A film festival that is truly a blood-splattered love letter to horror's past, present, and future, Popcorn Frights is an infectiously fun celebration of not just the scares on the big screen, but also the people who put their hearts and souls into creating them. This August, that celebratory cinematic spirit will haunt South Florida when Popcorn Frights returns for its eleventh edition from August 7th–17th with an in-theater and virtual lineup that is brimming with legendary special guests, retrospective screenings, immersive theatrical experiences, and must-see movies from emerging filmmakers with their own killer styles.
Following a scary good first wave reveal and a frightfully fun second wave unveiling, Popcorn Frights has announced that their highly anticipated closing night film will be the U.S. premiere of Max Minghella's Shell, starring Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss.
Below, we have a look at the official press release with additional details as well as this year's festival artwork by Kent Hernandez. If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing Popcorn Frights, trust me when I say that it's a sun-soaked horror cinema celebration unlike any other.
You can purchase In-Theater All-Access VIP Badges here and Virtual All-Access Passes here. In the meantime, mark your calendars, stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, and be sure to visit Popcorn Frights' official website for more information!
Press Release: July 22, 2025 // – Popcorn Frights is going out with a high-gloss scream as it proudly announces the U.S. Premiere of SHELL as its official Closing Night selection. Directed by Max Minghella (TEEN SPIRIT), this genre-bending vision will cap off the 11-day horror celebration taking place August 7-17, 2025, across South Florida and online nationwide.
SHELL stars Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson in a deliciously twisted take on the beauty industry, fame, and self-reinvention. Down on her luck actress Samantha Lake (Moss) is invited into the ultra-glamorous world of Zoe Shannon (Hudson), CEO of health & wellness company Shell. But when Shell patients start to go missing, Samantha realizes Shell may be protecting a monstrous secret.
Following its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, SHELL’s Popcorn Frights debut marks its first U.S. screening, further cementing the festival’s reputation as a premier destination for bold, visionary genre cinema.
Recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World," Popcorn Frights returns for its eleventh edition with a hybrid format, presenting 58 feature film premieres, immersive experiences, and special presentations with appearances by iconic filmmakers and stars.
A Third Wave of programming announcements is still to come, promising even more cinematic mayhem!
Individual tickets and All-Access Badges for the in-theater experience—hosted at Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso Hollywood—are now available. Virtual All-Access Passes can also be purchased for streaming access to the full digital lineup. To order an In-Theater All-Access VIP Badge, click here, to order a Virtual All-Access Pass, click here.
The eleventh edition of the Popcorn Frights Film Festival is made possible with the support of its generous sponsors, including AGFA, Blue Underground, Celluloid Dreams, Fangoria, Flick Direct, Kino Cult, MVD, Paramount Scares, Radiance Films, Troma, and its loyal fans. For more info about Popcorn Frights, visit PopcornFrights.com
For all further details please visit http://popcornfrights.com
Follow Along!
facebook.com/popcornfrightsABOUT POPCORN FRIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Popcorn Frights Film Festival is the ultimate summer celebration of the art of horror, showcasing the finest contemporary genre cinema from around the world. As the largest genre film festival in the Southeast U.S., this eleven-day event takes pride in premiering works from both emerging and established filmmakers. By offering a platform for these artists, the festival aims to provide an immersive experience that highlights the captivating power of storytelling through genre film.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
