July free-for-all: the proof

Last week I boasted that you could see a free movie in a theater in Austin every night of the week. I wondered if I could prove it.
I can. Here’s a list of free movies playing in Austin next week, one for every day in the week. Some of them are outdoors instead of in theaters; some of them are screenings of DVDs instead of reels of film. Some are in the greater Austin area … Round Rock, San Marcos, etc. But it is still true that if you’re short on cash (and have a source of reliable transportation), you can see a free movie every day around town.
Some of the films on this list are part of various theaters’ summer film series for kids. But I see no reason why grown-ups can’t sneak in. If you think it’ll be a problem, tell the theater staff that you’re meeting your sister and her kids and they’re already in the theater. Some people might not like the idea of watching a movie in a theater full of kids, but if it’s a good movie that kids like, I think it’s delightful to watch them enjoying the film. (It’s the bored kids who are no fun in theaters.)

Sunday, July 10
The Goonies—Playing at Alamo South at noon as part of the Summer Kids Camp series.
Monday, July 11
The Powerpuff Girls Movie—Playing outdoors at Plaza Park Stage in San Marcos at 8 pm.
Monday, July 11
Waking Life—Playing at Cafe Mundi at 8:30 pm.
Tuesday, July 12
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events—Playing at Westgate 11 at 10 am as part of Regal’s Summer Family Film series. Oooh. I am very tempted to sneak out of the office, because I really wanted to see this movie in a proper theater. This movie is also playing on Wed. at 10 am.
Wednesday, July 13
Dead Man—Playing at Spider House at 9 pm.
Wednesday, July 13
Gator Bait—Playing at Alamo Downtown at midnight as part of the Alamo’s long-running Weird Wednesday series. This series has always made me wish I had a job where I could stagger in late on Thursdays. However, I suspect this 1974 drive-in flick is full of inaccurate Cajun stereotypes (there’s actually a character named Desiree), so it’s probably best that I don’t see it.
Thursday, July 14
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory—Playing outdoors at Jo’s Hot Coffee at 8:30 pm. Jo’s wants to prepare everyone for the re-adaptation by showing the earlier film with Gene Wilder in the title role. You are advised to bring lawn chairs.
Thursday, July 14
Amelie—Playing at Spider House at 9 pm. Does Spider House sell creme brulee? Perhaps they should.
Friday, July 15
The Goonies—Playing outdoors at Old Settlers’ Park in Round Rock at 8 pm. Bring a blanket or something to sit on for these Rolling Roadshow outdoor films.
Saturday, July 16
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie—Playing at Alamo South at noon as part of the Summer Kids Camp series. Also plays on Sunday 7/15 at noon. I’m so sorry we’ll be out of town and will miss this.
Saturday, July 16
Spider-Man 2—Playing outdoors at Bob Bryant Park in Bastrop at 8 pm.
And these aren’t even all the movies. Spider House shows free movies from DVD nearly every weeknight. (The Austin Chronicle film listings usually include the Spider House schedule.) Pedazo Chunk Video shows DVDs in their store every night except Sunday, and they like to show obscure and foreign-language movies, some of which are not available on Region 1 DVDs. (Pedazo Chunk hasn’t posted their July schedule yet, so I couldn’t include any of their screenings in the list.)
Sometimes the Harry Ransom Center shows movies. During the school year, the Texas Union at UT shows free movies.
So if you keep your eyes open, you can find free movie screenings all over the greater Austin area. Good to know when your TV breaks or you need a cheap night out.