John Wilson spent three seasons turning New York sidewalks, scaffolding and strangers into hilarious documentary TV, and The History of Concrete is his move to features: a 101-minute film where a Hallmark-movie screenwriting workshop becomes the blueprint for a documentary about concrete. Opening weekend at IFC Center stacks Wilson Q&As moderated by comedians like Sarah Sherman, Edy Modica and Rachel Kaly. If you loved How To, this is the weekend to see it with a room full of fans.
What to expect
IFC Center is running the film all day across its screens, from late-morning shows to late-night slots. The marquee evening and afternoon screenings add a post-film Q&A or an extended intro from Wilson, several with comedian moderators. Expect Wilson's signature handheld New York footage, deadpan narration and detours that somehow circle back to the point.
Good to know
- Most of the Q&A and intro screenings sold out in advance; the regular screenings in between are the realistic way in.
- IFC Center is at Sixth Avenue and West 3rd Street; the West 4th St–Washington Sq station (A/C/E/B/D/F/M) is a block away.
- The theater offers assistive listening and T-Coil support.
- Fans of How To with John Wilson will get the most out of it, but no prior viewing is needed.
- Buy online ahead of time; walk-up seats for opening weekend are thin.
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Common questions
Is John Wilson at every screening?
No. He appears at specific opening-weekend shows marked on IFC Center's page as a Q&A or extended intro; the other screenings are the film only.
How long is The History of Concrete?
The film runs 101 minutes, plus roughly half an hour more at Q&A screenings.
Is this connected to How To with John Wilson?
It picks up after the finale of his HBO show, with Wilson looking for a new project, and keeps the same first-person documentary style.
