Screen on the Green has been one of DC's most popular summer traditions, and, after almost losing its sponsor, the festival returns to The Mall, but it's not the only place you can see outdoor movies in the DC area.
Without a doubt, for those who dream of seeing a movie under the stars, on a blanket in the grass and battling the bugs (those mosquitoes are dangerous and hungry, so bring some bug repellent), Screen on the Green is the granddaddy of all outdoor summer film festivals around here, and the lineup this year doesn't disappoint. While it's hard to find a common theme among the movies, they are some of the biggest hits in Hollywood history.
July 12 - Goldfinger - With apologies to Daniel Craig, Sean Connery is the best Bond and this is the best Bond movie.
July 19 - The Goodbye Girl - While The Odd Couple is the first Neil Simon adaption to come to mind, The Goodbye Girl has some history on its side. Until Adrien Brody won the Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist, star Richard Dreyfuss was the youngest man to ever win an Oscar for Best Actor. Plus, it is considered by some to be the first Romantic Comedy to earn over $100 million at the box office.
July 26 - 12 Angry Men - This is a who's who of great actors who saw success on film and in TV. Henry Fonda. Jack Klugman. Martin Balsam (you'll recognize his face as soon as he appears on screen). E.G. Marshall. Jack Warden. 12 Angry Men is one of those movies people pass over when clicking around and looking for something on TV because it is in black and white, so let's hope a festival like this keeps it alive, even if it makes you pray to never get jury duty again.
August 2 - Bonnie and Clyde - Bonnie and Clyde???? Don't get me wrong, it's a historic, fantastic, groundbreaking movie, but do we want everyone on The Mall to be ducking for cover when the big shootout scene kicks in? When it debuted in 1967, Bonnie and Clyde was extremely controversial for its graphic violence and gore. In 2010, it will be playing in the shadow of the Washington Monument and Capitol Dome. Uh Oh.
All of the Screen on the Green films play on a 20' x 40' screen between 4th and 7th Streets. Showtime is between 8:30 and 9 PM, after the sun sets.
More Outdoor Festivals
If you don't want to head down to The Mall, the area has several other outdoor movie going experiences for you.
Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival - Every Friday through September 3, you can catch some of the 90's biggest hits at Rosslyn's Gateway Park. Movies include Home Alone, Dumb and Dumber, and The Wedding Singer.
NoMA Summer Screen 2010 - The festival held each Wednesday until August 4 on L Street, NE between 2nd and 3rd Streets features movies with a theme about the future, including Groundhog Dog, Logan's Run and more.
Bethesda Outdoor Movies: Stars on the Avenue - Held each night from July 27 - 31, you can see When Harry Met Sally, The Maltese Falcon, Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey, Jr.), The Blind Side and Chicago.
Crystal Screen 2010 - The Klingons, Romulans and Borg invade Crystal City every Monday night as they feature every Star Trek movie ever made.
July 12 - Goldfinger - With apologies to Daniel Craig, Sean Connery is the best Bond and this is the best Bond movie.
July 19 - The Goodbye Girl - While The Odd Couple is the first Neil Simon adaption to come to mind, The Goodbye Girl has some history on its side. Until Adrien Brody won the Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist, star Richard Dreyfuss was the youngest man to ever win an Oscar for Best Actor. Plus, it is considered by some to be the first Romantic Comedy to earn over $100 million at the box office.
July 26 - 12 Angry Men - This is a who's who of great actors who saw success on film and in TV. Henry Fonda. Jack Klugman. Martin Balsam (you'll recognize his face as soon as he appears on screen). E.G. Marshall. Jack Warden. 12 Angry Men is one of those movies people pass over when clicking around and looking for something on TV because it is in black and white, so let's hope a festival like this keeps it alive, even if it makes you pray to never get jury duty again.
August 2 - Bonnie and Clyde - Bonnie and Clyde???? Don't get me wrong, it's a historic, fantastic, groundbreaking movie, but do we want everyone on The Mall to be ducking for cover when the big shootout scene kicks in? When it debuted in 1967, Bonnie and Clyde was extremely controversial for its graphic violence and gore. In 2010, it will be playing in the shadow of the Washington Monument and Capitol Dome. Uh Oh.
All of the Screen on the Green films play on a 20' x 40' screen between 4th and 7th Streets. Showtime is between 8:30 and 9 PM, after the sun sets.
More Outdoor Festivals
If you don't want to head down to The Mall, the area has several other outdoor movie going experiences for you.
Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival - Every Friday through September 3, you can catch some of the 90's biggest hits at Rosslyn's Gateway Park. Movies include Home Alone, Dumb and Dumber, and The Wedding Singer.
NoMA Summer Screen 2010 - The festival held each Wednesday until August 4 on L Street, NE between 2nd and 3rd Streets features movies with a theme about the future, including Groundhog Dog, Logan's Run and more.
Bethesda Outdoor Movies: Stars on the Avenue - Held each night from July 27 - 31, you can see When Harry Met Sally, The Maltese Falcon, Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey, Jr.), The Blind Side and Chicago.
Crystal Screen 2010 - The Klingons, Romulans and Borg invade Crystal City every Monday night as they feature every Star Trek movie ever made.
