The Star Wars original trilogy is returning to theaters this summer

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

As I hadn't yet been born, I missed the original run of the STAR WARS trilogy on the big-screen, but like many folks over the years that followed I became completely obsessed with STAR WARS once I was introduced to it. Seeing a film on the big-screen is a special experience however, and at that point my STAR WARS viewing choices were limited to watching my VHS tapes on our small TV in the corner of the living room. Then I read that each film was going to be re-released in theaters with new footage and new effects; I was pumped. We give those special editions a lot of flack nowadays, but at the time, at the age I was, I didn't care; here was STAR WARS, on the big-screen, and it was incredible.

Now, thanks to the Alamo Drafthouse, a new group of young fans will be able to have that same experience. The Alamo Drafthouse has announced that The Return of the Trilogy Roadshow will be bringing the original trilogy to cities across the country this August where they will be screened back-to-back-to-back as one galactic-sized triple feature in most venues. Henri Mazza, Alamo Drafthouse's VP of Special Events, said "it's always been a dream to show the original STAR WARS trilogy again – somehow, someway. Seeing the original trilogy on the big screen for the first time is a real life-altering event and just a supreme amount of fun. When the films became available to book for screenings like these, we jumped at the chance to do something big." Before you start getting too excited, these WON'T be the unaltered cuts of the films that many would hope to see, but will instead be the 1997 special editions. This may be a deal-breaker for some, but seeing STAR WARS on the big-screen in any form is definitely worth it for me.

There are still more dates and locations to be announced, but at the moment this is when and where you can see The Return of the Trilogy Roadshow:

August 6 – San Francisco, CA / The Warfield
August 6 – Kansas City, MO / The Midland Theatre
August 6 – Washington, D.C. / Warner Theatre
August 6 – Los Angeles, CA / The Theatre at the Ace Hotel
August 6 – New York, NY / The Town Hall
August 6 – Miami, FL / Olympia Theatre
August 6 – San Antonio, TX  Majestic Theatre
August 7 – New York, NY / Kings Theatre
August 7 – Dallas, TX / Majestic Theatre
August 11 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (Ep. 4-A New Hope)
August 12 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (Ep. 5-The Empire Strikes Back)
August 13 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (Ep. 6-Return of the Jedi)
August 13 – Philadelphia, PA / The Keswick Theatre
August 13 – Louisville, KY / Brown Theatre
August 20 – Oakland, CA / Paramount Theatre
August 27 – Boston, MA / The Boston Opera House
Date TBD – Houston, TX / Venue TBD
Date TBD – Denver, CO / Venue TBD

Tickets for The Return of the Trilogy Roadshow will go on sale on May 4th and you can purchase those at ReturnOfTheTrilogy.com. These won't just be screenings of the films as Alamo Drafthouse has said that each Return of the Trilogy show will be in its own "unique celebratory event, featuring specially curated video content before and between films, contests, props to bring the power of the Force to life, and other special surprises. And coming dressed as your favorite Jedi, scoundrel pilot, or rebel scum will be very much encouraged."

Will you be attending if you're fortunate enough to be in the area of any of these screenings?