The Fall of the American Empire. In Denys Arcand’s new crime comedy, a shy and insecure delivery truck driver tries to dispose of bags of cash he picked up at a crime scene as bumbling police detectives investigate and a gang leader searches for his missing money. In French with English subtitles. UA Long Beach 6, 6601 Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, (844) 462-7342. Thurs., June 27, 12:30, 3:45 & 7 p.m. $10.05-$12.95.
Pavarotti. Ron Howard’s new documentary on the legendary opera singer includes intimate interviews, historic performances and never-before-seen footage. UA Long Beach 6, (844) 462-7342. Thurs., June 27, 1, 4:15 & 7:30 p.m. $10.05-$12.95.
Predator. The Month of Schwarzenegger Ahnulds on with John McTiernan’s 1987 action-horror flick about a team of commandos (led by you-know-who) being hunted by an extra-terrestrial in a Central American jungle. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., June 27, 2:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m.; Fri., 2, 5 & 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.
YASSS! Films based on young-adult novels screen. Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., June 27, 6 p.m. Free.
Flax to Fire. Bahram Azimpour’s 2017 documentary is about the life and work of an elite Iranian industrialist and entrepreneur. Aliasghar Hajibaba founded Iran’s iron alloys and foundry industry. An audience Q&A, wine and snacks follow the screening. UC Irvine, McCormick Screening Room, Humanities Gateway 1070, Irvine, (949) 824-6117. Thurs., June 27, 6:30 p.m. Free, but you must RSVP at bit.ly/2Xntryp.
Our Time Machine. The Newport Beach Film Festival and Orange County Museum of Art partnership Cinema Orange presents Yang Sun and S Leo Chiang’s new documentary about 43-year-old Chinese conceptual artist Maleonn. When his father, former Shanghai Chinese Opera Theater artistic director Ma Ke, is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Maleonn pours everything into Papa’s Time Machine, an ambitious new theater project. OCMAExpand, 1661 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana; www.ocmaexpand.org. Thurs., June 27, 7 p.m. Free, but due to limited seating, RSVP to
in**@oc**.net
.
Ghostbusters. Cosplay-loving Nostalgic Nebula presents a 35th-anniversary screening of Ivan Reitman’s 1984 blockbuster. Paranormal scientists (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) luck out of their university gigs and into an in-demand ghost-eradication business as New York City is gripped by untold evil. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., June 27, 7:30 p.m. Call for ticket prices.
The Little Mermaid. Crystal Cove Conservancy screens on the beach Ron Clements and John Musker’s 1989 animated Disney fantasy. Underwater princess Ariel (voiced by Jodi Benson) falls for a prince (Christopher Daniel Barnes) before cutting a deal with sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) to become human for three days so she may be with her new love. Bring blankets, beach chairs and a picnic. Candy and popcorn are sold in the historic snack shop. No alcohol is allowed. Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-7647. Thurs., June 27, 8 p.m. Free, but parking is $15 (the state park day-use fee; park in the inland Los Trancos lot, then walk across the street or take the shuttle).
Terminator 2: Judgment Day. James Cameron’s 1991 sequel has a new cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is identical to the one who tried to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), attempting to protect her young son John (Edward Furlong). The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 2:30, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.
Thor. In Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 action-adventure flick based on the Marvel Comics series, Powerful but arrogant god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast out of Asgard to live among the humans on Earth. Craig Regional Park, 3300 State College Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 973-3180. Fri., 6 p.m. Free.
Mantra: Sounds Into Silence. Good Conscious Film Series presents this feature-length documentary that explores the new music and social phenomenon of chanting, which apparently fosters healing and inner peace. Yogalution Movement, 3141 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 230-5545. Fri., 7 p.m. $10.
Mulan. Disneyland Celebrates Summer in Anaheim presents the 1998 animated family adventure that has a young maiden secretly taking her father’s place in the army and becoming one of China’s greatest heroines. Ponderosa Park, 2100 S. Haster St., Anaheim; publicaffairs.disneyland.com/community/celebratesummer. Fri., 7:45 pm. Free.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. In Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2018 animated comedy, Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) and company join a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware monster-hater Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) commandeered the tub. Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern Rd., Dana Point, (949) 248-3536. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Mike Mitchell’s recent animated movie takes place five years after everything was awesome. Now, Lego Duplo space invaders are wrecking everything. Arovista Park, 415 W. Elm St., Brea, (714) 990-7112. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.
The NeverEnding Story. In Wolfgang Peterson’s 1984 family adventure, a tormented boy (Barret Oliver) slips into a book shop to escape schoolyard bullies. He “borrows” an ancient storybook about the mythical land of Fantasia, which is in desperate need of a hero. Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way, Irvine, (866) 829-3829. Fri., 8:15 p.m. Free.
Zootopia. A rookie bunny cop (Ginnifer Goodwin) hopes to make it big in the city. When she encounters a con-artist fox (Jason Bateman), they discover a deep-rooted conspiracy they must uncover. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, near Moe B’s Watersports, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 729-3863. Fri., dusk. Free, but there is a fee to park.
Battle Royale. In Kinji Fukasaku’s 2000 sci-fi adventure that’s set in the future, the Japanese government captures ninth-graders and makes them kill one another. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri.-Sat., 10 p.m.; Sun., 8 p.m. $7-$10.50.
Kinky Boots the Musical. From pop icon Cyndi Lauper and legendary playwright Harvey Fierstein, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical that was inspired by true events comes to the big screen. Factory owner Charlie (Killian Donnelly) and fabulous entertainer Lola (Matt Henry) embrace their differences to create a line of sturdy stilettos. Various theaters; www.fathomevents.com. Sat., 12:55 p.m. 12:55 p.m. $18.
1776. Just in time for Independence Day is Peter H. Hunt’s 1972 family musical that retells the American Revolution’s political struggle in the Continental Congress. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., 4 p.m. $7-$10.50.
Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. OC Pride and the Bombs Away! podcast present the gayest entry from the Freddy horror franchise. A teenager (Mark Patton) is haunted in his dreams by deceased child murderer Freddy Krueger, who seeks to possess the boy. Stick around for the live podcast afterward. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., 7 p.m. $15.
A Dog’s Way Home. Charles Martin Smith’s recent family adventure is about a dog who travels through the Colorado wilderness in search of her owner. Orange County Great Park, (866) 829-3829. Sat., 8:15 p.m. Free.
High School Musical. A popular high-school basketball player (Zac Efron) and an academic all-star (Vanessa Hudgens) land roles in the school musical while forming a friendship that threatens the social hierarchy on campus. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, (949) 729-3863. Sat., dusk. Free, but there is a fee to park.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Live shadow-cast troupe Midnight Insanity performs. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435; arttheatrelongbeach.org. Sat., 11:55 p.m. $9-$12.
Do the Right Thing. The 1989 Spike Lee Joint has the filmmaker playing Mookie, a young pizza deliveryman who tries to hold together himself and his mixed-race, Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood on a broiling Brooklyn day. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sun., noon, 2:30, 5:30 & 8 p.m. $7-$10.50.
The Italian Job. In Peter Collinson’s 1969 action-comedy caper, in this 1969 version, Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) leads a plot to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon.-Tues., 2, 4, 6 & 8:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.
Jaws. An enormous, man-eating great white shark terrorizes beachgoers on Amity Island in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 American thriller that ushered in the blockbuster era. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon.-Wed., 2:30, 5:30 & 8 p.m.; Thurs., July 4, noon. $7-$10.50; also at Directors Cut Cinema at Regency Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $8.
Whisper of the Heart. Follow Shizku, a quiet, young schoolgirl, who is sent on a quest to find out her true talent in this coming-of-age film that continues the summertime Studio Ghibli Fest. Various theaters; www.fathomevents.com. Mon., 7 p.m. (dubbed in English); Tues., 7 p.m. (subtitled). $12.50.
Playing With Fire: The Documentary. Travis Shakespeare’s new documentary showcases the radical subculture FIRE, which embraces frugality and financial optimization to achieve independence. Art Theatre; arttheatrelongbeach.org. Mon., 7:30 p.m. $11.
The Iron Giant. This most-excellent 1999 animated flick is about a boy befriending a robot from outer space as the army hunts down the iron giant. Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Laguna Niguel at Ocean Ranch Village, 32401 Golden Lantern St., Laguna Niguel, (949) 373-7900; Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Rancho Santa Margarita at Santa Margarita Town Center, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 835-1888. Tues. & Thurs., July 4, 10 a.m. $6 (includes movie and snack pack with popcorn, fruit gummies and a small drink).
Despicable Me 3. The animated 2017 hit has the mumble-mouthed Minions wanting back their old crime boss, but the fired Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) considers himself retired as he sets off to meet his long-lost twin brother. Various Regal/Edwards theaters; regmovies.com. Tues., 10 a.m. $1.
Midsommar. Ari Aster’s new horror flick has a young American couple and friends going to a midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village, where a carefree holiday takes a sinister turn. Starlight Cinema City, 5635 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, (714) 970-6700; Starlight Triangle Cinemas, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, (714) 650-4300; starlightcinemas.com. Tues., 7 & 10:10 p.m.; Wed.-Thurs., July 4, 10:45 a.m., 1:45, 4:45, 7:45 & 10:45 p.m. $6-$12.
The Grinch. In Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier’s 2018 animated family comedy based on the Dr. Seuss book, the grumpy Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) plots to ruin Whoville’s Christmas. Various Regal/Edwards theaters; regmovies.com. Wed., 10 a.m. $1.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In David Yates’ 2007 franchise flick, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.