At least once a month you can see classic films in theatres, with dozens of audience favorites returning to the big screen. On Wednesday, November 20, 2024 see The Fifth Element.
These classic movies are hosted by Fathom Events and are shown in hundreds of theatres nationwide. Films are shown in their uncut, original format, and in most cases include an introduction from film historian and critic Leonard Maltin.
The complete 2024 Fathom Events Classic Movie Series schedule is below, ordered by date.
2024 Classic Film Schedule
Wizard of Oz 85th Anniversary – January 28, 29 and 31, 2024
“The Wizard of Oz,” one of the most popular films of all time, returns to theatres for its 85th anniversary starting January 28, 2024.
Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before.
The film will be in theatres on three days to celebrate its 85th anniversary: January 28, 29 and 31. Below is a preview. Read more at: “Wizard of Oz 85th Anniversary” in Theatres Jan. 28
My Fair Lady 60th Anniversary February 4-5, 2024
My Fair Lady, released in 1964, stars Audrey Hepburn as cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as the distinguished Professor Henry Higgins. It is set in Edwardian London and based on the smash Broadway musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.
My Fair Lady won the Academy Award as Best Picture of 1964 and seven additional Oscars, including Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actor (Harrison), and Best Art Direction. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, My Fair Lady still dazzles audiences with its flawless performances, gorgeous cinematography, and songs like “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”
The film will be shown as it was at its original 1964 release, with a musical overture and intermission. It will be introduced by Leonard Maltin. It plays for two days, on February 4 and 5, 2024. Below is a preview.
Dune 40th Anniversary Feb. 18-19
Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction epic, Dune, explodes on the screen with dazzling special effects, unforgettable images, and powerful performances. The saga of intergalactic warrior Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan) and his messianic rise to leadership features an all-star cast, including Jose Ferrer, Max Von Sydow, Linda Hunt and rock legend, Sting.
This 1984 film – both treasured and reviled by fans of the Dune saga – was directed by David Lynch, with photography by Academy Award winner Freddie Francis, music by Grammy winner Toto, and monster creation by E.T.’s Carlo Rambaldi. Below is a preview.
Labyrinth March 6 and 10, 2024
Labyrinth is a 1986 fantasy classic directed and co-written by Muppets creator Jim Henson. It stars the late David Bowie and a 16-year-old Jennifer Connelly. George Lucas was executive producer.
Connelly portrays Sarah, a teenager with an active imagination, who invites Goblins to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah follows him into a fantastical world to rescue him from the Goblin King (Bowie). Guarding his castle is the labyrinth itself, a twisted maze of deception, populated with outrageous characters and unknown dangers. Many of its fantastical characters are portrayed by puppets from Henson’s Creature Shop. The film was initially met with mixed critical and audience reviews but has since gained a cult following.
Below is the official trailer.
Gone with the Wind 85th Anniversary April 7, 8 and 10, 2024
Gone with the Wind was released to critical and popular acclaim in 1939 and has been beloved by auidiences for 85 years. It won eight Academy Awards (plus two special achievement Oscars) and is number 4 on the best films of all time list from the American Film Institute.
Gone With the Wind stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel. On the eve of the American Civil War, rich, beautiful and self-centered Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh, in her Oscar winning role) has everything she could want—except Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). But as the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers the strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, seemingly unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves (Gable) – and who truly loves her – until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost and decides to win him back.
The film is being reissued for its 85th anniversary. It runs 4 hours and 2 minutes and plays on three days, April 7, 8 and 10, 2024. Below is a trailer for the 85th anniversary release.
To get your tickets, click on the date you want at: Gone with the Wind 85th Anniversary
Steel Magnolias 35th Anniversary May 5 and 8, 2024
Six icons of the silver screen – Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts – come together in this comedy-drama about life, love and loss in a small Louisiana parish. The film is an adaptation of Robert Harling’s 1987 play of the same name about the bond a group of women share in a small-town Southern community, and how they cope with the death of one of their own.
Steel Magnolias won a Golden Globe Award for Julia Roberts (Best Supporting Actress) and People’s Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture.
Below is a preview.
North by Northwest 65th Anniversary – May 19, 22, 2024
In this Hitchcock classic from 1959, an advertising executive (Cary Grant) finds himself in a lethal cross-country chase after being mistaken for a spy. Also features Eva Marie Saint and James Mason, with a score by Bernard Hermann. North by Northwest is no. 55 on the AFI Top 100 Films list.
Extra: Fathom Events, sponsor of the showing, says the first 30 fans to arrive at each location will receive an exclusive commemorative mini-poster (while supplies last, first come, first served).
Below is a preview.
The Muppet Movie 45th Anniversary – June 2-3, 2024
It’s The Muppets starring in their first full-length movie. 1 hour 40 mins, with insights from film historian Leonard Maltin. Released in 1979, The Muppet Movie follows Kermit as he journeys for Hollywood to be a star. Along the way, a cast of lovable Muppet characters, including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo the Great.
Below is a preview.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy – starting June 8, 2024.
See details at: “Lord of the Rings” Returning to Theatres
Below is a preview.
South Park The Movie: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut 25th Anniversary Sing-A-Long – June 23 and 26, 2024
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 American adult animated musical comedy based on the animated sitcom South Park. The film was directed by series creator Trey Parker from a screenplay co-written with series co-creator Matt Stone and Pam Brady; and stars Parker, Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, and Isaac Hayes, all of whom reprise their roles from the series, with George Clooney, Eric Idle, and Mike Judge in supporting roles.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind – July 7, 10 2024
Close Encounters of the Third Kind back returns to theaters nationwide in celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 American science fiction drama film written and directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It is the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with a UFO.
Below is a preview.
The NeverEnding Story 40th Anniversary – July 21-22, 2024
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 fantasy film co-written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen and based on the 1979 novel The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. It follows a boy who finds a magical book that tells of a young warrior who is given the task of stopping the Nothing, a dark force, from engulfing the wonderland world of Fantasia.
The film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 83% based on reviews from 46 critics, with an average rating of 7/10. The site’s critical consensus reads: “A magical journey about the power of a young boy’s imagination to save a dying fantasy land, The NeverEnding Story remains a much-loved kids adventure”.
Below is a preview.
Lawrence of Arabia – August 11-12, 2024
Lawrence of Arabia returns to theaters nationwide in celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary. “Lawrence” is a 1962 epic biographical adventure drama film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence and his 1926 book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It was directed by David Lean and stars Peter O’Toole as Lawrence with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. The film also stars Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains and Arthur Kennedy.
The film depicts Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria during the First World War, in particular his attacks on Aqaba and Damascus and his involvement in the Arab National Council. Its themes include Lawrence’s emotional struggles with the violence inherent in war, his identity and his divided allegiance between his native Britain and his new-found comrades within the Arabian desert tribes.
The film was nominated for ten Oscars at the 35th Academy Awards in 1963, winning seven including Best Picture and Best Director. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA Awards for Best Film and Outstanding British Film. The dramatic score by Maurice Jarre and the Super Panavision 70 cinematography by Freddie Young also won praise from critics.
Lawrence of Arabia is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. In 1998, the American Film Institute placed it fifth on their 100 Years…100 Movies list of the greatest American films and it ranked seventh on their 2007 updated list. In 1999, the British Film Institute named the film the third-greatest British film. In 2004, it was voted the best British film in The Sunday Telegraph poll of Britain’s leading filmmakers.
Below is a preview.
Rear Window 70th Anniversary – August 25 and 28, 2024
Rear Window is a 1954 American mystery thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, and Raymond Burr.
Rear Window is considered by many filmgoers, critics, and scholars to be one of Hitchcock’s best, as well as one of the greatest films ever made. It received four Academy Award nominations, and was ranked number 42 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list.
Rear Window tells the gripping story of a photographer (James Stewart) who suspects his neighbor of murder and enlists his girlfriend (Grace Kelly) to help investigate. Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 98% based on 130 reviews, with an average rating of 9.30/10. The critics’ consensus states that “Hitchcock exerted full potential of suspense in this masterpiece.” Below is a preview.
Blazing Saddles 50th Anniversary – September 15 and 18, 2024
Ribald, tasteless and hilarious … this classic spoof of the Western genre by director Mel Brooks pokes fun at everyone and everything. A corrupt governor grants a reprieve to an African American convict if the condemned man agrees to serve as sheriff of a small Western town, believing that new sheriff will only live long enough to serve the needs of the governor and his nefarious railroad-baron backer.
Blazing Saddles received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn); Best Music, Original Song; and Best Film Editing. Below is a preview.
The Matrix 25th Anniversary Sept. 19 and 22
The Matrix opened in theaters in the United States on March 31, 1999, to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its innovative visual effects, action sequences, cinematography and entertainment value. The film was a box office success, grossing over $460 million on a $63 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film of 1999 and the fourth-highest-grossing film of that year.
Fathom Events presents a special 25th anniversary showing on September 19 and 22.
Mean Girls 20th Anniversary – October 3 and 6, 2024
Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters, written by Tina Fey, and starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amy Poehler and Fey. The plot centers on naïve teenage girl Cady Heron (Lohan) navigating her way through the social hierarchy of a modern American high school after years’ homeschooling by her parents while they conducted research in Africa.
Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels produced the film. Fey was a long-term cast member and writer for Saturday Night Live. Released on April 30, 2004, Mean Girls grossed $130.1 million worldwide and has become an enduring classic. Critics praised Waters’ direction, Fey’s screenplay, its humor and the performances; especially lauded was Lohan’s acting, which earned several accolades including three Teen Choice Awards and two MTV Movie Awards, and in 2021.
Below is a preview.
Back to the Future Part II 35th Anniversary Oct. 19, 21
Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future and the second installment in the Back to the Future franchise. The film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Thomas F. Wilson. It follows Marty McFly (Fox) and his friend Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown (Lloyd) as they travel from 1985 to 2015 to prevent Marty’s son from sabotaging the McFly family’s future. When their arch-nemesis Biff Tannen (Wilson) steals Doc’s DeLorean time machine and uses it to alter history for his benefit, the duo must return to 1955 to restore the timeline.
Before the film, fans will be treated to two commercials created in 2015: a movie trailer for the fictional JAWS 19 and a commercial promoting the hoverboard, a solution for transportation; both featured in Back to the Future Part II.
The Fifth Element – November 17 and 20, 2024
The Fifth Element is a 1997 science fiction action film conceived and directed by Luc Besson and starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, and Chris Tucker. Set in the 23rd century, the film’s central plot involves the survival of planet Earth, which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas (Willis), a taxicab driver and former special forces major, after a young woman (Jovovich) falls into his cab. To accomplish this, Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defence of Earth against the impending attack of a malevolent cosmic entity.
The Fifth Element holds a 71% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 68 reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10. The site’s consensus reads: “Visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously.”
Below is a preview.
White Christmas 20th Anniversary – December 15-16, 2024
Two talented song and dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after World War II to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter they join forces with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and VeraEllen) and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. The result is stuff dreams are made of.
For the complete list of upcoming classic films, visit: Fathom Events Schedule
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