Whether you’re exploring a new city or looking for a new activity around home, attending a movie in an unconventional theater or setting can provide a welcomed and exciting change of pace. Most movie theaters you go to are probably big chain theaters, so let’s explore some less common ways you and your friends, family, or significant other can go to the movies.
1. Movies in the Park (often FREE ADMISSION)
Many communities around the United States host free movie screenings at local parks at dusk. Movies in the Park rely on good weather and require organizers to set up a massive, blow-up screen and sound equipment.
Since movie watchers usually sit on the grass, attendees will bring their own blankets, chairs, and sometimes food and beverages. Sometimes food vendors will be invited onsite as well. Most Movies in the Park feature family-friendly movies and run during the summer months.
2. Movies with a Live Musical Score
Sometimes called Movies In Concert, movie screenings with live musical scores have increased in popularity in recent years. Orchestras commonly play live scores for family-friendly movies with famous music like: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, etc. Some movie theaters and cultural venues will also play classic silent movies with a live musical score by a pianist, organist or band.
3. Drive-In Movie Theaters
Although drive-in movie theaters peaked in popularity in the 1950s, a few drive-in movie theaters still exist in many states. Many drive-in theaters screen recent, family-friendly movies, but some screen PG-13 and R movies as well. Drive-in movie theaters start movies at dusk and often play double or triple features, allowing attendees to stay for as many movies as they’d like for one admission price.
4. Movies at the Library or Community Center (often FREE ADMISSION)
Some local libraries and community centers around the United States host free movie screenings as a service to the community. Although screening somewhat recent family-friendly movies is common, libraries and community centers sometimes also screen classic movies, independent movies, documentaries, and other critically acclaimed movies as well.
5. Movies at the University (sometimes FREE ADMISSION)
You don’t always need to be a current student to watch a movie at a university. If you live near a college or university, check the event schedule to see if the school offers any movie screenings that are open to the public. Some movie screenings may be free while others may charge admission. Universities may screen everything from popular recent movies, to classics, to obscure documentaries and independent movies. Sometimes a movie screening at a university will be accompanied by a presentation or Q&A with a professor, grad student or even someone that helped make the film itself.
6. Dollar Theaters
Dollar theaters screen movies for discount prices after the films have left the first-run theaters. Price of admission can be as low as $1, although admission is usually at least a few dollars nowadays. Attending dollar theaters can be a fun and affordable way to watch movies you may have missed in the first-run theaters.
7. Historic Movie Theaters
Historic movie theaters are often ornately decorated and feel charmingly nostalgic. Since historic theaters often only contain one large auditorium with a single screen, the venue may only offer showtimes for one or two movies at any given time. The movies could be recent or classic. Some historic theaters will also host interactive cult movie screenings like Rocky Horror Picture Show.
8. Interactive Cult Movie Screenings and Annual Screenings
Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the most famous cult movie screenings of all time. Most Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings start at midnight and encourage attendees to dress up as their favorite characters and sing along with the film. The Sound of Music is also sometimes screened as a sing along.
Some theaters screen famous classic movies around the same time each year, like It’s A Wonderful Life around Christmas time. Historic movies theaters often host cult movies and annual movie screenings, although occasionally large movie chains will host special showings of a classic movies as well.