JULY 24 & 27

One of the most popular films of the 1980’s, this time-travel comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis stars Michael J. Fox as an average American teenager. Through a chance encounter with a mad scientist (Christopher Lloyd), Fox finds himself transported to the year 1955 with no means to get “back to the future.” Their time machine is a plutonium-powered DeLorean car. (“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”)

1985
Rated PG

JULY 17 & 20

A man returns home with a gift for his son: a cute, cuddly creature that makes a great pet…so long as strict rules are followed.  They’re not, of course, and soon malicious “gremlins” are wreaking havoc.  Joe Dante (Twilight Zone: the Movie) directed from a script by Chris Columbus (The Goonies).  Billed as a comedy horror movie, some violent scenes prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating for future films.  (“Never feed him after midnight.”)

1984
Rated PG

JULY 3 & 6

A killer shark is terrorizing the vacationers at Amity Island in this adaptation of Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel. Jaws dominated the box office throughout the summer of ‘75 and made Steven Spielberg a household name. Composer John Williams turned two ominous notes into an Academy Award winning score. It’s been over 40 years and folks still think twice about going into the water. (“You’re going to need a bigger boat.”)

1975
Rated PG
 

Sunday, October 16 & Wednesday, October 19

When 10-year-old Elliott (Henry Thomas) finds a creature from outer space in his backyard, he decides he’s found a new friend and declares, “I’m keeping him.” This heart-warming science fiction film touched audiences of all ages in the summer of ’82 and brought Steven Spielberg his third Oscar nomination for directing. It also featured a breakout performance by 6-year old Drew Barrymore as Elliott’s little sister. ("E.T. phone home.")

1982
Rated PG

JUNE 19 & 22

Maybe the greatest adventure movie ever made, directed by Steven Spielberg from an idea from George Lucas. This film introduced audiences to archeology professor/action hero Indiana Jones, and concerns the search for the legendary lost Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is said to contain enormous power, and “Indy” (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen) must find it before the Nazis do. (“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?”)

1981
Rated PG

JUNE 12 & 15

High school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) takes playing hooky to a whole new level in this classic 80’s comedy from writer/director John Hughes. Whether it’s singing from a float in a parade or crashing a fancy restaurant as Abe Frohman (“the Sausage King of Chicago”), Ferris knows how to show his friends a good time. (“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”)

1986
Rated PG-13

JUNE 5 & 8

One of the most quotable comedies ever made. Our hero Westley (Cary Elwes) is intent on rescuing the lovely Buttercup (Robin Wright) from an unhappy fate as the bride of Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Mandy Patinkin co-stars. (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”) Not a big hit when it first played in theatres (“Inconceivable!”), this film became a cult classic. (“Have fun storming the castle!”)

1987
Rated PG

MAY 29 & JUNE 1

This politically incorrect 70’s comedy, directed andco-written by Mel Brooks, stars Cleavon Little as Sheriff Bart and Gene Wilder as the Waco Kid. Madeline Kahn plays saloon singer Lili von Shtupp (“Ooh…a wed wose…how womantic!”). Brooks managed to make fun of every western movie cliché, including the fact that everyone in the small frontier town seems to have the same last name. (“Howard Johnson is right!”)

1974
Rated R

MAY 22 & 25

Andie (Molly Ringwald) is a blue collar girl in love with rich kid Blane (Andrew McCarthy) in this high school romance written by John Hughes. Jon Cryer completes the triangle as Duckie, the lovable “best friend” who wishes he were more. Featuring a killer soundtrack with songs by The Psychedelic Furs and Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark, this film helped define 80’s teen angst. (“Blane?...that’s a major appliance, that’s not a name!”)

1986
Rated PG-13

SEPTEMBER 11 & 14

Directed by John Hughes, this comedy stars Molly Ringwald as a teenager with problems.  She can’t shake an annoying geek (Anthony Michael Hall) while the cool senior she likes doesn’t seem to know she’s alive. As if that weren’t enough, her family has forgotten her 16th birthday. (“This is the single worst day of my entire life.”)

1984
Rated PG (the PG-13 rating didn’t exist when this film was released; today it would be rated PG-13 for brief nudity and language.)

MAY 15 & 18

This quintessential “buddy” movie stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford as real life outlaws and Katharine Ross as Redford’s love interest. One of the most popular films of the 60’s, it won four Academy Awards, including Best Original Song for “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The scene where Butch and Sundance are stranded on a cliff is a classic. (“The fall will probably kill you!”)

1969
Rated PG

FEBRUARY 12 & 15

The first—and for over 40 years the only—movie to win Oscars® in all 5 of the top categories: Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay.  Frank Capra directed this quintessential romantic comedy about a wealthy socialite (Claudette Colbert) and a wise-cracking newspaperman (Clark Gable) who become unlikely travel companions.  The hitchhiking scene, where Colbert schools Gable, is a classic. ("I’ll stop a car, and I won’t use my thumb!”)

1934