2026 Midland Theatre Summer MOvie Series

THE MIDLAND THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2026 SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: TEN CLASSICS, ONE LEGENDARY VENUE, TICKETS JUST $7

Official Ohio Goes to the Movies™ venue presents community-curated lineup of Friday evening and Sunday matinee screenings July 17 through August 16; seniors always free; tickets on sale May 12

NEWARK, Ohio ([DATE], 2026) -- The Midland Theatre, an Official Venue for Ohio Goes to the Movies™, has announced its 2026 Summer Movie Series, a ten-film lineup running July 17 through August 16 that continues to bring classic cinema to one of Central Ohio’s most storied screens. Friday evening screenings begin at 7:00 PM; Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 PM. Tickets are just $7 for adults, and seniors always attend free.

Movies have always been part of The Midland’s DNA. When the historic Spanish Revival theatre first opened its doors on December 20, 1928, it opened as a movie house, welcoming audiences into one of Newark’s grandest spaces for the magic of film. For five decades, audiences counted on The Midland for the biggest films of every era. Nearly a century later, that spirit is very much alive. Since its $8.5 million restoration in 2000, The Midland has grown into a full-service performing arts venue hosting more than 80 events annually, but every summer it comes back to where it all began: the movies.

This summer carries special significance. As an Official Venue for Ohio Goes to the Movies™, a Signature Event of America 250-Ohio, The Midland joins a statewide network of historic theatres celebrating Ohio’s remarkable contributions to American filmmaking across all 88 counties. The Summer Movie Series is a direct expression of that legacy, and a love letter to every audience member who has ever sat in the dark and let the big screen take them somewhere new.

Each year, Director of Patron Experience Doug Avery personally curates the Summer Movie Series lineup with the community squarely in mind, balancing nostalgia, accessibility, and the simple pleasure of watching a great film in a room full of neighbors.

“Every film we choose is a conversation with our community,” said Avery. “I think about the families who grew up with these movies, the kids who have never seen them on a screen bigger than a tablet, and the people who just want a great night out without breaking the bank. This lineup has something for all of them.”

2026 Summer Movie Series Schedule

Friday evening screenings begin at 7:00 PM. Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 PM. All screenings at The Midland Theatre, 36 North Park Place, Newark.

•        July 17 | Creepshow (1982) | 7:00 PM | FREE | Ohio Goes to the Movies™

•        July 19 | Brubaker (1980) | 2:00 PM Matinee | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        July 24 | Jurassic Park (1993) | 7:00 PM | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        July 26 | The Land Before Time (1988) | 2:00 PM Matinee | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        July 31 | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) | 7:00 PM | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        August 2 | Animal Crackers (1930) | 2:00 PM Matinee | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        August 7 | Three Amigos! (1986) | 7:00 PM | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        August 9 | The Cowboys (1972) | 2:00 PM Matinee | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        August 14 | Mamma Mia! (2008) | 7:00 PM | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

•        August 16 | Grease (1978) | 2:00 PM Matinee | $7 Adult | Seniors Free

The lineup spans nearly a century of film history, from the Marx Brothers’ anarchic comedy in Animal Crackers to Spielberg’s landmark spectacle in Jurassic Park, with something for every generation. Two films promise to be in a category all their own: Mamma Mia! on August 14 and Grease on August 16 are practically guaranteed to turn The Midland into one giant sing-along. ABBA, John Travolta, Meryl Streep, a full house, and $7 tickets. Singing is encouraged. These are the kinds of nights that become memories.

“We host over 80 events a year, but this is our chance to do what this building was made for: get a crowd together, turn the lights down, and share something on the big screen,” said Maryann Crist, Executive Director of The Midland Theatre. “Creepshow is outrageous fun. It is the kind of film that makes a room full of strangers feel like old friends by the end of the night. And honestly, the same is true for every film in this series. We cannot wait to share it.”

Tickets go on sale May 12 at 10:00 AM at midlandtheatre.org/midlandmovies. All tickets $7; seniors always free. Free registration for the Creepshow Ohio Goes to the Movies™ screening also opens May 12 at 10:00 AM.

About Ohio Goes to the Movies™

Ohio Goes to the Movies™ is a Signature Event of America 250-Ohio, celebrating Ohio’s remarkable contributions to American filmmaking by bringing classic films to historic theatres across all 88 counties of the Buckeye State.