Film on the Rocks 2022: Back inside Red Rocks Amphitheatre with "Dune," "Sandlot" and more

A scene from 2017's "Thor: Ragnarok," starring Chris Hemsworth as the Marvel hero. (Disney) — A scene from 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” starring Chris Hemsworth as the Marvel hero. (Disney)

By John Wenzel | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: May 19, 2022 at 5:00 a.m. | UPDATED: May 19, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.

The 2022 Film on the Rocks series will feature a slightly shorter-than-average lineup even as it returns to its rightful perch inside Red Rocks Amphitheatre, organizers announced this week.

The 23rd edition of the series, presented by Denver Film and the amphitheater’s owner, Denver Arts & Venues, includes a total of five films, with details on live performances to be announced later. All screenings will be held inside Red Rocks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, doing away with the drive-in model of the past two years.

The clipped, 2022 schedule begins and ends on crowd-pleasing sci-fi notes, starting June 13 with the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster “Thor: Ragnarok” and closing Aug. 15 with director Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-winning epic “Dune.” (See the full lineup below.) Tickets are $16 for general admission and $32 for VIP seating. They’re on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 20, at denverfilm.org.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our audiences who fully embraced the drive-in concept for Film on the Rocks over these past two seasons,” said Denver Film CEO, Kevin Smith, in a press statement. “However, there is nothing more special than the in-amphitheatre experience that Red Rocks delivers … .”

Pre-pandemic versions of Film on the Rocks usually offered a least a couple more titles than 2022. However, 2020 and 2021’s COVID-forced adaptations allowed Denver Film to boost its average by hosting up to four screenings per month in the world-famous venue’s parking lot and, starting last year, even add Chrismas movies.

But wouldn’t you rather see a movie fully in the amphitheater (the answer is yes) instead of in its parking lot? (Still yes.) So would we.

Gates for each show open at 6:30 p.m. with musical guests taking the stage at 7, followed by the film at 8:30 p.m., organizers said. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.