What's playing at Bloomington's Starlite Drive-In on 'Retro Tuesdays'

Longing for a simpler time when a date night consisted of a Coke, a box of Milk Duds and a drive-in movie in your dad's Thunderbird convertible? Wish there was a way to show your kids the movies you grew up with on the big screen? Maybe you're just looking for some low-cost family entertainment this summer.

Whatever your reason for going, the Starlite Drive-In Theatre, 7640 Old State Road 37 in Bloomington, recently announced free showings of films from the '80s, '90s and '00s on "Retro Tuesdays" beginning May 30. Movies start after 9 p.m. Check the Starlite's Facebook page or website for more details. So borrow that classic with a bench seat, put the top down and enjoy a movie under the stars.

See Forrest Gump at the Starlight on May 30

Help your kids understand why you pronounce "Jenny" like that, say things like "life is like a box of chocolates" and fawned over that Bubba Gump Shrimp shirt you saw on vacation last year by taking them to see "Forrest Gump." This 1994 comedy-drama, a since-christened cult classic and winner of six Academic Awards, stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

See The Dark Crystal at the Starlight on June 6

Jim Henson's pioneering film that brought puppets to life on the big screen was a bit dark for audiences when it was released in 1982, but your kids may be familiar with it since Netflix rebooted it in 2019. Show them how terrifying the Skeksis truly are and what it means to have courage and make sacrifices.

See How to Train Your Dragon at the Starlight on June 13

It's been more than a decade since audiences first connected with Hiccup and Toothless in this 2010 DreamWorks film. The popular franchise has since spawned two movie sequels (with another on the way in 2025) as well as numerous television spin-offs and video games. Take your kids all the way back to the beginning with this introduction.

See Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the Starlight on June 20

Whether you first knew them from comic books, cartoon clips or one of their many film iterations, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael have been enduring childhood heroes of several generations now. While a brand new reboot of the franchise will hit the silver screen in just a few months, you can your kids back to where it all started — for you, at least. Cowabunga, dude!

See Spaceballs at the Starlight on June 27

Mel Brooks directed and played two roles in this wacky, cult classic '80s space opera parodying a litany of sci-fi movies. May the Schwartz be with you!

See A League of Their Own at the Starlight on July 4

While the tale is fictional, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was the real inspiration for this 1992 film, which was added to the National Film Registry in 2012 and has since inspired an Amazon Prime reboot. Remember: There's no crying in baseball!

See Batman at the Starlight on July 11

Surely your kids know of Batman, either as the brooding Christian Bale or the more recent equally-brooding Robert Pattinson, but do they know Michael Keaton's spin on the character from the late 1980s? In this film, directed by Tim Burton, you can watch Batman struggle against The Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, to defend Gotham from a litany of evil schemes.

See Shrek at the Starlight on July 18

Everyone's favorite grumpy green ogre first captured our hearts in 2001. Take a trip back in time to where the entire Shrek franchise started and watch Shrek and Fiona fall in love all over again.

See How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Starlight on July 25

It's Christmas in July! Watch the Grinch's heart grow three sizes when he learns the true meaning of Christmas in this holiday classic.

See The Lost Boys at the Starlight on Aug. 1

The Lost Boys took vampires from creepy to sexy. Sleep all day and party all night while watching this comedy horror film sure to take you back to 1987.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: What's showing at Bloomington's Starlite Drive-In on Retro Tuesdays