Film on the Rocks
Red Rocks Amphitheatre,
Morrison
www.denverfilm.org
The folks who bring unparalleled independent programming to Starz FilmCenter team up every year with Red Rocks Amphitheatre to give viewers not only a respectable selection of outdoor movies, but live music and comedy, too. The music usually ties into the film somehow, so early arrivals can get in the mood and grab a prime spot before the sun sets and the movie starts. It's one of the larger and louder outdoor film series in the region, so if you feel like catcalling your Hollywood crush when he or she shows up on screen, there's bound to be someone in the audience who will second that emotion.
Concerts at Red Rocks are solid gold.
Related Content
More About
Skyline Park
Denver
www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation
Of the ten films that the Denver Parks and Recreation department is hosting through Movies in the Park this summer, Skyline Park will be the venue for six of them: Babe, E.T., Spiderman, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the gentle (and vastly underrated) kids' film The Iron Giant. This film series offers live entertainment, and concessions (popcorn, anyone?) are also available. Best of all, Movies in the Park is free, and the spectacular views and cushy grass in Skyline Park only add to the appeal.
88 Drive-In Theatre
Commerce City
http://88drivein.com
The Cinderella Twin is dead, and she will be sorely missed. She wasn't the last of the local drive-in movie theaters, though — just the most centrally located. The 88 Drive-In Theatre in Commerce City is a bit farther afield, but it's open every night, and you can take advantage of the pizza special (two twenty-ounce drinks and a twelve-inch pizza for a mere $10) at the self-service snack bar every Monday through Thursday. The 88 screens top summertime first-run movies and charges only $8 for the nightly double feature (kids under twelve get in free).
Boulder Outdoor Cinema
Boulder
www.boulderoutdoorcinema.com
Wide selection and low prices ($5 suggested donation, a portion of which benefits the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art) make Boulder Outdoor Cinema one of the best places to catch an open-air flick. And no other outdoor-film venue encourages wacky seating options (bring your own couch!). Located behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, this series offers up independent short films and entertainment to keep you amused before the main feature starts. The series runs on Saturdays, with returning favorites such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Princess Bride, plus some edgier options like Grindhouse, Pineapple Express, Slumdog Millionaire and Evil Dead II.
River Flicks,
Confluence Park, Denver
www.greenwayfoundation.org/home/riverflicks.html
Every Thursday in August, the Greenway Foundation hosts family films in picturesque Confluence Park. The free series features spectacular views and an intimate setting; this year's lineup includes Transformers, The Italian Job, Young Frankenstein and The Iron Giant. You know the drill: Bring snacks, a blanket and your favorite people to enjoy a classic favorite — oh, and maybe some bug repellant.
Cherry Creek North
Denver
www.cherrycreeknorth.com
The annual Films on Fillmore isn't making a full return this year; there's still too much construction on Fillmore Plaza to give the film series the space and attention it truly deserves. But rumor has it that Cherry Creek North will still be showing movies throughout the summer; visit the website and check the calendar page for further details.
–Amber Taufen
