Free summer movies debut locally on Saturday

The county’s 10th annual free Summer Movies in the Park series has returned with 137 opportunities to see new and decades-old family-friendly flicks under the stars.

The first movie among local venues will be shown this Saturday in Poway. It is “The Secret Life of Pets.”

This and all other movies will begin about 15 minutes after sunset. Moviegoers will want to arrive early since many venues will offer arts and crafts activities, games, live entertainment and refreshments for purchase an hour or so before the movies are projected on a gigantic inflated movie screen.

Attendees are advised to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for grass seating, picnics and jackets in case it gets chilly after dark.

The movies, shown at 86 venues across the county, will continue through Oct. 28. For a list of all movies, go to SummerMoviesInThePark.com.

This year’s local movie options are:

♦ “The Secret Life of Pets” can be seen on Saturday, June 17 in Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive, and on Saturday, Aug. 19 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive.

It is a 2016 animated adventure comedy about a dog named Max who finds his peaceful life transformed when his owner brings home a stray dog named Duke. When the two unwilling apartment-mates get lost in New York City, they must work together if they are to find their way home. It includes the voices of Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart. The movie is rated PG for action and some rude humor.

♦ “The LEGO Batman Movie” can be seen on Saturday, July 1 in Poway Community Park.

This year’s animated action adventure has Batman trying to save Gotham City from The Joker’s hostile takeover. It includes the voices of Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes and Zach Galifianakis. The movie is rated PG for rude humor and some action.

♦ The 2016 version of Disney’s “The Jungle Book” will be shown on Saturday, July 8 at the Los Peñasquitos Adobe, 12122 Canyonside Park Drive in Rancho Peñasquitos.

The live-action/CGI adventure movie has man-cub Mowgli embarking on a journey of self-discovery when he must flee the jungle where he grew up due to a threat from the tiger Shere Kahn. It features Neel Sethi and includes the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson. The movie is rated PG for some scary action and peril sequences.

♦ “Zootopia” can be seen on Friday, July 14 at Patriot Park, 10502 Paseo de Linda in 4S Ranch.

The 2016 animated adventure comedy is about a city of anthropomorphic animals, including a rookie bunny cop and cynical con artist fox, who must work together to uncover a conspiracy. It includes the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman. It is rated PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and action.

♦ “Finding Dory” will be shown at the Poway Swim Center in Poway Community Park on Saturday, July 15.

The 2016 Disney-Pixar animated adventure comedy is about a friendly, but forgetful fish named Dory, who searches for her long-lost parents. It includes the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks and Ed O’Neill. It is rated PG for mild thematic elements.

♦ “Moana” can be seen on Friday, July 21 in Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park, 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive; on Friday, July 28 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park; on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Poway Community Park; and on Friday, Aug. 25 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park.

Disney’s 2016 animated adventure comedy is about an ancient Polynesian chieftain’s daughter who seeks out the demigod Maui to stop a terrible curse. It includes the voices of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. It is rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.

♦ “Trolls” will be shown on Friday, July 28 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park.

DreamWorks’ 2016 animated adventure comedy has Poppy, the happiest Troll, going on a journey to rescue her friends after their village is invaded. It includes the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Zooey Deschanel. It is rated PG for some mild rude humor.

♦ “The Wizard of Oz” can be seen on Saturday, July 29 in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road, and on Friday, Sept. 1 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park.

MGM’s 1939 fantasy adventure musical is about a Kansas girl named Dorothy who is transported by a tornado to a magical land. On her way to seek a wizard’s help after a witch threatens her, Dorothy becomes friends with a scarecrow, lion and tin man. It includes Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley. It is rated G.

♦ “Sing” will be shown on Saturday, Aug. 5 in Rolling Hills Neighborhood Park, 11082 Carlota in Rancho Peñasquitos, and on Friday, Aug. 11 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park.

The 2016 animated comedy is about humanoid animals that compete in a singing competition with the hope that winning will change their lives. It includes the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane and Scarlett Johansson. It is rated PG for some rude humor and mild peril.

♦ Disney’s 1991 “Beauty and the Beast” can be seen Saturday, Aug. 19 in Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park.

It is an animated film about a young woman named Belle who trades places with her father after he is held captive in an enchanted castle, whose cursed owner was turned into a beast in order to teach him a lesson in kindness and love. It includes the voices of Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach. It is rated G.

email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com