Backyard Movie Theater in Boston Shut Down by Hollywood Studio

A DIY movie theater in Boston faced closure due to unauthorized film screenings, with the situation escalating following a screening of the animated movie “Wild Robot.” This prompted the owner, Matt Schumann, to receive a cease-and-desist letter from Swank Motion Pictures, which handles licensing for major studios.

The letter warned Schumann that he could incur fines of thousands of dollars for continuing to show the film. “We are aware that some screenings may be held at or adjacent to private residences,” the correspondence explained. Due to public advertising for these events, they were categorized as public screenings.

With legal counsel advising him, Schumann decided it was safer to shut down the theater. Each summer, he typically hosted around 15 screenings, with potential fines reaching about $3,000 for each film.

In an ironic twist, he later reflected that he had joked about receiving a warning from Swank on April Fool’s Day the previous year, and now that joke had come true with the latest screening.

Although some community events lingered briefly, locals noted that this closure signaled a downturn for the neighborhood movie scene. The theater officially closed in 2026 when Schumann and his wife, Amy, relocated to accommodate their 2-year-old son, Caleb, leaving the beloved garage cinema behind.

For nearly a decade, Wenham Street Cinema had been a community hub, attracting audiences to a simple garage where neighbors gathered for films, drinks, and relaxed social events.

Schumann started the venture in 2016 by setting up a projector and inviting a few neighbors, and over time it became a cherished spot, seating around 25 people, sometimes even more.

He reminisced about special nights, like when two 70-year-old movie lovers traveled 27 miles from Libya with rum and coke to watch “Eddie Coyle’s Friends,” sharing tales of their youthful escapades sneaking into theaters.

Another night saw about 150 attendees filling the driveway and nearby street to watch the Harris-Trump debate.

In a message to his supporters, Schumann expressed gratitude for the community that helped transform a simple garage into a place for connections and joyful memories.

While he’s currently focused on family and his new role as a fifth-grade teacher, Schumann hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of creating something similar in the future. For now, his projector finds a new purpose in his basement, still entertaining a small audience but well within legal boundaries.