A version of this post previously appeared on Mommy Nearest, where I am an Expert Mom.
After being cooped up inside all winter, it’s hard to imagine wanting to spend a minute of summer indoors. But when the temperature and humidity rise, you and the kids will be thrilled to spend a couple of hours inside a dark, air-conditioned theater. With that in mind, we rounded up theaters near Chicago that offer summer movie programs (read: kid-friendly flicks at discounted prices!) for families.
Cinemark – Summer Movie Clubhouse
Admission for each movie is $1. Purchase a bundle of tickets to see 10 movies for only $5.
Print out the coupon available on any of the location sites to receive $1 off of a movie snack pack.
Locations & movie schedule:
One movie played each week in this order: Epic, The Croods, Turbo, Smurfs 2, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Walking With Dinosaurs, The LEGO Movie, Rio 2, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Alvin & the Chipmunks
- Bourbonnais, Cinemark Movies 10 – Tuesdays at 10:00 am
- Deer Park, Century 16 Deer Park – Wednesdays at 10:00 am
- Evanston, Century 12 Evanston/CinéArts 6 & XD – Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:00 am
- Melrose Park, Cinemark Melrose Park – Tuesdays at 10:00 am
One movie played each week in this order: Ice Age: The Meltdown, Epic, The Croods, Turbo, Smurfs 2, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, Walking With Dinosaurs, The LEGO Movie, Rio 2, Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
- Joliet, Cinemark Movies 10 – Tuesdays at 10:00 am beginning 6/10
- North Aurora, Cinemark Tinseltown USA – Tuesdays at 10:00 am beginning 6/10
- Woodridge, Cinemark @ Seven Bridges & IMAX – Tuesdays at 10:00 am beginning 6/10
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, Freeport, Kankakee, Naperville, North Riverside, Oak Park, St. Charles, & Woodstock
Movie schedule:
- June 11 – Despicable Me 2
- June 18 – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
- June 25 – Turbo
- July 2 – The Muppets Take Manhattan
- July 9 – The Nut Job
- July 16 – The Smurfs 2
- July 23 – Free Birds
- July 30 – The LEGO Movie
- August 6 – Surprise G-rated movie
Marcus Theaters – Kids Dream Summer Film Series
Admission is $2 per person. Popcorn is $2.50 and fountain drinks are $2.50.
Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Locations: Addison, Chicago Heights, Elgin, Gurnee, and Orland Park
Movie schedule:
- June 15, 16, 18 – The LEGO Movie
- June 22, 23, 25 – The Nut Job
- June 29. 30, July 2 – Despicable Me 2
- July 13, 14, 16 – Turbo
- July 20, 21, 23 – Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
- July 27, 28, 30 – The Croods
- August 3, 4, 6 – Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- August 10, 11, 13 – Rio 2
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.
Begins June 3 in Moline, June 10 in Crystal Lake, Moline & Warrenville, and June 17 in Round Lake Beach.
Locations: Chicago, Crystal Lake, Moline, Round Lake Beach, Warrenville
Movie schedule:
- Week 1: Hotel Transylvania & The Smurfs 2
- Week 2: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 & The Pirates: Band of Misfits
- Week 3: Arthur Christmas & Despicable Me 2
- Week 4: The LEGO Movie & Free Birds
- Week 5: The Adventures of Tintin & Rise of the Guardians
- Week 6: Kung Fu Panda 2 & Madagascar 3
- Week 7: The Croods & Epic
- Week 8: Turbo & Walking with Dinosaurs
- Week 9: Peabody & Mr. Sherman & Rio 2
Studio Movie Grill – Children’s Summer Series
$2 per person.
Monday through Friday at 11:00 am
Location: Wheaton
Movie schedule:
- May 26-30 – Robots
- June 2-5 – Horton Hears a Who
- June 9-13 – Ice Age 4: Continental Drift
- June 16-20 – The Croods
- June 23-27 – Epic
- June 30-July 4 – Turbo
- July 7-11 – Rio
- July 14-18 – Shrek Forever After
- July 21-25 – Charlotte’s Web
- July 28-August 1 – Kung Fu Panda 2
- August 4-8 – Puss in Boots
- August 11-15 – Madagascar 3
- August 18-22 – Rugrats Movie
Special Needs Screenings
Movies are offered on a monthly basis on Saturdays at 10:00 am. Lights are up, sound is down, and audience members are invited to walk, dance, sing, or shout.
Locations: Chicago, Hobart, Lake in the Hills, Michigan City, Naperville, Niles, Northbrook Court, Schererville, South Barrington, Village Crossing, Yorktown
Movie schedule:
- June 21 – How to Train Your Dragon
- July 26 – Planes: Fire & Rescue
- September 27 – Dolphin Tale 2
- October 25 – Book of Life
- November 29 – Home
- December 13 – Paddington
Marcus Theatres – Reel Movies for Real Needs
One Saturday each month at 10:30 am a select 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.
Location: Addison
Studio Movie Grill – SMG Special Needs Screening
Special Needs Screenings are free for children with special needs and their siblings; adults are $6. Lights are up, sound is down, and children are free to move around, talk, or dance in the aisles during the movie.
See website for movies, dates, and times.
Location: Wheaton
