From Dr. Indiana Jones to Dr. Frank N. Furter: Philly movie screenings in August

From classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark to neo-classics like Clueless, the city and its neighboring towns have something in store for many film enthusiasts out there screening this month. Here's a list of some favorites to see.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

For those interested in another film in which Nazis' faces melt, Steven Spielberg's initial Indiana Jones film from 1981, which helped kick off the blockbuster era, shows August 6 at the Ritz Five, 214 Walnut Street, at 7:30pm.

Clueless

Director Amy Heckerling's 1995 teen classic, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd, shows at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, at 7pm on Wednesday, August 7.

Easy Rider

Also on August 7, ride your motorcycle up to Ambler for director Dennis Hopper's 1969 countercultural touchstone. The film, starring Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, is showing at the Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the Hollywood Summer Nights series.

Apollo 13

This year of celebration of the Apollo missions continues in Ambler August 8, with 1995's Apollo 13, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton and Gary Sinise. The film, which introduced the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" to the lexicon, starts at 7:30pm and is also part of the Ambler Theater's Hollywood Summer Nights series.

The Room

If cinematic greatness isn't quite your thing, Tommy Wiseau's 2003 The Room, once described as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies," will have another of its periodic midnight showings at Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead Street, at 11:59pm on August 9. Bring plenty of spoons for the movie, which inspired the 2017 hit The Disaster Artist.

A Bigger Splash

Jack Hazan's 1974 A Bigger Splash, the story of English painter David Hockney's breakup with his partner, gets a rare local showing, in a new 4K restoration, at the Lightbox Film Center, 3701 Chestnut Street, on August 10 at 7pm.

The Karate Kid

"Wax on, wax off." The original Karate Kid from 1984, from Rocky director John G. Avildsen and starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, is one of the great underdog sports movies, and it's screening at the Colonial Theatre on August 11 at 1:30pm and again August 12 at 7:30pm.

Blade Runner

The Ambler Theater, as part of its Retrograde series, is showing Ridley Scott's original 1982 Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, on August 15 at 7:30pm. There have been numerous versions released of the film over the years, but this one is Scott's 2007 "Final Cut."

Cruising

William Friedkin's controversial 1980 crime thriller, starring Al Pacino as a cop investigating a serial killer in New York's gay community, is screening at 11:59pm on August 16 at the Ritz at the Bourse.

Gimme Shelter

“Love, sister—it’s just a kiss away.” David and Albert Maysles's 1970 documentary about the Rolling Stones is widely considered one of the best rock documentaries ever made, and includes the notorious performance at Altamont Speedway in which Hell's Angels beat a man to death. The film is showing at the Colonial Theatre on August 18 at 1:30pm and again on August 19 at 7:30pm, giving you two opportunities to contemplate the notion that the Stones, nearly 50 years later, are still together and performing.

The Big Lebowski

Continuing the Hollywood Summer Nights series, the Ambler Theater on August 21 will hold its 12th annual "Little Lebowski Nite," celebrating Joel and Ethan Coen's 1998 cult classic The Big Lebowski, starting at 7:30pm. The Nite features the movie itself, starring Jeff Bridges as the iconic Dude, as well as trivia and a costume contest.

Wet Hot American Summer

Also on August 21, the PFS Roxy Theater, 2023 Sansom Street, will host David Wain's 2001 summer camp comedy Wet Hot American Summer, starring Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo, and David Hyde Pierce. For the 7:30pm screening, attendees are asked to wear "camp t-shirts, tube socks, and friendship bracelets."

Fellini's 8 1/2

Federico Fellini's 1963 masterpiece will get a rare local screening August 28 at the Philadelphia Film Center, 1412 Chestnut Street. The screening, in 35mm, stars Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale, and the 7pm screening will include 30 minutes of live music.

Lawrence of Arabia

The following night, August 29, David Lean's 1962 epic, starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness and Omar Sharif, will show at 7pm at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The cult classic doesn't get local showings all the time like it used to, but the 1975 oddity will return to its midnight roots with an 11:59pm Friday-night showing on August 30 at Ritz at the Bourse. And yes, there will be a live "shadow cast," thanks to local outfit Transylvanian Nipple Productions.