The state of the theatrical slate has made a serious comeback as of late. No, there aren’t any earth-shattering hits, but precisely the opposite has boosted theatrical attendance: variety. As superhero films bomb left and right, we have legacy sequels, kids’ films, adult-dramas, anime, board game movies for goodness’ sake. Your options are strong and plenty, but Ster-Kinekor has just made the choice that much harder. May I introduce you to SK’s Throwback Thursdays; once a week you’ll be able to catch a classic film on the big SKreen, and on the cheap too! So, what’s good enough to command your attention above the brand-new releases?

First, we have Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory from 1971 (remember the boat scene) and The Wizard of Oz from 1939, two movies which occupy a similar space in a child’s mind. If you stop to think back to watching these films as a kid, probably on a bulky tube TV, and then load them up on your significantly larger HD TV today, you may be disappointed regardless. They’re bigger in your memory, aren’t they? Maybe because you sat closer to the TV, maybe because your imagination leaned in better as a child enraptured in an adventure. On the big screen, in the long dark tunnel of a movie theatre, it’s easier to step into these worlds once again. If you haven’t seen them, or shown them to your kids, this is a golden opportunity. The Wizard of Oz in particular is evergreen, and though we’ve all seen it a hundred times, there’s no place like home.

Then a pair of more romantic movies, ideal for date night; The Notebook from 2011 and When Harry Met Sally from 1989. The Notebook was one of the most common responses for favourite of all-time just a few years back. When Harry Met Sally is in contention for the greatest romcom of them all. There’s also The Great Gatsby from 2013 which at least marketed itself as a romance. The Notebook is for pining romantics and When Harry Met Sally is for adults. Both noble patrons of the movies, though the best romance of them all, Casablanca screens only Thursday the 6^th.

Risky Business from 1983 isn’t a classic on the level of the those mentioned in the above, but it’s a fun opportunity to consider Cruise’s breakout role, and how it jumpstarted a movie-star career that’s still in full effect.

Kids’ films include Space Jam from 1996, which you could honestly skip (it’s better in your memory, and this time that’s where it should stay). The alternative, Happy Feet from 2006, is a better film, but not exactly eye-candy; a fun movie that has always looked a little ugly, with an uncanny valley feel to the characters. The dance-numbers and environmental message are aces though.

Then again, it’s all worth checking out when tickets are only R50 a pop! That’s nuts. Showings seem a little limited (there only two showings per day, some in the daytime like The Wizard of Oz, which is on a public holiday, others like When Harry Met Sally in the evening). All the same, this sort of push for the exhibition of classic film is absolutely worth encouraging with your attendance. But it’s not just movie-homework. Films twenty years and older aren’t out of style, they’re as alive today as they were when they were first screened, and these showings are set to prove just that.