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See It Big: Summer Movies (’70s & ’80s Edition)

May 5 — Jul 23, 2023

It may be as American as apple pie, but the summer movie is still a relatively recent phenomenon. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws revolutionized the industry with its June 1975 media blitz, instantly iconic branding, and mammoth success (it didn’t hurt that the film was brilliant). George Lucas followed suit and upped his buddy’s ante two summers later with Star Wars. After this, every movie studio began to rethink its annual release slate to capitalize on audience expectations for summer spectacle. Of course, the summer movie is not all about adventure and horror: as the seventies gave way to the eighties, multiplexes saw more varieties of films, from romantic comedies to adult erotic thrillers to serious social dramas. This series brings together selections from the first two decades of the American summer movie, as well as some smaller hot-month titles released to appeal to alternative art-house crowds. Kick back and enjoy these summer movies the way they were meant to be seen. 

Past Events

An upside down shot of a little boy, shirtless with his hands rested beneath his head, relaxing
A man in a white sweater sings on stage with a guitar.
An upside down shot of a little boy, shirtless with his hands rested beneath his head, relaxing
A mustachioed man confronts a blonde woman near a door
A man in a white sweater sings on stage with a guitar.
A mustachioed man confronts a blonde woman near a door
A smiling man rides a bicycle with his legs on the handlebars
A trio of high school boys on a balcony with long blonde or red hair laugh pleasantly.
A smiling man rides a bicycle with his legs on the handlebars
A man in a glittery vest holds a guitar and looks in a dressing room mirror
A trio of high school boys on a balcony with long blonde or red hair laugh pleasantly.
A smiling man rides a bicycle with his legs on the handlebars
A man in a glittery vest holds a guitar and looks in a dressing room mirror
images of spaceships and a destroyed spherical ship orbiting a planet in space
A small green creature named Yoda leans on a cane as he looks at a man in a tank top in a wooded area
a man in a cloak and a man in a dark helmet and cape fight with light sabers
images of spaceships and a destroyed spherical ship orbiting a planet in space
A small green creature named Yoda leans on a cane as he looks at a man in a tank top in a wooded area
a man in a cloak and a man in a dark helmet and cape fight with light sabers
Two men sit on a hospital bed, the visitor on the right appears to have large bloody gashes in his face
A man and an animated rabbit handcuffed together
Two men sit on a hospital bed, the visitor on the right appears to have large bloody gashes in his face
A man and an animated rabbit handcuffed together
Three kids, two boys and a little girl, look in amazement off screen
A man and an animated rabbit handcuffed together
A concerned man with headphones on
A woman in red jacket sits on outdoor steps next to pink flowers while she looks down, her chin resting in her hand
Three kids, two boys and a little girl, look in amazement off screen
A group of teenage boys play poker and smile, having fun.
A group of teenage boys play poker and smile, having fun.
A woman in red jacket sits on outdoor steps next to pink flowers while she looks down, her chin resting in her hand
Three kids, two boys and a little girl, look in amazement off screen
Three men smile and pose in front of a yellow background
A man and woman look at each other, she grabs his lapels
Three men smile and pose in front of a yellow background
A man and woman look at each other, she grabs his lapels
Two adorable mice, one in a purple hat and another in a red chapeau look offscreen smiling.
A concerned man with headphones on
Two adorable mice, one in a purple hat and another in a red chapeau look offscreen smiling.
Two adorable mice, one in a purple hat and another in a red chapeau look offscreen smiling.
A giant killer shark with blood on its jaws pops out of the water near the side of a boat
Two adorable mice, one in a purple hat and another in a red chapeau look offscreen smiling.
A concerned man with headphones on
a man in a cloak and a man in a dark helmet and cape fight with light sabers
Two adorable mice, one in a purple hat and another in a red chapeau look offscreen smiling.
a man in a cloak and a man in a dark helmet and cape fight with light sabers
a man in a cloak and a man in a dark helmet and cape fight with light sabers
A little mop haired boy pokes his head through staircase railings and looks down
A giant killer shark with blood on its jaws pops out of the water near the side of a boat
A little mop haired boy pokes his head through staircase railings and looks down
A man in a tux holding a gun with a blonde in a low cut dress behind him
A man in a tux holding a gun with a blonde in a low cut dress behind him
A giant killer shark with blood on its jaws pops out of the water near the side of a boat
A giant killer shark with blood on its jaws pops out of the water near the side of a boat