Wenatchee, United States - February 25, 2025 A moviegoer leaped from his seat and yelled "run" as the ceiling of Liberty Cinema crashed down during a screening of Captain America: Brave New World on Tuesday evening. The dramatic collapse startled the only two people inside—a man and his girlfriend—watching the film at the historic theater built in 1919. "They heard pops and cracking," said Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Battalion Chief Cam Phillips. The man stood to investigate, peering toward the screen. As he looked up, he shouted the warning. His girlfriend, seated just one row behind, had little time to react. Debris pinned her briefly, but she broke free unharmed. Her boyfriend escaped injury too. Phillips believes the dropped ceiling failed suddenly, sending rubble and dust piling onto the theater floor. Footage from the fire department captured the aftermath—wood and insulation dangled precariously, while the movie played on amid the chaos. The cinema, last remodeled in the 1970s, left investigators puzzled about the cause. Theater owners are cooperating with authorities. "The safety of our patrons and employees is my highest priority," the owner told King5. Phillips expressed relief at the timing. "This could’ve been a packed Friday or Saturday night," he said. "We’re really fortunate." The incident echoes a recent collapse in Oregon. On February 11, North Medford High School’s gym roof buckled under 700,000 pounds of snow, trapping a staff member briefly. He survived unscathed. Both events highlight the unpredictability of structural failures—and the luck of those who walked away.