Here’s a throwback: Does anyone remember “The Dukes of Hazzard?” What started as a hit television show from the 70s spawned an entire franchise, and The Athena Cinema is showing the 2005 movie adaptation. As part of its “From the Hills and Hollers” series, The Athena Cinema shows “The Dukes of Hazzard” on April 9th, 2026, at 7pm with a special guest speaker.
“From the Hills and Hollers” features stories with rural, Appalachian settings. It aims to connect Ohio University students and the local population with southeastern Ohio’s cultural legacy as the starting point of Appalachia. The annual series launched in 2022, immediately proving itself a popular addition to the cinema’s programming. As the weather starts to warm in Athens, The “Dukes of Hazzard” showing is the perfect excuse to step out of the college rentals for a weeknight outing.
What’s ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ About?
For those not in the know, “The Dukes of Hazzard” was an incredibly popular show back in the 1970s. It’s set in rural Georgia, and it follows the Duke family, Bo and Luke Duke, along with their cousin, Daisy, and uncle, Jesse. The Dukes are involved in moonshining, the practice of illegally distilling liquor. Appalachia is famous for its moonshining practices, and it’s a longtime tradition of the region.
The corrupt Hazzard County officials, Boss Hog and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, frequently attempt to stop the Duke family’s operations. What ensues more often than not are comedic car chases in the Duke family’s orange 1969 Dodge Charger. The Duke family embodies the rebellious, underdog spirit that the Appalachian region is known for with their moonshine practices and energetic antics.
The Athena Cinema’s Showing Features a Special Guest Speaker
Before the showing begins, special guest speaker Nerissa Young will deliver a talk. Nerissa Young is a professor of instruction in Ohio University’s School of Journalism. As someone who grew up on a family farm in West Virginia watching the show, Young knows a thing or two about the show and movie’s theme.
Young will discuss how the film serves as a bridge between the rural comedy films of the 1950s-60s and the smarter rural comedies of the 80s through the present.