Celebration Cinema Studio Park and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) are bringing free outdoor movies back to the Studio Park Piazza this summer. This year's Sunset Cinema series is presented by Mercantile Bank.

Following a successful run featuring 8 movies in the summer of 2024, the lineup is expanding to include 11 movies this summer that will be shown every Saturday from June 7 to August 23 at 8:00 PM (there will be no movie on July 5, 2025).

Celebration Cinema Studio Park and DGRI have partnered on multiple events, art activations and community gatherings since the Piazza opened in 2019. Both organizations continually work to build community, activate public spaces and support local businesses Downtown.

“All seasons have their magic, but there is something really fun about folks coming together on a summer night for an outdoor movie in the heart of the city,” said Emily Loeks, Director of Community Affairs at Celebration Cinema. “The green space in Studio Park’s Piazza is surrounded by local retail and lots of great food, ice cream and popcorn. It’s an easy spot from which to explore Downtown!”

The Sunset Cinema series builds on previous successful seasons, as well as DGRI’s public movie events over the last 10+ years, including Movies In The Park and Movies On Monroe. This year’s Sunset Cinema series is free and open to the public, offering a variety of films including old classics, family-friendly and fan favorites.

“Sunset Cinema is a great way for people to come together in an outdoor community setting and enjoy a free movie,” said Kim Van Driel, Director of Public Space Management at DGRI. “We’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with Celebration Cinema Studio Park to activate this wonderful space.”

Seating is first come, first served. Drinks will be available for purchase from surrounding businesses at Studio Park, including the indoor movie theater concessions. Outside snacks are allowed. Movie watchers are encouraged to bring their own low-profile chairs so that everyone has a comfortable view of the screen. Guests who park in the Studio Park(ing) ramp can have their parking validated with any food or beverage purchase from One Twenty Three Tavern.

After an online public vote with almost 2,500 responses, the following movies were selected based on availability and popularity:

• 6/7/25 - The Hunger Games
• 6/14/25 - Mean Girls
• 6/21/25 - Shrek
• 6/28/25 - La La Land
• 7/12/25 - Mamma Mia
• 7/12/25 - Grease
• 7/26/25 - Moana 2
• 8/2/25 - Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone
• 8/9/25 - Dirty Dancing
• 8/16/25 - Inside Out
• 8/23/25 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off

For additional information and details about the Sunset Cinema Series, please visit the FAQ page.

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About Studio C: Studio C creates space where story happens, giving diverse communities a place to gather around movies, music, dining, and events. Studio C companies are owned by John D. Loeks and include Celebration Cinema, with eleven locations in west and mid-Michigan including the Getty Drive In; ShowSpan, the premier producer of consumer shows in the Midwest; Midtown, a state-of-the-art music venue; Elsa’s ice cream parlor and One Twenty Three Tavern.

About DGRI: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) is the organization responsible for city building and place-management in the urban core of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Established in 2013, DGRI serves as the singular management entity for the combined operations of the Downtown Development Authority, the Downtown Improvement District and the Monroe North Tax Increment Finance Authority.