PHOENIXVILLE – The historic Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville will once again be participating in Pluto TV’s Free Movie Weekend on July 5 and 6.
The Colonial is part of the free streaming service’s annual campaign that supports independent and family-run theaters across the country. The Colonial is one of five theaters nationwide participating in the event this year.
Bob Trate, director of programming for the Colonial Theatre, said the venue first got involved in 2023 after Pluto TV reached out. This is the third consecutive year the theater has been chosen to participate.
Trate added that the date of the free movie weekend changes, and this year it falls right before the theater’s annual BlobFest and over a holiday weekend – which makes it good timing.
“It gives people the opportunity to come out, to bring the kids out,” he said. “We’re showing three family films that are suitable for the kids and the whole family.”
The following are the three showings:
• “Jumanji” will be shown at 1:30 p.m. on July 5 and 2 p.m. on July 6
• “Labyrinth” will be shown at 4 p.m. on July 5 and 1:30 p.m. on July 6.
• “Hook” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on July 5 and 4:45 p.m. on July 6.
“What I like about these movies is that there’s something for everyone and they are fun films,” Trate said. “I mean who doesn’t love the Muppets and Robin Williams.”
Trate said people can get their tickets through the theater’s website and events page, or they can take a chance and come to the box office on the day of the show.
The Free Movie Weekend is a cornerstone of Pluto TV’s Business Karma initiative, according to information on the theater’s website. It was launched in 2021 to support local businesses and bring people back to movie theaters post-pandemic. To date, the initiative has hosted 50 free weekends in 30 states.
This year, the effort includes a partnership with Academy Award-winning director Sean Baker, who recorded a message that will be played before each show. In his message he describes local cinemas as a cultural touchstone.
The other participating theaters in Free Movie Weekend are in Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
