Since the most recent update to the insanely-successful farming simulator game Stardew Valley, players have been able to access a movie theater. This theater will play eight movies, rotating by one each season. The films can increase friendship with certain villagers if it’s a movie they like, and are entertaining even if you go alone.
After completing the Community Center or purchasing all of the Joja upgrades, this extra bit of post-game content is unlocked. By completing the Missing Bundle or purchasing it from Joja, the Movie Theater will become available in town. Besides the films themselves, the player can also purchase concession snacks or play a crane game, where they can grab posters for the movies. The films cover a wide variety of genres, each with their own story and artwork. Here are all eight, ranked.
8 The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch
This optimistic tale is about the Festival of the Winter Star, basically the Stardew Valley version of Christmas. It takes the form of a typical Christmas tale, and how the people of Coldstar Ranch believed in the power of the Star and it rewarded them.
The family is stranded away from town, snowed in. The night before the Winter Star, the family is worried, as they’ve run out of food. The father heads out to cut down a tree for the celebration, and that tree eventually blesses them with a Stardrop to eat for still believing in the spirit of the Winter Star. It’s a touching tale, but it just feels somewhat boring and clichéd, so it takes the bottom spot on this list.
7 The Brave Little Sapling
This short film is the closest to a children’s movie in the Stardew theater. It’s loved by the two kids in town, Jas and Vincent, which is a testament to its family-friendly content. This film follows the adventures of a small tree sapling who is on his way to growing up and becoming the tree he was meant to be.
The film is quaint and cute, of course, but it has an uncomfortable ending. As the little sapling struggles to leave home and go on his way, he’ll encounter some trails and tribulations. But, he’ll eventually find his way to growing his first little sprout, ultimately becoming a tree. The sapling loses his human-like traits and becomes a tree, which is a bit morbid when you watch it the first time. It’s almost like he dies, but he doesn’t.
6 The Zuzu City Express
This film is an old black and white movie that has been restored for a modern audience. It’s beloved by the elderly couple, Evelyn and George, and several other people. In it, a young woman takes a train ride to Zuzu City. The film doesn’t say much about the plot beyond what it’s supposed to be about. The woman seems to struggle between love and something else, but it’s not quite clear.
The movie, lack of plot aside, is nice visually and seems to be a classic that many in the area love. Plus, it’s cool to see the inside of the infamous Stardew trains. It’s rare the player gets to see outside of the Valley, too, so it gets points for that.
5 Mysterium
This movie is a fun one. It’s produced and created by Welwick the Oracle, the fortune-teller who will tell you what your daily luck is on TV every day. It’s a mind-bending, artsy film that explores a weird array of illusions and phenomena.
The film takes the viewer to outer space, showcasing the strange horrors of the void. Eyeballs, aliens, and strange creatures flash on the screen, filling viewers with dread and confusion. At the end, a strange Shadow Brute-looking being appears and threatens the viewers with being haunted if they don’t tell their friends about the movie. It’s imaginative and creative.
4 Journey of the Prairie King
Long-time players of Stardew Valley know the horrible pain and suffering that is the Journey of the Prairie King. This franchise was first added to the game as a playable arcade machine in the saloon, featuring in one of Abigail’s and Shane’s heart events and a few other situations. It’s an insanely difficult game that takes many people a ton of effort to finish.
The game has now been made into a short film, starring the main protagonist of the arcade classic. It’s a typical Western, with the protagonist foiling a dastardly plan in a Wild West-setting and saving the day before riding off into the sunset. It’s fun to see a more direct story added to this Western classic.
3 Natural Wonders
This film is a science documentary about nature and the creatures found within it, somewhat like Blue Planet or National Geographic. The film explores the wildlife that is found in the Ferngill Republic, including Zuzu City, Stardew Valley, and the Fern Islands. The viewer will be treated to great shots of raccoons, birds, and other fauna.
Part of what makes this film so great is that it allows the viewer, who is typically only able to be in the Valley or the Desert, to see outside of the region. Having a glimpse of the Fern Islands and other parts of the region is fantastic.
2 It Howls in the Rain
If you like horror movies, this will probably be your favorite film in Stardew, much like it’s the favorite movie of Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, and others. It Howls in the Rain is inspired heavily by the Blair Witch Project, it seems. It is a found-footage-style horror that takes place in the woods, where a few people seem to be lost. A mysterious sound is plaguing the area and they’re hoping to find its source.
This movie actually shows a pretty horrifying face that is unexpected the first time around. it’s a great little film that doesn’t shy away from being too scary, and actually gives the player a bit of a fright, which many games would be too careful to do.
1 Wumbus
This film, which is arguably the best that the player can watch in Stardew, is what the young people of today call “a mood.” It’s a comical science fantasy film that follows the life of a chubby alien named Wumbus as he lazes around. It actually has roots in the early career of Stardew’s developer, ConcernedApe. He created a series of comics with this character many years ago.
The film shows the loveable Wumbus enjoying the sun while relaxing. He eats, drinks, and hangs out with his nephew Rossel. It’s original, creative, and very funny, which is why it takes the top spot on this ranking.
NEXT: Stardew Valley: 10 Things To Do After You Beat The Game
