Bad Shabbos Hits Theaters After Tribeca Audience Award Win
Tribeca Audience Award winner Bad Shabbos opens May 19 in NYC before rolling out across US
Poulami is an associate editor. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.
Read full bio of Poulami Nag
Image: Instagram
Tribeca Win Sparks Theatrical Debut
Bad Shabbos, an offbeat comedy that snagged the Tribeca Audience Award, takes its first bow on the big screen this weekend. The film, which blends sharp Jewish cultural humor with slapstick and heartfelt moments, opens at the Quad Cinema in New York City on May 19 and expands to more theaters across the US starting May 23.
Stellar Cast Brings Comedy To Life
Directed by Menem Shaff and produced by Menem Shaff Films, Bad Shabbos features a mix of film and music talent. Catherine Curtin—best known for her roles on Orange Is the New Black and Stranger Things—stars alongside hip-hop legend Method Man (credited as @methodmanofficial) and Broadway veteran Jon Bass (@thejonbass). The supporting ensemble includes Milana Vayntrub (@mintmilana), Meg Leathers (@meg_leathers), Ashley Zukerman (@ashzukerman) and a surprise cameo from Kyra Sedgwick (@kyrasedgwick).
Curtin plays a no-nonsense aunt determined to keep an eye on her teenage nephew’s chaotic Bar Mitzvah weekend. Method Man turns in a scene-stealing performance as the overenthusiastic party DJ, while Bass provides straight-man gravitas. In a recent Instagram Stories post, @catecurtin shared a behind-the-scenes snap of the cast’s first table read—hints of which can be seen in a throwaway gag about spreadsheet-obsessed PTA parents.
Nationwide Rollout Schedule
• May 19–22: Quad Cinema, NYC
• May 23–29: Expansion to Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and more
• June 2–6: Additional markets join the lineup
Viewers can check local listings and grab tickets at quadcinema.com/film/bad-shabbos/. The film’s producers promise extended city-by-city screening dates through June and into early summer.
From Festival Darling To Theatre Staple
Bad Shabbos premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in April, where it built a strong word-of-mouth following. Audiences praised its brisk pacing and culturally specific jokes that still resonate beyond a single community. Early reviews called it “a crowd-pleaser with heart” and “the Jewish answer to a national treasure hunt.” Those reactions led to the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, sealing its theatrical fate.
In an interview with IndieWire, co-writer and director Menem Shaff said, “We wanted a film that felt lived-in, funny and warm—something families could share, and that audiences could recognize their own relatives in.” The cast’s chemistry, Shaff added, “was electric from day one.”
Why It Matters
Bad Shabbos arrives at a moment when indie comedies face stiff competition from streaming and big-budget blockbusters. Its success at Tribeca underscores a renewed appetite for culturally specific stories told with authenticity. Catherine Curtin told The New York Times, “Audiences want laughs but also a connection—an honest look at modern life.”
Method Man, known predominantly for his music career, said in a press Q&A, “Comedy was a new playground for me. I got to bust jokes and still drop some beats.” Jon Bass, who recently starred in the hit comedy series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, added, “This is one of those ensemble pieces where you never know who’s going to steal the show.”
Where To Catch It
Bad Shabbos opens exclusively at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan starting Friday, May 19. New screenings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and select cities follow on May 23, with a broad rollout through early June. Tickets and showtimes are available online; look for extended runs in participating art-house theaters.
Whether you’re a comedy junkie, a fan of Method Man’s on-screen debut, or eager to see Catherine Curtin’s latest turn, Bad Shabbos promises a weekend of laughs, music and unexpected heart.
Don’t miss your chance to catch the film that had New York laughing through Tribeca—and now brings a bit of Bad Shabbos mischief to theaters nationwide.
Read full bio of Poulami Nag
