Located in an historic building at 706 First Avenue in Opelika, Alabama, BOXCAR is a revival cinema, lounge, and alternative art space dedicated to film, music, and performance—an experience unlike anything else in the Opelika-Auburn-Columbus region.

BOXCAR began as a grassroots effort to bring film education and culture to the local community. What started as weekly screenings in borrowed spaces has evolved into a vibrant home for creatives, intellectuals, cinephiles, and the simply curious. As the brick-and-mortar venue of the Opelika Auburn Film Arts Collective (OAFAC)—a nonprofit, educational arts organization—BOXCAR uses the “common screen experience” to educate, inspire, and connect. Through regular film screenings, live performances, workshops, and community gatherings, Boxcar fosters collaboration, celebrates experimentation, and reflects the ever-changing spirit of the community it serves.

The name BOXCAR carries a spirit of escape, independence, and transport—a nod to the founder’s days of train-hopping and to the timeless connection between railways and cinema. Much like a journey viewed from the open door of a train car, Boxcar seeks to transport its audience—offering both a refuge and a challenge. Some nights might provoke, others might soothe, but all are designed to move.

Today, BOXCAR stands as a hub for artistic risk-taking and communal discovery. Patrons can expect a warm welcome, an enchanting space filled with possibility, and a lovingly curated experience that honors both the beautiful and the unsettling. At its best, Boxcar is more than a theater—it’s a place where people find connection, inspiration, and the world they want to live in, one screening at a time.