Published August 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM EDT

Like a lot of the nation's best art-house movie theatres, The Rialto in Raleigh hosts regular screenings of the cult classic film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." It's a decades-long tradition, and continues at The Rialto every odd-numbered Friday of the month.

More recently though, on the first Monday of the month, the Rialto hosts a screening of Jonathan Demme's 1984 concert film starring the American rock band Talking Heads, "Stop Making Sense." It's a film that managing partner and "Chief Popcorn Popper" Hayes Permar deems to be the greatest concert movie of all time.

"It was the first movie we showed when we re-opened in 2023," Permar said. "Since we were bringing concerts back to The Rialto, the combo of it being a movie and a concert felt like a perfect fit."

Since the theatre originally opened in 1942, music has been an important part of The Rialto's story. Permar grew up in the Five Points neighborhood, and in 2023 he took over the space with a group of investors with the goal of making it a community gathering spot. The former owner temporarily closed the theatre in 2023 as fewer people attended movies and events there during the pandemic. Permar, the theatre director, likes to call himself the "chief popcorn popper."

"In the late 80s and early 90s I had older siblings who were going to concerts here," he said. "Jane's Addiction, Widespread Panic; Edie Brickell & New Bohemians played here the same week they performed on Saturday Night Live."

Since taking over, Permar has made sure to keep the musical history of the theatre alive. In addition to film screenings, the theatre regularly hosts concerts from both local and touring acts. This Fall The Rialto will host performances from Chatham Rabbits, Brett Dennen, and Pure Prairie League, just to name a few.

Brian Burns

A painting of The Rialto Theatre with "Stop Making Sense" on the marquee.

Much like with "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," people who attend "Stop Making Sense" screenings are encouraged to play along.

"We encourage people to clap like they're at a concert. We encourage people to dance if they want. Much like we learned from Rocky Horror, movies are more fun when you're participating," Permar said. "Sometimes people even get up and run around the theatre a little bit, mimicking (Talking Heads lead singer) David Byrne."

Permar says that while monthly attendance of the "Stop Making Sense" screenings ebbs and flows, it's always a great time.

"People are either seeing it for the first time and being blown away, or coming because they know they love the movie. For 20 bucks you can see the greatest concert film of all time, have a tall boy PBR, and the best popcorn in the state. It's a pretty good night out."