With high temperatures in the 110s range this weekend, local theaters are inviting the community to relax inside and watch a movie or two while sipping on an ice cold beverage.
To celebrate the inaugural National Cinema Day, the National Association of Theater Owners is partnering with thousands of theaters nationwide to celebrate the pastime of going to the cinema with heavily discounted tickets, concessions and special screenings.
Nearly 30,000 screens across the country are involved in the celebration, including those at local Hanford Cinemark 8 and Lemoore Stadium Cinemas.
“The industry was so directly and so deeply impacted by COVID-19 when not only did we have to close our doors for the first time in history, but everyone was stuck at home realizing how much they missed those shared, community entertainment experiences. said Caitlin Piper, senior public relations manager at Cinemark. “We thought Labor Day weekend would be a great time to reignite the movie-going craze we’ve seen all summer.”
In addition to the $3 all-Saturday movie tickets, Cinemark is also offering $3 mid-size drinks, $3 candy, and $3 small bags of popcorn.
Saturday’s selections in Hanford and Lemoore include big summer blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion and Bullet Train, Elvis, Thor: Love & Thunder, as well as more idiosyncratic fare like Honk for Jesus save your soul” and “Easter Sunday”.
Kids will be entertained with Minions: Rise of Gru, DC League of Super-Pets, and Dragon Ball Super: Superhero. Those looking for thrills can choose from the horror films “Beast” and “The Invitation”.
Perhaps the most intriguing of the weekend’s offerings are re-releases of a proven classic and an instant classic. The re-release of the biggest movie of 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home, with an additional 15 minutes of footage, will be screened in both Lemoore and Hanford. A 3D IMAX re-release of Steven Spielberg’s classic Jaws will hit screens in Visalia, Tulare and Fresno.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ practically broke the internet when tickets went on sale [last year] and had one of the best opening days ever,” said Piper.
No matter what movie — or movies — Saturday theatergoers choose to watch, they’re sure to have a good time, Piper said.
“There’s nothing quite like watching a movie on the big screen,” Piper said. “One of the things that struck me when I first got back to theaters post-COVID was how refreshing it was to be in a space designed to entertain my soul purpose. The dog didn’t bark, the phone didn’t ring, I didn’t see a pile of laundry to fold out of the corner of my eye. There is nothing better than being in this big auditorium.”
