I love settling into a darkened movie theater with my family and a ginormous bucket of popcorn. It doesn’t matter if we see a brand new release, or an old favorite movie, it’s just nice to escape for an hour or so into a different world. Bonus: it’s especially nice to escape from the heat or the rain, or a when you are desperate for a way to keep the kids entertained.
Of course, a trip to the movies can be expensive. Luckily, local theatres offer weekday specials during the summer with family-friendly movies at discounted prices.
Cinemark – Summer Movie Clubhouse
Admission for each movie is $1, or purchase a punchcard for $5 to see all 10 movies. All films are rated G or PG.
Locations & movie schedule:
One movie played each week in this order: Smurfs: The Lost Village, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Storks, The Nut Job 2, My Little Pony, Ferdinand, Paddington 2, Captain Underpants, The Emoji Movie, and The Boss Baby.
- Evanston, Century 12 Evanston/CinéArts 6 & XD – Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 12
- Melrose Park, Cinemark Melrose Park – Tuesdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 12
- North Aurora, Tinseltown USA – Tuesdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 12
One movie played each week in this order: The Boss Baby, Smurfs: The Lost Village, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Storks, The Nut Job 2, My Little Pony, Ferdinand, Paddington 2, Captain Underpants, and The Emoji Movie.
- Deer Park, Century 16 Deer Park – Wednesdays & Thursdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 6
- Joliet, Cinemark Louis Joliet Mall – Monday-Thursday at 9:30 am beginning on June 4
- Woodridge, Cinemark @ Seven Bridges – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 2
One movie played each week in this order: Captain Underpants, The Emoji Movie, Boss Baby, Smurfs: The Lost Village, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Storks, The Nut Job 2, My Little Pony, Ferdinand, and Paddington 2.
- West Dundee, Cinemark Springhill Mall – Mondays & Thursdays at 10:00 am beginning on May 21
Classic Cinemas – Wednesday Morning Movie Series
Admission is $1 per person.
Arrive at 9:00 am to meet characters and for games and activities. All movies start at 10:00 am.
Locations: Carpentersville, Downers Grove, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Fox Lake, Naperville, North Riverside, Oak Park, St. Charles, & Woodstock
Movie schedule:
- June 6 – The Boss Baby
- June 13 – Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
- June 20 – Despicable Me 3
- June 27 – The Emoji Movie
- July 11 – The LEGO Ninjago Movie
- July 18 – Ferdinand
- July 25 – Paddington 2
- August 1 – surprise movie
- August 8 – surprise movie
Marcus Theaters – Kids Dream Summer Film Series
Admission is $3 per person. Popcorn is $2.75 and fountain drinks are $2.75.
Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays (plus Saturdays in August) at 10:00 am
Locations: Addison, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Elgin, Gurnee, and Orland Park
Movie schedule:
- June 24, 25, & 27 – Ferdinand
- July 1, 2, & 4 – Wonder
- July 8, 9, & 11 – Trolls
- July 15, 16, & 18 – The LEGO Ninjago Movie
- July 29, 30, & August 1 – Paddington 2
- August 4, 5, 6, & 8 – Despicable Me 3
- August 11, 12, 13, & 15 – My Little Pony
- August 18, 19, 20, & 22 – Peter Rabbit
- August 24, 26, 27, & 29 – Sherlock Gnomes
Regal Theaters – Summer Movie Express
Admission is $1 per person and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Two movies shown each day.
Begins June 5 until August 8 in Round Lake Beach, Lake Zurich, Moline, and June 26 through August 29 in Chicago.
Locations: Chicago, Lake Zurich, Moline, Round Lake Beach
Movie schedule:
- June 5-6 – Iron Giant & Curious George (excluding Chicago location)
- June 12-13 – Despicable Me & Ice Age: Collision Course (excluding Chicago location)
- June 19-20 – Storks & Mr. Peabody & Sherman (excluding Chicago location)
- June 26-27 – Despicable Me 2 & How to Train Your Dragon 2
- July 3-4 – The LEGO Movie & Alvin & the Chipmunks
- July 10-11 – Sing & The Peanuts Movie
- July 17-18 – The LEGO Ninjago Movie & Ferdinand
- July 24-25 – The Secret Life of Pets & Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
- July 31- August 1 – The LEGO Batman Movie & Trolls
- August 7-8 – Minions & The Boss Baby
- August 14-15 – Paddington 2 & Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (Chicago location only)
- August 21-22 – Despicable Me 3 & Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Chicago location only)
- August 28-29 – Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax & Kung Fu Panda 3 (Chicago location only)
Studio Movie Grill – Children’s Summer Series
$1 per person.
Monday through Friday at 10:30 am in Wheaton and 11:00 am in Chicago/Chatham
Locations: Chicago, Wheaton
Movie schedule in Chicago:
- June 11-15 – How to Train Your Dragon 2
- June 18-22 – Ferdinand
- June 25-29 – Captain Underpants
- July 2-6 – The Boss Baby
- July 11-15 – Horton Hears a Who
- July 18-22 – The Peanuts Movie
- July 23-29 – The Croods
- July 30-August 3 – The Prince of Egypt
- August 6-10 – Megamind
- August 13-17 – Puss in Boots
- August 20-24 – Epic
- August 27-31 – Flushed Away
Movie schedule in Wheaton:
- June 4-8 – The Book of Life
- June 11-15 – How to Train Your Dragon 2
- June 18-22 – Ferdinand
- June 25-29 – Captain Underpants
- July 2-6 – The Boss Baby
- July 9-13 – Horton Hears a Who
- July 16-20 – The Peanuts Movie
- July 23-27 – The Croods
- July 30-August 3 – The Prince of Egypt
- August 6-10 – Megamind
- August 13-17 – Puss in Boots
Special Needs Screenings
Family-friendly, sensory-friendly movies are offered 2nd & 4th Saturdays. Tuesdays are sensory-friendly movies for mature audiences. Lights are up, sound is down, and audience members are invited to walk, dance, sing, or shout.
Locations: Chicago, Barrington, Lake in the Hills, Naperville, New Lenox, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie, Yorktown
Movie schedule:
- Saturday, June 9 – Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Tuesday, June 12 – Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Saturday, June 23 – The Incredibles 2
- Tuesday, June 26 – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
- Saturday, July 10 – Ant Man & the Wasp
- Tuesday, July 14 – Ant Man & the Wasp
- Saturday, July 24 – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
- Tuesday, July 28 – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Marcus Theatres – Reel Movies for Real Needs
Select Saturdays at 10:30 am a first run movie is run with families of children with special needs in mind. Lights are up and sound is lower than normal. Regular matinee pricing applies.
Locations: Addison, Orland Park
Movie schedule:
- May 26 – Solo: A Star Wars Movie
- June 16 – Incredibles 2
- June 23 – Jurassic World
- July 7 – Ant Man & the Wasp
- July 14 – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
- July 28 – Teen Titans Go! to the Movies
- August 4 – Christopher Robin
Studio Movie Grill – SMG Special Needs Screening
Special Needs Screenings are free for children with special needs and their siblings; adults pay the before-noon price. Lights are up, sound is down, and children are free to move around, talk, or dance in the aisles during the movie.
Location: Wheaton, Chicago (Chatham)
Movie schedule:
- June 2 – Solo: A Star Wars Story
- June 23 – The Incredibles 2
- June 30 – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
