Film on the Rocks is back, with a twist

Red Rocks is getting into the drive-in movie game.
3 min. read
Red Rocks, Aug. 1, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

For 20 years, movie lovers have flocked to Red Rocks Park for Film on the Rocks, an outdoor film series set in Colorado's famous amphitheater. Today, Denver Film announced that the series will return this summer, but with a twist. Instead of viewing the films from the stands, guests will be able to watch from the safety of their cars. 

For its 21st year, Film on the Rocks has been adapted into a drive-in movie experience. Rather than being staged out of the amphitheater itself, the films will now be screened out of Red Rocks' Lower South Lot 2 parking area, which can accommodate up to 300 cars. Guests will watch the films on a large LED screen, and can tune into the audio through a designated FM station via their car radios.

They'll also be able to remain in their cars -- and their quarantine groups. The series' coordinators came up with this new plan after several discussions about how to make the series safe for guests during the pandemic.

"As one of our most anticipated events each and every year, we're excited to reinvent this year's program and get some of our valued guests back to Red Rocks," said venue manager Tad Bowman. "No matter what it looks like, it's a great line-up of films being presented in the shadow of this iconic venue."

That lineup includes cult films and classics, like Scream, Robocop, The Goonies and Grease, as well as more recent hits like Into The Spiderverse. Beginning August 13, Red Rocks will screen a different film each night at 7:30 pm for four consecutive nights.

"Like every other Film on the Rocks and Red Rocks experience, it's going to be different and it's going to be memorable," said Denver Film Festival director Britta Erickson. "We knew just how important it would be to get back to Red Rocks and enjoy the films and the historic surroundings in some way."

Tickets will go for $59.50 per car and will cover the cost of admission for every passenger. Each car will also receive a snack package that includes two bottles of Coca-Cola product, City Pop popcorn, and theater-sized M&M's and Twizzlers.

Tickets go on sale August 11 at 10 a.m. Book them at denverfilm.org or redrocksonline.com.

Here's the initial schedule. More dates and films will be added each week.

Week 1 (8/13 - 8/16)

  • Thursday, August 13 - GREASE
  • Friday, August 14 - STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
  • Saturday, August 15 - INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
  • Sunday, August 16 - THE GOONIES

Week 2 (8/20 - 8/23)

  • Thursday, August 20 - CLUELESS
  • Friday, August 21 - SCREAM
  • Saturday, August 22 - THE BIG LEBOWSKI
  • Sunday, August 23 - RUDY

Week 3 (8/27 - 8/30)

  • Thursday, August 27 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF
  • Friday, August 28 - ROBOCOP
  • Saturday, August 29 - JURASSIC PARK
  • Sunday, August 30 - FIELD OF DREAMS

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