Needle Drops

January 2–24, 2026

Some combinations of scene and sound are so striking they become irrevocably linked in our cultural memory. Well-timed tunes punctuate the edit, trigger strong emotions, and communicate unspoken stakes. Classical music with its sweeping instrumentation shines in many iconic movies and is a joy to experience in the cinema among a rapt audience.

In collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who mounts a live presentation of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY with a full orchestra and choir accompaniment on January 9 and 10, the Siskel Film Center presents our favorite films featuring indelible classical music cues.