The Puffy Chair made its triumphant return to theaters recently at Vidiots in L.A, with a sold-out premiere screening of its 20^th anniversary restoration, followed by a Q&A with founding Vidiots members and filmmakers Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, and Katie Aselton.

A community film hub preserving a 70,000-title media collection and fostering connection through year-round screenings, events, and education, Vidiots was the ideal location for the Los Angeles 20^th anniversary screening. More than 250 people packed the venue to watch the film and engage in a lively Q&A with the filmmakers.

“Seeing people line up to watch this movie now is deeply strange, because when we made it, no one was waiting for it. The idea that it still means something twenty years later is overwhelming,” said Mark Duplass of Duplass Brothers Productions. He added, “My recollection of this movie was basically just begging someone to take it, to watch it, to buy it, to do anything with it. So, the fact that someone would show up on their own, stand in line, and buy a ticket still feels surreal to me.”

Set for nationwide re-release by indie film distributor Ink Films in March 2026, The Puffy Chair won the Audience Award at South by Southwest in 2005 and is often credited with sparking the American “mumblecore” movement and redefining a generation of independent filmmaking. The 2026 re-release marks the first time in more than a decade that the film returns to the big screen. At once funny, awkward, and deeply human, The Puffy Chair follows Josh (Mark Duplass) and his girlfriend Emily (Katie Aselton) on a cross-country trip to deliver a recliner purchased on eBay — a journey that unravels into a poignant exploration of love, family, and the illusion of control. Shot on a shoestring budget with naturalistic performances and improvisational energy, the film became a touchstone for a generation of indie storytellers.

“People are watching this movie now who weren’t born when we made it. That makes me feel everything at once — proud, uncomfortable, nostalgic, and very aware of how much time has passed,” said Aselton.

“We’re still doing the same thing we were doing back then, trying to tell stories we’re obsessed with, with whoever wants to come along,” said Jay Duplass.

For updates and participating theaters, visit inkfilms.com or follow @InkFilmsOfficial and @BeverlyTheater on social media.

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