Movie lovers in Maplewood, frustrated by the lack of an in-person movie theater in their town, are taking matters into their own hands.
On Saturday, September 7, more than 150 residents will gather to watch the original 1988 Beetlejuice movie with their neighbors during the town’s first Backyard Movie Night. Fifteen households will set up screens and show the film at the same time in outdoor screenings. The event is intended to show that “our creative town needs an in-person movie theater,” says Angela Matusik, co-founder of the Maplewood Film Society (MFS). The screenings are private events, but MFS staffers are matching interested attendees with houses that have capacity for additional people—email [email protected].
During the pandemic, the 93-year-old Maplewood Movie Theater in the heart of Maplewood village closed; attempts to lease and reopen it as a cinema have been unsuccessful. It is currently for sale. The backyard movie night is an attempt by the reinvigorated film society to “attract potential investors while engaging our large movie-loving community,” says co-founder Lisa Cohen. “Our creative town needs an in-person movie theater.”
In a recent survey conducted by the MFS, more than 30 percent of respondents said they work in a creative field, and 80 percent strongly believe Maplewood would benefit from an in-person movie venue. Over 95 percent of respondents said they would be likely to see a movie at a large-screen venue in Maplewood. “Our town has always attracted creative types and cultural enthusiasts, and having a movie theater on our main street is a big part of that,” explains Matusik.
While there are cinemas in nearby towns—such as South Orange, at the Village at SOPAC—the offerings are mainly blockbusters and other releases from the big Hollywood studios, says Cohen. “All over the country, indie art-house cinemas are being reinvented,” she says, adding that many have liquor licenses and unique in-person programming.
“Audiences are craving non-mainstream films onscreen, including archival classics, independents, documentaries and foreign films,” says Matusik. ”We love movies of all kinds.”
After watching Burton’s film on September 7, participants will be encouraged to see its sequel, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, at a nearby cinema.
For more information about Backyard Movie Night and the mission of Maplewood Film Society, contact [email protected] or follow along on Instagram or Facebook.
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