PUNISHMENT PARK (1971) — One of the most controversial movies ever made
January 11, 2026 : 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
LOST IN THE ARTHOUSE is a monthly series hosted by Arkadin co-owner Keith Watson that takes you to hidden corners of filmdom far from Hollywood. From must-see classics to obscurities waiting to be discovered, these films stand at cinema’s bleeding edge.
“Is this the most powerful protest film ever made? Raw, bracing, visceral and confrontational…feels as vital today as it did back in 1971” – Little White Lies
On October 30, 2025, one day after his 90th birthday, legendary British filmmaker Peter Watkins ascended to that great commune in the sky, leaving behind an uncompromising legacy of socially engaged, politically radical, and formally daring cinema that still stands as a challenge to the narcotizing clichés of mainstream filmmaking. We salute Watkins’ life and work with a screening of one of his most blistering and controversial films, PUNISHMENT PARK, now celebrating its 60th anniversary. Set in an alternate version of 1970 in which president Richard Nixon has invoked the McCarran Act to crack down on anti-war protesters, the film imagines a tribunal in which hippies, Black radicals, feminists, and communists are put on trial for subversion. Once convicted, they’re offered the chance to serve a three-day sentence in “Punishment Park,” a forbidding patch of the Mojave Desert where they’ll be hunted by police officers and National Guardsmen in a deadly live training exercise. If they survive, they earn their freedom. But will anyone make it out alive? In this age of ICE raids, Trumpian fascism, and hostility to dissent, PUNISHMENT PARK is absolutely essential viewing.
Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.
Theater Policies
- All seats are first-come, first-served.
- The theater opens 30 minutes prior to showtime, except for “Happy Hour” events and pre-shows when the theater opens at the listed start time.
- All ages are welcome at Arkadin except for Drinkolas Cage events, which are restricted to 21+. We follow the MPAA rating guidelines for all other films.
- Tickets can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS link above. Upon ordering, you will receive a confirmation email from Square. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the show at the concession counter.
- If you’ve purchased advance tickets, when you arrive, please give your name at the concession counter to check in.
- Tickets are returnable by sending a request through the contact form located on our About Us page prior to showtime.
- When an event is sold out, we reserve the right to release open seats to customers on the waitlist. If you have a pre-purchased ticket and arrive late and there is no seat for you, your ticket will be refunded.
- All screenings are held in our indoor theater unless indicated otherwise in the event description above.
- Please respect your fellow movie-goers by remaining quiet and refraining from using your cell phone throughout the screening.