Summer Classic Movie Series Returns to Pensacola Saenger Theatre
While summer is often defined by sun-soaked beach days and lively outdoor adventures, some of the season’s most memorable moments happen indoors surrounded by loved ones and immersed in the magic of cinema. The Summer Classic Movie Series at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre reminds us that some of the best summer experiences occur under a shared roof, with a chance to disconnect from the fast-paced world, share laughs and tears, all while enjoying timeless classic films.
This year, the Summer Classic Movie Series highlights films representing the celebrated partnership between the influential filmmaker Steven Spielberg and prolific American composer John Williams. The series kicks off with a restored version of the 1970s classic Jaws and concludes with the 2010s historical drama Lincoln.
“As a film buff and avid lover of scores, John Williams is the most prolific composer that comes to my mind,” Saenger Theatre Senior Marketing and Sales Manager Kristen Carter said. “His partnership with Steven Spielberg has created some of the most nostalgic music and movies that even non-cinephiles can recognize and feel connected to.”
Keeping with a summer theme, Spielberg is widely credited with creating what we now call the “summer blockbuster,” with Jaws often cited as the first. The film selection also reflects the remarkable range of Spielberg’s works — from the practical effects of Jaws and E.T.and the groundbreaking digital and animatronic innovations of Jurassic Park to the subtlety and character-driven storytelling found in Catch Me If You Can and Lincoln.
“As part of the visual storytelling Spielberg is so widely regarded for, Carter encourages attendees to keep an eye out for “the Spielberg face” – a signature directorial technique where a character is shown in a tight close-up with eyes wide and mouth slightly agape, staring in wordless awe, shock or wonder at something off-screen.
“I hope that through the films we have chosen, members of the Pensacola community will experience the nostalgic feeling of seeing movies in the theatre in the summer with friends and family, and create new memories today,” Carter said. “And for younger generations to have the opportunity to experience a few of the classic films on the big screen that shaped what filmmakers today were inspired by when deciding to become directors and composers themselves.”
The Summer Classic Movie Series began in 2012 and has evolved over the years, expanding from Sunday Hitchcock matinees and strictly black-and-white films to include anniversary screenings and classic comedies. A long-standing tradition of the series is the feature of Lola, the historic Saenger Pipe Organ, featured before each screening.
The pipe organ has long been an important part of the Classic Movie Series, as well as many other film screenings at Saenger Theatre. Over the past three seasons, the Saenger has also experimented with the music featured in its Classic Movie Series presentations. During its Milestone season, the theatre drew directly from each film’s score and soundtrack, creating unique interpretations, such as a lively pipe organ rendition of Bee Gees hits ahead of the screening of Saturday Night Fever.”
“As per tradition, all screenings in the 2026 Summer Classic Movie Series will include original scores played on Lola. In addition to playing scores from the five selected films on the organ, the series will also feature organ music from other films Spielberg and Williams worked on including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and other memorable themes.
“One of the things I am most passionate about in this community is keeping all forms of art alive and accessible for younger generations,” Carter said. “Many of these movies are stories I grew up with. Now, people in their 30s and 40s have the opportunity to share this experience with their children. Spielberg is a director that makes movies for everyone with stories that, no matter how fantastical or unrealistic, have a relatability any age person can connect with.”
Although the Saenger Theatre often has a reputation for showcasing high art, particularly in live performances and cultural presentations, its Summer Classic Movie Series offers programming that is welcoming and engaging for the wider community. By doing so, the Saenger creates a space where everyone from seasoned cinephiles to families and casual viewers can gather and enjoy quality entertainment.
Tickets start at $7 (plus tax) and children under 2 years of age are admitted free as long as they sit on a ticketed adult’s lap. All screenings begin at 3 pm, with the lobby doors opening one hour prior to showtime. Pre-packaged snacks, Coca-Cola products, mixed drinks and assorted beers and wines are available for purchase but cash is not accepted.
If you purchase tickets for all five screenings at the box office, you get one ticket for free. Tickets can be purchased at the Saenger Theatre Box Office located at 22 E. Intendencia St. in downtown Pensacola or online at pensacolasaenger.com.
2026 Summer Classic Movie Series Lineup:
- July 26: Jaws (1975)
- August 1: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- August 9: Jurassic Park (1993)
- August 16: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- August 23: Lincoln (2012)