Fans keen on the goings-on with Big Bad Film Fest and within reach of Gardena Cinema will be pleased to learn that Tyler Atkins’s new sportfighting drama, Beast, will have an advanced screening on April 8. The screening marks just the latest notch for Big Bad in its growth since launching its inaugural festival in 2023, having grown its community just a little more each year and networking with various news outlets and fan platforms leading up to its fourth edition later this year.
Big Bad and Gardena Cinema launched its screening series last month with a slew of action shorts to preview for a feature look at Criterion’s 4K treatment of Tsui Hark’s hit wuxia classic, The Blade. The screening not only won critics and fans over but also inspired this lovely write-up by fellow critic and long distance colleague Jordan Crucchiola at RSCL’s The Action Desk on the topic of the state of “DTV Action” in 2026.
I have no doubt that the addition of Beast to the Big Bad/Gardena screening series line-up will be an enticing update for all of us who are paying attention. Read on below, and be sure to get your tickets promptly in time for the film’s nationwide release in theaters from Lionsgate via Grindstone on April 10.
LOS ANGELES: Big Bad Film Fest presents Russell Crowe’s BEAST in special West Coast screening ahead of theatrical release
BIG BAD FILM FEST is extending its brand of bringing hard hitting action to the big-screen as it partners with Lionsgate for an early screening of Tyler Atkins’ new MMA centered film BEAST.
Gardena Cinema will play host to the screening on April 8th before the film hits theaters nationwide on April 10th via Lionsgate.
BEAST stars Daniel MacPherson, Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, and Russell Crowe. Tyler Atkins directs a script from Land of Bad’s David Frigerio, which also starred MacPherson, Hemsworth, and Crowe. John Schwarz, David Frigerio, Michael Schwarz, Tim O’Hair produce.
“Big Bad Film Fest was built for movies like Beast,” said fest co-founders Patrick R Young and Powell Robinson. “Full of both heart and fist in front of and behind the screen – action and cinema fans are getting a full meal with this one. We’re so excited to share this movie with our audience at Gardena Cinema.”
Big Bad previously hosted a screening of Life After Fighting, directed and starring Beast’s Bren Foster.
Beast follows a once-feared MMA champion (MacPherson) as he is pulled back in for the fight of his life when his younger brother is put in danger. Reuniting with the trainer (Crowe) who once made him a legend, he commits to one final showdown against the reigning title-holder — a brutal fighter (Foster) determined to dismantle the ex-champ’s legacy in front of the world. Pushed to his breaking point, the contender’s stakes are simple: win, or lose everything he’s built.
Big Bad Film Fest aims to highlight action filmmakers, performers, and movies from past present and future. They’ve premiered films from Koichi Sakamoto, Chaya Suppanarat, and Louis Mandylor with stars like Dylan Sprouse, Scott Adkins, and Mason Gooding alongside screenings of classics like Tomorrow Never Dies with participation from Michelle Yeoh and Barbara Broccoli.
Tickets for Big Bad Film Fest’s screening of Beast are available now on Gardena Cinema’s website.
