic novel featured Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman blowing up Britain. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon., 8 p.m. $7-$10.

Chappaquiddick. FPL Arthouse presents John Curran’s drama that quietly arrived in U.S. theaters on April 6 and left, although critics did generally praise the effort. In 1969, Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) drives his car into Poucha Pond on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, killing his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara). The film mostly revolves around the Kennedy family’s response. Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6327. Wed., 6 p.m. Free.

Tehran Tourist. UC Irvine’s Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture, in collaboration with the Iranian American Women Foundation, shows the second experimental documentary by UCI Anthropology Professor Roxanne Varzi, who participates in an audience Q&A and reception afterward. Shot mostly with a handheld iPhone 4s, the film moves in and out of political landscapes to introduce American audiences to an Iran few have been privy to. UCI, McCormick Hall, (949) 824-6117. Wed., 6 p.m. Free.

Superman. It’s the 1978 movie that helped to usher in today’s cinema takeover by comic-book heroes. Having acquired great powers from the Earth’s sun, Krypton transplant Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) pits his superhero abilities against master criminal Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), who plots the greatest real-estate swindle of all time. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.

Fly Away Home. The Thursday Matinee film series, whose theme this month is “Birds of a Feather,” continues with Carroll Ballard’s 1996 coming-of-age tale about a girl (Anna Paquin) who loses her mother in a car accident and struggles to find her place in her new home with her oddball inventor father (Jeff Daniels). Their relationship changes as they work together to teach motherless geese how to fly south for the winter. Bring snacks and beverages but no booze and ABSOLUTELY no bird feed. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Nov. 8, 1 p.m. Free.

Hymn—Sarah Brightman in Concert. The world-renowned soprano celebrates her new album, Hymn, by performing songs from it live for the big screen from the Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps. AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Thurs., Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. $12.50.

Twisted Pair. The fifth feature film from writer/director Neil Breen has him playing identical twins who become hybrid artificial-intelligence entities. They get torn in different directions to achieve justice for humanity. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.