Alamo Drafthouse’s “Time Capsules” Series Continues with the Year 1989!

The Mommies Reviews

I would like to let you know ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE BRINGING ‘BATMAN’, ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE’,‘STEEL MAGNOLIAS’, ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’, AND ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ TRILOGY BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN. I hate that they closed there Theater in North Richland Hills and now everything is towards Dallas because there is days David and I can’t make it to Dallas..

If we could I would like to see Batman with Charlie who hasn’t ever seen it on the big screen. I would like to see Steel Magnolias which is one of my favorite films. Would you like to go with us. As well as take David and Charlie to see ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ TRILOGY BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN another movie Charlie hasn’t had the opportunity to see on the big screen.

Austin-based cinema eatery’s yearlong Time Capsules series relives a critical year in cinema with over 40 films at 41 locations across the country with one-of-a-kind merchandise and Alamo’s trademark menu specials.

Austin, TX — April 16, 2024 — This May and June, Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema dials the clock back to the end of the ’80s with Time Capsule 1989, the third installment in Alamo Drafthouse’s year-long screening series of over 150 films from 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, and 1974. 

1989 was a watershed moment for cinema with a mix of superhero antics, archeological escapades, and cinematic masterpieces that continue to stand the test of time. Alamo Drafthouse’s Time Capsule 1989 lineup is its biggest yet, with over forty titles that include:

  • The apex of ’80s action-adventure cinema in Tim Burton’s brooding, genre-defining superhero epic BATMAN, and Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford’s exhilarating return to the adventures of Doctor(s) Jones in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE.
  • Crucial works by filmmakers who defined the ’80s, ’90s and beyond, including Spike Lee’s masterpiece of fiery social commentary, DO THE RIGHT THING, Steven Soderbergh’s sex, lies, and videotape, Gus Van Sant’s DRUGSTORE COWBOY, and Oliver Stone’s BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
  • Movie Party celebrations of Weird Al’s bizarro triumph UHF, John Candy’s rollicking collab with John Hughes in UNCLE BUCK, 
  • For Father’s Day, the Dad-est of all Dad films about a Dad reconnecting with his (ghostly) Dad in FIELD OF DREAMS.
  • The timeless tales of California dudes hopping through time, like BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE and BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II.
  • All three BACK TO THE FUTURE films in honor of the second film in Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s sci-fi masterwork.
  • Queer Film Theory 101’s metatextual analysis of ROAD HOUSE and TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN!.
  • Dark delights in director Joe Dante’s subversive suburban satire THE ‘BURBS, Nicolas Cage’s go-for-broke performance in VAMPIRE’S KISS, and Graveyard Shift’s reanimation of PET SEMETARY.
  • Brunch with the besties by joining up with TROOP BEVERLY HILLS, the magical high school comedy TEEN WITCH, and the Southern-fried story of laughter and tears, STEEL MAGNOLIAS.

“I was six years old in the summer of 1989, and can still remember my parents teasing me that tickets to BATMAN might be sold out and that we might have to see LAST CRUSADE again instead. Tough life for a kid,” says John Smith, Senior Film Programmer at Alamo Drafthouse. “Thirty-five years later, the films of 1989 are still selling out Alamo Drafthouse screenings, and it’s an honor to share these films with a new generation.”

Tickets are on sale now at drafthouse.com/1989 and, for a limited time, will include an option to pre-order a Time Capsule 1989 collectible pint glass created by Chris Bilheimer, the acclaimed artist behind legendary album designs for Neutral Milk Hotel, R.E.M., and Green Day. 

Special menu options you’ll only find at Alamo Drafthouse

Each screening at an Alamo Drafthouse feels special, especially when the Culinary team crafts a themed menu intended to entertain audiences not just through film, but through taste. Through the run of Time Capsule 1989, Alamo Drafthouse menus will feature nods to the year’s biggest hits:

  • The adventurous “Henry Dog” inspired by both Doctor Joneses in LAST CRUSADE
  • “Dalton’s Choice”, a nice non-alcoholic brew in honor of ROAD HOUSE’s iconic cooler
  • The “Transylvania Mule” saluting Nicolas Cage’s scenery-devouring turn in VAMPIRE’S KISS
  • The “Pizza of the Future” with half pepperoni, half green bell pepper as seen in BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II

About Time Capsules

For over twenty-five years, Alamo Drafthouse has championed repertory programming, whether on 35mm, 70mm, or digital restorations. With the Time Capsules series anchoring the lineup, alternative content has represented 8.5% of Alamo Drafthouse’s box office revenue so far in 2024. 
With 1999 concluded and 1994 in its final weeks, the most popular Time Capsule titles so far is a wildly diverse mix of films, underscoring Alamo Drafthouse’s vibrant and passionate audience.

Most Popular Time Capsule Titles Box Office Revenue per Venue#1 PULP FICTION (1994)#2 THE MATRIX (1999)#3 THE CROW (1994)#4 AUDITION (1999)#5 THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)#6 CEMETERY MAN (1994)#7 DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (1999)#8 THE IRON GIANT (1999)#9 ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (1999)#10 THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999)

“We’re delighted by all of the positive reactions from our audiences and content partners”, says Alamo Drafthouse Programmer Jake Isgar. “This is a platonic ideal summer event cinema.”

TWILIGHT Movie Parties, Mother’s Day and PrideIn addition to the Time Capsules program, we continue our run through the TWILIGHT series with BREAKING DAWNs Part 1 and 2. For Mother’s Day, we’ve sworn to uphold Mr. T’s values of treating your mother right with three different celebrations: Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO, John Waters’ SERIAL MOM, and the sun-kissed pop classic MAMMA MIA! This June, in celebration of National PRIDE, we’re highlighting queer classics BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER, THE BIRDCAGE, THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT alongside a new restoration of Rose Troche’s GO FISH, courtesy of Park Circus.

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About Alamo Drafthouse

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-seven years later, with 41 locations and counting, Alamo Drafthouse has been called “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly and “the best theater in the world” by Wired. Alamo Drafthouse has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining best-in-class food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star-studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse created Fantastic Fest, a world-renowned genre film festival dubbed “The Geek Telluride” by Variety featuring independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. Alamo Drafthouse continues to expand its brand in new and exciting ways, including the  American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit film archive dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing film, and with eight new theaters announced for this year and beyond.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates