Feb. 26, 2025

Opening night of the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival was filled with non-stop laughter as the fast-paced comedy “Bad Shabbos” played to a sold-out crowd. Now, Menemsha Films is bringing this award-winning hit back to Charlotte for a theatrical run at The Independent Picture House from March 4-13. If you missed it at the festival or simply need a good, hearty laugh, this is your chance to catch “Bad Shabbos” on the big screen!
“Bad Shabbos” follows an engaged interfaith couple, David and Meg, who are a bit tense as their families are about to meet for the first time over a traditional Shabbat dinner at David’s parents’ home on New York’s Upper West Side. What should have been an evening of warm introductions takes a wildly unexpected turn when a harmless prank goes awry, leading to the shocking discovery of a dead body just before Meg’s devout Catholic parents are expected to arrive.

This uproarious dark comedy is packed with unpredictable twists, razor-sharp humor, and nonstop laughs. Leading the stellar ensemble cast are Kyra Sedgwick and Cliff “Method Man” Smith, joined by David Paymer, Milana Vayntrub, Jon Bass, Meghan Leathers, Theo Taplitz, Catherine Curtin, John Bedford Lloyd, and Ashley Zukerman, with a special cameo by Josh Mostel.

Co-written by Daniel Robbins and Zack Weiner, “Bad Shabbos” was inspired by an idea from producer Adam Mitchell. Robbins shares, “At the Weiner family Shabbat dinners, there are often new guests, and the matriarch loves playing pranks on unsuspecting diners.” Building on that tradition, Mitchell imagined the ultimate comedic disaster — what if one of those pranks went horribly wrong, leading to an unexpected death and turning a Shabbat dinner into total chaos?

Director and co-writer Daniel Robbins took inspiration from beloved comedies like “Meet the Parents” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” crafting “Bad Shabbos” with the same blend of humor and heartfelt chaos. The film’s universal themes and sharp comedic timing have struck a chord with audiences of all backgrounds, earning it Audience Awards at prestigious festivals such as Tribeca, Palm Springs, and Boston.

In addition to “Bad Shabbos” opening the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, Menemsha Films also provided the festival’s closing night feature, “Midas Man,” which tells the story of Brian Epstein and his role in catapulting The Beatles to fame.

Founded in 1998 by Neil Friedman, Menemsha Films is committed to distributing top-tier arthouse cinema, carefully selecting exceptional films from around the world. The company has a remarkable track record, having discovered and represented five consecutive Academy Award nominees over five years.

The Independent Picture House is located at 4237 Raleigh St, Charlotte, NC 28213.

Tickets are now available online at https://independentpicturehouse.org/