We’re still a solid half-year out before New Yorkers can once again enjoy the warm, sunny charms of an outdoor movie, but Rooftop Cinema Club—the open-air social cinema that started in London back in 2011 before expanding internationally to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami and, yes, the Big Apple—is bringing all of the appeal of an al fresco screening with the cold-weather comforts of an indoor viewing experience with its first-ever winterized outdoor cinema experience in NYC.
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Dubbed the Winter Realm Cinema, the new screening series is a (graciously) fully enclosed and heated rooftop experience made for family movie night, a sweet winter date or simply a novel alternative to your local AMC theater. (Don’t come for us, Nicole Kidman.) The wintry concept opens to the public today, January 13, with tickets available now for crowd-pleasing favorites like Edward Scissorhands and When Harry Met Sally… and more recent releases including Sinners and Materialists. Check out the full lineup here.
“People crave community and warmth in the winter and we decided that we wanted to jump in and bring the winterization idea to life with Rooftop Cinema Club,” the club’s founder and CEO Gerry Cottle told Time Out. “Rooftop Cinema Club is all about bringing the fun and celebration to movie watching so we are excited to introduce our fans to an exciting new winter concept and immerse them when they walk through the wardrobe into a new world. Being able to extend our season and bring our unique brand of cinema to people all year around means everything to us…Comfortable seating, cozy atmosphere, and protection from the uncontrollable elements makes all the difference. Now the magic of skyline movie nights has become a year-round attraction.”
Photograph: Rooftop Cinema ClubWinter Realm Cinema
Made to look like “the epitome of a winter wonderland,” the Winter Realm Cinema is done up with icicle motifs, snow-capped trees, glowing candlelight and cozy seating. Keeping the “whimsical and comforting” vibes going, the club will also be pouring out winter-inspired specialty cocktails in addition to its usual assortment of classic concessions and light bites. That means you can enjoy a little Twilight with an “Evergreen Path” (gin, rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice and soda), The Notebook with a “Spiced Velvet Chai” (vodka, hazelnut liqueur and chai), Fargo with a side of “Crimson Hearth” (whiskey, amaretto, mulled wine, egg white, lemon juice) and more.
Photograph: Rooftop Cinema ClubWinter Realm Cinema
As for how the programming team decided on the snowy season’s film lineup, Cottle said: “Our team intentionally looks for movies that evoke a reaction in people, whether that be nostalgia, conversation, laughter or wonder. We love our cult classics, rom-com moments and, of course, early 2000s nostalgia, and saw that our audiences loved them, too. But when choosing our films, we not only think of our audiences, we listen to them! We keep track of which screenings perform best and want to develop our programming based on our respective audience’s interest—for example, what performs best in Miami might not hit the same in New York, so it’s all about intentional selection. Our programming is constantly evolving, and we are proud to offer a program that has been thought through and made with love for all audiences to enjoy.”