The Penguin Lessons

The Penguin Lessons movie poster
  • Friday March 28, 2025 4:00 PM
  • Friday March 28, 2025 6:00 PM
  • Friday March 28, 2025 8:00 PM
  • Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00 PM
  • Sunday March 30, 2025 12:00 PM
  • Sunday March 30, 2025 2:00 PM
  • Sunday March 30, 2025 4:00 PM

Directed by Peter Cattaneo
PG-13; 110 minutes; English and Spanish

“It’s no surprise that [Steve] Coogan displays precision comic timing, or that his scenes with the wonderful Björn Gustafsson, as an ingenuous colleague baffled by irony and sarcasm, are a delight.” —Ryan Gilbey, The Guardian

Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who traveled to Argentina to teach in a private school in 1976, just as the country’s president, Isabella Perón, was being ousted in a military coup. Expecting an easy ride, Tom (Steve Coogan) discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty).


Magnolia at the Modern is an ongoing series featuring critically acclaimed films. Tickets are $10 and $7 for all Modern members. The first Sunday showtime is half price. Learn more about the special benefits of joining Reel People, a membership add-on for film enthusiasts.

Click here to purchase tickets online. 

We have a new option for assistive listening, the ListenWIFI phone app that plays the film’s audio through your Bluetooth hearing aids or any phone headphones.