Trying to plan a safe and socially distanced night of merry fun? Look no further. We’ve rounded up some in-person, drive-in and virtual movie options to get you in the holiday spirit. Put on a festive outfit, sip some hot cocoa, grab a blanket and don’t forget the popcorn.
AMC
The theater chain offers holiday showings as part of its $5 Fan Favespromotion. Gremlins and Die Hard open Dec. 4, with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation opening Dec. 11, followed by The Polar Express, The Star and The Muppet Christmas Carol, which open Dec. 18. For more information, visit amctheatres.com/bringback-series.
If you’re not feeling up to in-person movie fun, AMC Theatres on Demand offers titles you can buy or rent from the comfort of home. Visit amctheatres.com/on-demand for more information or to see what’s available.
Angelika Film Center
Celebrate the season with a discounted screening of $5 for adults and $3 for children at the Angelika Dallas. Holiday showings include The Polar Express opening Dec. 5, followed by The Grinch (2018) opening Dec. 12 and finally Elf opening Dec. 19. Visit angelikafilmcenter.com/dallas to purchase your tickets.
Cinemark
Cinemark is screening holiday classics and favorites at discounted prices of $5 for adults and $3 for children through Jan. 7. Titles include It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Last Christmas, The Grinch (2018), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Elf, Love Actually, The Polar Express, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story and many more.
Additionally, Frozen will screen through Dec. 10 during the promotion.
Other seasonal showings include Office Christmas Party, Scrooged, Daddy’s Home 2, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, The Star, Bad Moms Christmas, Best Man Holiday, Krampus, Fred Claus, Gremlins, The Nativity Story, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Head over to cinemark.com to get your tickets.
Dallas Arboretum
Bundle up in some cozy blankets and get merry as part of Holiday at the Arboretum. Enjoy a double feature of family-friendly Elf at 6:15 p.m. followed by PG-13 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 11 The Outdoor Movie Party Double Feature on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn is presented by Alamo Drafthouse and is included with 12-$17 arboretum admission. Parking is $10 in advance. Visit dallasarboretum.org for more information.
Drive-In Movie at Grimes Park
Two family-friendly Christmastime favorites will be screened Dec. 12 at Grimes Park in DeSoto, with Elf showing at 5:30 p.m. and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) at 8:30 p.m. Admission cost is per car, per film. There will be an intermission of just over an hour between the two showtimes. Head to desototexas.gov for more information.
Legacy Hall
Enjoy Elf Hall’iday Movie Night Dec. 16 in the Box Garden at Legacy Hall in Plano. The Christmastime classic will play on the 24-foot screen for free, though tables for up to six people in a heated tent are available for $30. Check-in for tables begins at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m.
Treats shop Mallow Box will offer hot cocoa.
Visit legacyfoodhall.com for more information.
Movie Tavern
The dine-in theater chain is getting festive this month with its Holiday Classics Retro Series.
Tickets are a discounted $5 for films including A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and The Polar Express, screening Dec. 4-8; The Holiday, The Grinch (2018) and White Christmas, showing Dec. 11-15; and Gremlins, It’s A Wonderful Life and Love Actually, playing Dec. 18-24.
The promotion is available at three Movie Tavern locations in D-FW — Bedford, 2204 Airport Freeway; Denton, 916 W. University Drive; and Fort Worth, 4920 S. Hulen St. Visit marcustheatres.com to purchase tickets.
As part of the promotion, Movie Tavern is also offering a Holiday Classics Ticket Package, giving moviegoers six showtimes for $20. See them all by yourself or take the family, and don’t forget the popcorn.
Palace Theatre
Grapevine’s Palace Theatre has a host of holiday offerings through Dec. 23. There are no previews before showings, so movies start promptly. Plan to arrive early for parking and concessions.
Showings include Home Alone, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf and The Santa Clause. A showing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. will also feature an ugly sweater contest beginning at 6:30 p.m.
There will also be an animated double-feature with A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) screening Dec. 21-23, daily at 11 a.m., with guests encouraged to wear pajamas at all three showings.
Tickets are $6 for the seasonal showings, visit grapevinetexasusa.com/palace-theatre/movies to see showtimes and book your movie night.
The Drive-In at the Central
Rooftop Cinema Club began its holiday offerings on Black Friday and will continue them through Dec. 23. The venue is decked out for the holidays, and Santa will make nightly visits to hear Christmas wish lists and even wash guests’ windows to ensure a safe drive home. Attendees can purchase hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies and other festive treats to go with their seasonal flicks.
Classic holiday showings include A Christmas Story, Die Hard, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), It’s A Wonderful Life, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Grinch (2018) and The Polar Express.
Doors open one hour before the first screening each night and 30 minutes before the second or third screenings. Parking is first-come, first-served. The drive-in will be closed Dec. 15. Tickets are $28-$35 per vehicle.
For more information visit rooftopcinemaclub.com/dallas.
The Village at Allen
This drive-in movie series aims to help families enjoy the fun of the big screen from the safety of their vehicles with three Saturdays of holiday favorites. Parking opens at 3 p.m., and the free events are first-come, first-served. The Polar Express will screen Dec. 5, with A Christmas Story the next week on Dec. 12 and Elf last on Dec. 19. All showings begin at 5:30 p.m. Head to facebook.com/thevillageshopping for more information.
Recline your seat, turn on the radio and enjoy a jolly night of relaxing fun.
Twitter: @LindaKessler