Summer flicks for kids: $6 or less gets you air-conditioning and a top-rated movie

Lots of children have missed watching the big screen in a cinema, thanks to inflation and other obstacles that lingered after the pandemic. In fact, many little kids have never seen a movie at a theater.

It's hot. It's humid. The air quality has been fuzzy. Cinemas are a good escape. But they can be expensive. The Buskirk-Chumley Theater, though, is showing two good kids' flicks for $6 each, general admission, with kids age 5 and younger admitted free. Dates are July 15 and 22.

"How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek"— and how they got picked

As part of the Buskirk's application for funding from the Bloomington Arts Commission, the historic downtown theater used a survey to ensure they knew what the community wanted.

"The survey was shared throughout parent channels — text threads, peer-to-peer, social media, etc. — and  "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek" got top marks for 60% of the 69 respondents," said Casey Rich, Buskirk-Chumley's marketing director.

The "Shrek" showing even offers a sensory-friendly screening: It will be sold at half capacity, to reduce ambient noise and provide more elbow room.

"We went with new classic children's animated films from DreamWorks," said Brad Schiesser, the Buskirk's associate executive director. "We have heard from families across the county that this is something they will really enjoy."

Who should come to the movies

"All kids in town," Rich said, "mostly those who’ve never been to a movie in theaters before (think, those 5 and younger who’ve spent most of their lives in pandemic times)."

Parents of those young children might remember the original release of these movies, especially "Shrek."

What's different this summer at Buskirk-Chumley

The past few years the Buskirk-Chumley Theater has had bigger traveling acts and far fewer summer kids' programs, Schiesser said. So this year they're including a kids' film series, for the community as a whole.

"We are also instituting some community access tickets that are underwritten," he said, "so that no family in our community who wants to beat the heat at one of our films will be turned away."

"We are committed to providing a comfortable and inclusive experience for all."

"How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek" rank high on Rotten Tomatoes

"How to Train Your Dragon" got the impressive score of 99% on the Rotten Tomatoes review website. "Shrek" got an 88%, with an audience score of 90%.

More to come at Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Hold on, because Schiesser and Rich both said the theater is working with other Bloomington organizations to create additional enriching experiences.

If you go

WHAT: Two different kids' films on different days: "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek," sensory-friendly showing (half capacity only)

WHEN: "How to Train Your Dragon" at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. July 15

"Shrek" at 3:30 p.m. July 22

WHERE: Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E Kirkwood Ave.

TICKETS: $6 general admission. Kids 5 and younger admitted free but will need a ticket. Available in person at the box office at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. or online at www.buskirkchumley.org. For more information available by calling 812-323-3020, ext. 1.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Flicks for kids: Bloomington's Buskirk-Chumley Theater offers 2 in July