Articles

Movie Mondays 2015

Before a Movie Monday, the plaza is buzzing with excitement from the moment the crowds start to gather, typically hours before the movie even begins. Around 2.5 hours before showtime, guests begin to fill the plaza, checking out the various activities planned to give away various prizes and get everyone excited for the movie. Eager moviegoers will arrive as early as 5:30 and set their chair or a blanket in their perfect viewing spot, and as audiences continue to trickle in, the area is transformed from an empty plaza into an expansive entertainment hub. Food trucks and lawn games line the space for all attendees to enjoy, and each Monday, there are different pre-show activities themed to the movie that night. Before the movie starts, Center staff typically engages the crowd in trivia, an activity, or some friendly competition, and as the sun sets around 8:15 pm, the film begins.  

15 years ago, Movie Mondays began with an idea to continue engaging patrons throughout the summer when there were no ticketed shows scheduled on our stages. Jonathan Vietze, Senior Director of Series Marketing at the Center, developed the idea as a fun way to continue inviting audiences to the Center, creating the first Movie Monday in Summer 2007. 

“Originally, we were happy if there were 300 people,” said Vietze, “but it grew and grew and grew and eventually became an OC institution—one that is now replicated elsewhere throughout the county.”

What started off as picnic baskets and impromptu games turned into food trucks and scheduled activities, and soon, Movie Mondays began expanding into even larger-scale events that transformed the outdoor space. 

Movie Mondays 2016

Movie Mondays 2019

The Center’s Audience Engagement team—a group of employees responsible for the photo ops, interactive installations, and engaging displays in our lobbies—began to assist Vietze on Movie Mondays, and eventually, acquired Movie Monday planning. The scale of these popular events continues to increase over the years with over-the-top surprises that have previously included lip sync battles, a Santa Claus flash mob, and even a time machine constructed from a DeLorean!

These memorable events have become a highlight of the summer for many of our audiences, with patrons returning year after year—some even attending every Movie Monday since it began! It’s a fun-filled series that thousands have enjoyed, and now, you can be part of the excitement! Movie Mondays are happening now through August 7 and are free for all to attend, so check out the upcoming screening schedule below and decide on which movie (or movies!) to attend. 

Grab your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks and head out to the plaza for an outdoor movie night that’s perfect to add to your summer plans.