Since 2018, Inferno’s SiNema night has been screening movies for those who love horror, comedy, cheesy 80s action and the surreal. If you prefer as much of a cast to be played by Nicolas Cage as possible, this is the film night for you. They’ve got popcorn and happy hour prices till 9pm, and starting next week Anarkia Craft Kitchen is giving them a whole new burger and bar food menu. It’s a fun, warm atmosphere and lately, they’ve been letting the regulars pick the movies, so now is a perfect time to jump in. Tonight they're playing the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal, which you already know you should watch and now’s the perfect excuse. Plus, it won the award for Best Sound, so the metal has got to sound pretty amazing. Every Tuesday the movie starts at 8.30pm, no cover.

Queer Screen Chitchat is a biweekly livestreamed discussion about the Asian intersection of queer lives, experiences and screen culture. Tonight they'll be broadcasting episode 5 of their second season, “Half the Sky, Half the Screen,” featuring a conversation on both the importance of and inequalities related to female representation in the film industry – a hot topic considering some of the recent Oscar winners. Producer Sol Ye will be joining as a special guest. Hear it through Shanghai Community Radio on Billibilli by typing SHCRAD.IO in your browser. Starts at 9 pm, but be aware that the actual chitchat will be in Chinese.

Hip bar/gallery/commune Keep It Quiet has their own weekly movie night every Wednesday, and this week they’re screening perennial edgy-boi favorite "There Will Be Blood". Everyone is invited to come and watch, and remember back to a time when Paul Thomas Anderson used to be at least somewhat accessible. There’s a 70rmb cover, but it includes a glass of wine, all the better for appreciating Johnny Greenwood’s anxious score and Daniel Day-Lewis’ answer to the question: what if a mustache had an accent? The movie starts at 8.30pm, and goes till 11 pm, but they ask that you show up at least 15 minutes early as seating is limited.

After a successful show in Hangzhou, Empire Improv is back at the Park Tavern on Friday nights. Come and watch local comedy heavyweights Dewey Parker, Josh Tyas, and Stephen Smith create comedy scenes from nothing but your suggestions and – hold on, this can’t be right – their own imaginations?! I’ll believe it when I see it. Laugh along to the Guffaw Gang (note: this nickname so far remains unapproved by the staff of Empire Imrov) this Friday, 8 pm, at the Park Tavern. Entrance is free if you buy a drink.

This Saturday, the Very Open Mic becomes the Very Labor Mic (because of Labor Day! I literally just got that) and welcomes readers, singers, and performers of all stripes to come and share the mic. The Very Open Mic community revolves around the concept of giving voice to any form of creative self-expression without judgement, which sounds like a boundary begging to be tested. The venue is LOFAS on Ruiping, and as always the whole thing is totally free. You can scan the QR code in the poster if you’d like to reserve a performance slot, or just go with the flow. Doors open at 7.30pm, and the mic goes hot at 8pm.