Yay! It’s back! Another one of my favorite summer pastimes: Santa Monica Drive-In at the Pier. What’s summer without a night out at a “drive-in” movie theater? You’ve got your warm summer evening under the stars with your friends, a classic movie, and of course popcorn. But, here, instead of “drive in” you actually just “walk up,” instead of sitting in your car you sit in a beach chair and instead of just popcorn you can get those sinful cinnamon-y churros. 

Presented by ARTS FIGHTING CANCER AND The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, the series raises funds to help those fighting cancer. It’s a great success every year because it’s so fun! Last year I watched Top Gun with the masses and had a hoot giggling with the audience through all the homoerotic scenes. That sexual tension between Iceman and Maverick? Palpable!

You can bring anything comfortable to sit on — folding chairs, blankets, inflatable rafts — or rent a folding chair at the Pier for $5. The series is kicking off on Tuesday, August 1 with Superman starring Christopher Reeves. Joy!

Free tickets are available about a week before each movie at the guest services kiosk located on the 2nd floor of the Santa Monica Place mall. Or you can show up to the Pier the night of the movie without a ticket. You just have to wait til after all ticket holders are seated before you’re allowed in.

MOVIE SCHEDULE:

AUGUST 1 — Superman, Sponsored by Lightning Entertainment

AUGUST 8 — The Muppet Movie, Sponsored by Deep Ellum Pictures

AUGUST 15 — Madagascar

AUGUST 22 — Rocky

AUGUST 29 — Forrest Gump, Sponsored by Bubba Gump

SEPTEMBER 5 — Anchorman, Sponsored by Comedy Central

SEPTEMBER 12 — Metropolis with VOX Lumiere

SEPTEMBER 19 — Grease, Sponsored by Paramount Pictures

SEPTEMBER 26 — An Inconvenient Truth, Sponsored by Sundance Channel

Every Tuesday; doors open at 7pm, movie starts at 8pm

Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, California 90401