The film known as “the worst movie ever made” is finally getting the wide release in theaters that its director Tommy Wiseau always dreamed of.

“The Room” is a cult favorite, but it has taken on a whole new level of notoriety, thanks to James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist” (in theaters now) that chronicles the making of the “The Room” and for which Franco won the award for best actor in a comedy or musical at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

If you're unfamiliar with “The Room,” all you need to know is that an insanely mysterious man named Tommy Wisseau made an absurdly bad independent film in 2003 about a successful banker in a tragic love triangle and came up with the funding to screen it in theaters in L.A. for a short time. Soon after, the internet and movie lovers heard about “the worst movie ever made,” and it took on a life of its own.

Midnight screenings of the film became commonplace at movie theaters in L.A. and later across the country and even world — including here in San Diego — and Wisseau has been known to show up at them from time to time. In 2011, a book called “The Disaster Artist” came out with the story behind how the film was made, and then old pals Franco and Seth Rogen and others turned that book into a movie of the same name.

“The Disaster Artist” was nominated for best picture, musical or comedy at the Golden Globes and Franco won for his portrayal of Wiseau.

So the hype surrounding “The Room” has reached such a level that, for two nights only on Jan. 10 and Jan. 19, it will be played simultaneously at about 600 theaters nationwide.

In San Diego, you can see the film from time to time at Ken Cinema at midnight, but for these special nights you can check out “The Room” at three theaters in the county at a more reasonable hour. All of these special showings are at 8 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 7 p.m. on Jan 19.

Mission Valley 20

1640 Camino Del Rio N, San Diego

Mire Mesa Stadium 18

10733 Westview Parkway, San Diego

San Marcos Stadium 18

1180 W. San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos

The event will feature special commercials from Wiseau, an inside look at a Hollywood screening and the trailer for Wiseau and Greg Sestero's upcoming film “Best F(r)iends.”

For tickets and other locations across the country, head on over to theroom.movie.

If you’ve never seen it before and plan on going, it might be worth doing some homework. The screenings have come to have an interactive “Rocky Horror Picture Show” type experience with flying spoons and chanting, among other traditions. The San Francisco Chronicle has a good guide for beginners here.

As you can see, people are pretty excited for the wide release.

For more info about “The Room,” visit theroommovie.com.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin