SANTA CRUZ — In past summers, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has brought a mix of recent blockbusters and past favorites for free weekly movie screenings on the beach.
This year, while there is one recent film on the schedule, the lineup is heavily skewed toward nostalgic favorites of the ’80s and ’90s — and in one case, the ’30s. Whatever one’s preference, the weekly screenings will be an opportunity for people to sit back on beach chairs or blankets and watch movies without the high cost of going to a theater or signing up for a streaming subscription.
It all kicks off June 13 with perennial Free Movies on the Beach favorite “The Lost Boys.” Joel Schumacher’s 1987 film follows the Emerson brothers as they try to settle in their new town Santa Carla — the self-proclaimed “Murder Capital of the World” — and soon find that many of the town’s denizens are vampires. The movie is a local favorite, as Santa Carla is a stand-in for Santa Cruz, with most of the scenes shot at familiar places around town, including the Boardwalk, which makes it an appropriate venue to view this cult classic.
June 20 will bring audiences back to the ’90s with “Men in Black,” a science fiction comedy starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as agents of a secret organization tasked with protecting and monitoring extraterrestrials, complicated when an insect-like alien crash lands on Earth with the intention of starting an intergalactic war. The 1997 film spawned two sequels, a spinoff movie and animated series, not to mention Smith’s inescapable titular rap theme.
Continuing on the theme of agencies controlling supernatural entities, the June 27 film will provide the ’80s equivalent of that: “Ghostbusters.” The story of three parapsychologists — played by Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis — who run a ghost-hunting business in New York City and receive their biggest assignment yet when they have to take on a god of destruction. It is one of the decade’s most iconic and quotable films, and remains a reliable franchise to this day. Its latest installment, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” was released last year, but this screening will take audiences back to where it all began.
Following a break for the Independence Day holiday, the screenings will continue July 11 with “Jumanji.” Based on the picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, the 1995 film sees two siblings playing a jungle-themed board game they found in the attic, unleashing a bunch of wild animals as well as an adult version of the boy who previously owned the game, played by Robin Williams. The film was a big hit that spawned two sequels, an animated series and theme park attractions in Europe.
The July 18 screening will bring another 1995 film, and probably one of the most ’90s films in existence: “Clueless.” Amy Heckerling’s teen comedy about a rich valley girl who attempts to match two teachers up for a better grade is an endlessly quotable film that made stars out of the likes of Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd. The film is the ultimate capsule of the mid ’90s, but you probably have more important things to do on a Friday night … as if!
As you can see, many of this year’s films are nostalgic for those who grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, but the July 25 movie is one that is nostalgic for just about every generation: “The Wizard of Oz.” The 1939 film, based on L. Frank Baum’s popular book series about a Kansas farm girl who is whisked away by a tornado to the colorful land of Oz. She then embarks on a quest to visit the kingdom’s ruler who will give her three new friends what they desire most and bring her home, all while avoiding the Wicked Witch of the West. While there have been many adaptations of the “Oz” books, this is the one most people think of, due to its memorable characters, enduring songs and groundbreaking use of Technicolor.
Aug. 1 will bring the one recent film on the lineup: “Despicable Me 4.” The 2024 installment centers around reformed supervillain Gru moving his family to a safe house while his former nemesis Maxime Le Mal seeks retribution against Gru for stealing his talent show act. The animated film retains the silliness of the previous installments that should please audiences of all ages.
The screenings close Aug. 8 with another returning favorite: “The Goonies.” The Steven Spielberg-produced 1985 movie follows a group of kids from Oregon who embark on a quest to find the long-lost treasure of 17th-century pirate One-Eyed Willy.
All screenings will begin at 9 p.m. Friday nights in front of the Colonnade, 400 Beach St. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs and purchase Boardwalk treats such as kettle corn, saltwater taffy, corn dogs and turkey legs. Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served. Each movie features a 15-minute intermission. Smoking, alcohol and glass are forbidden on the beach. A limited number of assisted listening devices are available by the miniature golf kiosk inside the Neptune’s Kingdom Family Entertainment Center. Those requesting closed captioning or other special accommodations must call the manager on duty at 831-423-5590 at least 48 hours before the screening.
In addition to movies, the Boardwalk will also have weekly concerts 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays on the Colonnade. This year’s lineup features the Dylan Rose Band June 19, the Alex Lucero Band June 26, the Matt Masih Band July 3, Fire Peach July 10, Burnin Vernon July 17, Locomotive Breath July 24, Billy Martini July 31 and Tsunami Aug. 7.
For more information, go to BeachBoardwalk.com.