Regal Joins AMC to Bring Dolly Parton’s Beloved Films Back to Theaters Nationwide

The entertainment industry mourned the loss of one of its most cherished icons this week with the passing of Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Renowned for a country music career that spanned decades, Parton also left a smaller yet deeply treasured film legacy, including two roles that have remained fan favorites for nearly 40 years.

Theater chains quickly moved to pay tribute to her legacy on the big screen. AMC Theatres announced it would be bringing back ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ for special screenings at approximately 200 locations nationwide, running from Friday, August 28, through Wednesday, September 2, with two matinee showings daily at AMC’s Fan Faves value pricing.

Now, Regal is significantly expanding its own tribute. Initially, Regal offered screenings of the same two films exclusively in Tennessee, Parton’s home state, but this tribute is set to expand to Regal theaters nationwide the following weekend, providing fans across the country another chance to revisit these performances on the big screen.

Regal’s Tennessee screenings carry an additional charitable purpose, with tickets priced at $9.25, and all proceeds benefiting Parton’s Imagination Library literacy program along with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital through the Regal Foundation. Harkins Theatres has also joined the tribute on a smaller scale, screening both films exclusively on August 29 and 30 with $6 tickets, all proceeds going toward the Imagination Library as well.

‘Steel Magnolias,’ released in 1989 and directed by Herbert Ross, features Parton as Truvy Jones, the owner of a small-town Louisiana beauty salon at the center of an ensemble cast that includes Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Daryl Hannah. Based on Robert Harling’s 1987 play, the film earned Julia Roberts a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination and grossed $86.4 million domestically.

Parton’s other major film tribute, ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,’ premiered in 1982 under director Colin Higgins, with Parton portraying Miss Mona Stangley, the proprietor of a beloved yet controversial Texas brothel. Co-starring Burt Reynolds as her secret romantic partner and local sheriff, the film also featured Dom DeLuise as a moralizing television personality and Charles Durning in a Supporting Actor Oscar-nominated role. The film opened to $11.8 million in its debut weekend, notably ending E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’s six-week reign atop the box office, and went on to gross nearly $70 million domestically.

While Parton’s film career may not have rivaled the scope of her music catalog, it still produced several enduring credits beyond these two titles, including her 1980 big-screen debut in ‘9 to 5,’ which later inspired a Tony-nominated stage musical. She also starred in the 1992 romantic comedy ‘Straight Talk’ and earned an Emmy nomination for her performance in Netflix’s 2021 holiday film ‘Christmas on the Square.’

With AMC’s tribute already in progress and Regal’s expansion set to reach audiences nationwide the following weekend, fans across the country will soon have multiple opportunities to see Parton’s most celebrated screen performances back where they belong. Between the charitable ticket proceeds and the extensive participation of theaters, this rollout serves as a fitting tribute to an icon whose influence extended far beyond Nashville.

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