IT ENDS: Why Watch it Once, When You Can Watch it Many Times, in a Row, Over 36 Hours

Do you have what it takes to ride on the endless road? Inspired by the nightmarish premise of IT ENDS, THE ENDLESS SCREENING will put four friends to the ultimate test of stamina, friendship and psychological fortitude. A 36-hour theatrical endurance challenge inspired by Alex Ullom’s directorial debut launches in New York City in partnership with METRO PRIVATE CINEMA. Not in New York City? NEON welcomes all independent theaters interested in inviting their audiences on the ultimate joy ride to partner.

 

In Ullom’s film, a group of recent graduates heads out on a late-night drive for food, hoping to enjoy one final hangout before their paths diverge. Instead, they accidentally turn onto a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Trapped together inside a Jeep Cherokee with the miles stretching infinitely ahead, they face a choice: embrace their new existence or fight to escape it. Now, audiences will get their own chance to find out just how long they can endure when there’s no end in sight.

 

THE ENDLESS SCREENING: NEW YORK will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on August 21 and continue through 7:00 a.m. ET on August 23 at METRO PRIVATE CINEMA, 131 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011. Four-person teams will take part in a “Last Person Standing” competition, challenging them to remain inside the theater for the full 36-hour marathon, with designated breaks throughout. Each group member will receive $0.25 for every minute they remain in the competition, up to $540 per person. If every member of a group makes it through the entire 36-hour marathon, each member will receive an additional $500 bonus. Each participant will also receive a $250 theater credit toward concessions during the marathon, excluding alcohol. And, because no endless journey should be entirely predictable, bonus surprises will take place along the way. NEON welcomes all independent theaters interested in inviting their audiences on the ultimate joy ride to partner. Reach out to your NEON sales contact for more information

 

The contest is open to legal residents of New York City who are 21 years of age or older. To enter, groups of exactly four must submit a video of no more than 60 seconds to Instagram explaining why they have what it takes to go the distance, using #ItEndsMarathonContest and tagging @itendsmovie. One person may submit on behalf of their group, but must name all group members in the video. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PT on August 17, 2026. The submitting Instagram account must be public at the time of entry. Groups of fewer than four people are not eligible.

 

IT ENDS opens in New York and Los Angeles on August 21, 2026, followed by a national theatrical release on August 28. The film premiered at SXSW in 2025. Audiences in Vancouver can experience the film early with a sneak screening of IT ENDS on Sunday, August 16 at The Park Theatre Vancouver, director Alex Ullom and Backrooms filmmaker Kane Parsons will join for a special Q&A.

 

IT ENDS stars Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, and Mitchell Cole. The film is produced by Carrie Carusone and Evan Barber and executive produced by Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder, Carson Tappan, Roshni “Rush” Bhatia, Andrew Mayne, Ryan Keely, Elle León Nostas, Ben Mekler, and Chris Amick.

 

For complete eligibility requirements and contest rules, visit the official IT ENDS Endless Screening Contest Official Rules