Rooftop Cinema Club released its March program today following a week they originally thought would include Houstonians’ catching their first look at the completed remodel of The Drive-In off Navigation. The company instead mobilized all available staff, local volunteers, and food vendors to help transition the venue located at the corner of Navigation and Runnels St. into a “relief station” offering free meals, water, movie snacks, goodie bags, Wi-Fi, and use of onsite generators to charge devices. As relief needs continue to shift, Rooftop Cinema Club turns to what it does best by reopening The Drive-In and releasing its full March lineup for Houstonians to plan a much-needed night out and escapism via the power of film.
“While we continue working on ways to help the community recover from last week, we’re reminded of our purpose when we opened a drive-in theater last spring – to provide the community with a unique, but safe escape to the movies. It’s why we’re particularly passionate about releasing our spring schedule this week,” said Gerry Cottle, owner and founder of Rooftop Cinema Club.
The Drive-In off Navigation, 2315 Navigation Blvd., hosts two screenings Wednesdays through Sundays before adding in screenings on Tuesdays beginning March 2. The new spring schedule celebrates everything great about the new season: springing forward, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break, new Tuesday Date Nights, and birthday tributes to Rooftop favorites Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino.
See the full list of screenings and tickets available at rooftopcinemaclub.com/navigation. A copy of the schedule and special event details can be found below.
Movie-goers can catch March’s opening act “Selena” on March 2 on the largest drive-in screen in Houston followed by the 25th anniversary of “Happy Gilmore” on March 3, and a special Spring Forward weekend celebrating “transformation” as seen in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Freaky Friday,” “Twilight,” and more.
The Drive-In off Navigation’s massive screen was built onto a permanent 64-foot structure framed by stunning views of the Downtown skyline, just east of Hwy. 59.
Tuesday Date Nights
Feelings of love and community have only grown around Houston since Valentine’s Day, so The Drive-In decided to celebrate that every Tuesday throughout March. Enjoy the modern classic “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” visionary literary adaptations “The Great Gatsby” and “Cruel Intentions,” and beloved romance in “Love Jones” and “Love & Basketball.”
St. Patrick’s Day and It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green
This St. Patrick’s Day weekend The Drive-In turned to Martin Scorsese’s Irish tale of family, tradition, and corruption – “The Departed,” screening late night on Saturday, March 13. You can also celebrate with your favorite green misfits over the holiday weekend with early screenings of “Shrek 2” on Saturday, March 13, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on Sunday, March 14.
Spring Break
Alright, alright, alright! The Drive-In will be partying with some of its favorite high school and college-themed movies from “Dazed and Confused,” “Scream,” sing-along favorite, “High School Musical,” to the lovable creatures of “Monsters University” and more!
Birthday Shout Outs: Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino
March 20 and 27, respectively, will celebrate the birthdays of two iconic filmmakers, Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino, by screening “Do the Right Thing” on the 20th and leaving it up to Houston to pick which Tarantino film they’d like to see on his 58th birthday on the 27th. Voting will be held at rftp.cc/tarantino-nav.
Movie Anniversaries
Celebrate movie anniversary milestones next month at The Drive-In! “Happy Gilmore” kicks things off on March 3 with its 25th anniversary, followed by the 40th anniversary of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on March 9, the 15th anniversary of the pre-teen favorite “High School Musical” on March 17 and finally the 30th anniversary of “Boyz n the Hood” on March 19.
Community Screenings
Born at the start of Rooftop’s first Houston drive-in theater, its Community Screenings have offered reduced-price tickets and donated all proceeds each month to various local charities. This month’s two screenings, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” on March 10 and “Reality Bites” on March 24, will benefit the great work done by The Beacon to serve Houston’s homeless community.
Movie Listings for March 2 – April 4
March 2: Selena and Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind
March 3: The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Happy Gilmore
March 4: The Sandlot and The Wood
March 5: Freaky Friday and Never Been Kissed
March 6: The Emperor’s New Groove and Talladega Nights
March 7: Twilight and The Mask
March 9: Raiders of The Lost Ark and The Great Gatsby
March 10: The Breakfast Club and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
March 11: Back to The Future and Poetic Justice
March 13: Shrek 2 and The Departed
March 14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Texas Chain Saw Massacre
March 16: Mean Girls and Love & Basketball
March 17: High School Musical and Dazed and Confused
March 18: 21 Jump Street and Scream
March 19: Monsters University and Boyz N the Hood
March 20: Coco and Do the Right Thing
March 21: Fast Five
March 23: Beetlejuice and Love Jones
March 24: Jurassic World and Reality Bites
March 25: The Goonies and Child’s Play
March 26: Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle and Friday
March 27: Quentin Tarantino – People’s Choice and Cabin in The Woods
March 28: Casablanca and Fight Club
March 30: Dirty Dancing and Cruel Intentions
March 31: Guardians of The Galaxy and Tales from The Hood
April 1: Aladdin and Brown Sugar
April 2: The Croods: A New Age and A Nightmare On Elm Street
April 3: Chicken Run and Eddie Murphy: Raw
April 4: Selena and Donnie Darko
Tickets for The Drive-In off Navigation, located at 2315 Navigation Blvd., range from $22–36 per vehicle, depending on vehicle occupancy and screening day. The venue will be open Wednesday through Sunday each week with two screenings per night. Tuesday screenings will begin on March 2 with The Drive-In’s Tuesday Date Night series. Children three and under will not count as vehicle occupants. Parking spots are first-come-first-serve, and guests will be escorted by ushers once they arrive. Doors open one hour before the first screening and 30 minutes before the second.
Weekend (Friday – Sunday)
- The Movie Buddy $26 – reserves one vehicle for up to two guests
- The Movie Squad $36 – reserves one vehicle for three or more guests
Weekday (Wednesday and Thursday)
- The Movie Buddy $22 – reserves one vehicle for up to two guests
- The Movie Squad $27 – reserves one vehicle for three or more guests
Rooftop Cinema Club’s number one priority is guest and team safety and wellbeing. The Drive-In off Navigation’s cinema experience is set up to be completely contactless and social-distance-friendly. Guests must watch the movie from within their vehicle, and masks are required when exiting their vehicle for any reason, including going to the restroom or picking up concessions. Sanitation solutions will be available throughout the venue and staff will always wear masks.
Drive-in fans can be the first to receive notice of the new venue’s movie listings and special events by signing up for Rooftop’s e-newsletter. For more information about Rooftop Cinema Club, visit rooftopcinemaclub.com/navigation or follow them on social media.
- Instagram: @RooftopCinemaClub
- Facebook: @RooftopCinemaClub
- Twitter: @RooftopCinema
- #RCCDriveIn
Rooftop Cinema Club
The ultimate open-air cinema experience, Rooftop Cinema Club started as a single rooftop in London’s Shoreditch in 2011 and has now expanded globally with three rooftop venues in the UK and five in LA, NYC, San Diego, and Houston. Sold out crowds enjoy sunset movie screenings under the stars using state-of-the-art projectors, high-quality personal headphones, comfy deck chairs, and cozy blankets, all coupled with the best food and drink around. In addition to rooftop venues, Rooftop Cinema Club now presents family-friendly drive-ins across the U.S., ideal in the age of social distancing, with more locations opening up soon nationwide.
