In a city with such a strong affiliation with the movies, there is certainly no shortage of cinematic experiences for film lovers in Chicago.
From watching classics in one of the many unique vintage movie theaters in Chicago to kicking back and watching one of the free screenings taking place in the city’s many parks there are options all over town.
Perhaps the most unique experience, however, can be found up on a rooftop in Chicago’s bustling Fulton Market District thanks to the cinephiles behind Rooftop Cinema Club.
Comprising sweeping skyline views and all the materials for a perfect viewing experience like state-of-the-art wireless headphones, adjustable deck chairs, and, of course, a huge screen showing iconic movies, Rooftop Cinema Club provides what it calls the “ultimate open-air cinema experience.”
Already operating across the country in places like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, the London-based company branched out to Chicago last year, premiering up on the fifth-floor terrace of the Emily Hotel in the heart of Chicago’s former warehouse district of Fulton Market.
The top-rated boutique hotel is now showing 2-5 movies a day for its one-of-a-kind outdoor cinema experience and features a weekly lineup of cult classics, timeless comedies, and recent releases projected onto its state-of-the-art LED screen.
Whether enjoying Ratatouille, Mamma Mia!, Mean Girls, Pulp Fiction, or Jaws, we’re sure there are others out there determined to enjoy every bit of the action or every dose of the dialogue, which is why personal wireless headphones ensure you can enjoy every iconic cinematic moment without being distracted by loud-popcorn guzzlers or chatty chums.
With the terrace offering outdoor games a menu of casual bites and a summer beverage list from Selva, Rooftop Cinema Club offers the perfect evening plan with activities to enjoy whatever time the movie begins.
With daily screenings, guests can enjoy optimum experiences at the most beautiful times – golden hour, sunset, and dusk every day of the week.
Guests can bring their own blankets or purchase blankets from The Emily Hotel but no drinks or snacks can be brought into the rooftop lounge.
Tickets range from $19.50 – $27.50 depending on ticket type and day of the week and are seated on a first come-first serve basis.
Thursday, September 1st
- 5 pm – The Addam’s Family (1991)
- 8 pm – Hocus Pocus
- 10:30 pm – Get Out
Friday, September 2nd
- 11:45 am – Coraline
- 2:30 pm – Halloween Town
- 5:15 pm – Jaws
- 8:45 pm – Practical Magic
- 11:15 pm – A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Sunday, September 3rd
- 11:30 am – The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 1:45 pm – Hocus Pocus
- 4:30 pm – Death Becomes Her
- 7:30 pm – The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- 10 pm – Scream (1996)
Monday, September 4th
- 4:14 pm – The Sandlot
- 7:15 pm – Love & Basketball
- 10:15 pm – Pulp Fiction
Tuesday, September 5th
- 4:45 pm – Mamma Mia!
- 7:45 pm – White Chicks
- 10:30 pm – Queen and Slim
Wednesday, September 6th
- 5 pm – When Harry Met Sally…
- 8 pm – Soul Food
- 11 pm – American Psycho
Thursday, September 7th
- 8:30 pm – Romeo & Juliet (1996)
- 11:15 pm – Friday
Friday, September 8th
- 4:15 pm – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- 10:30 pm – Set It Off
Saturday, September 9th
- 10:45 am – Shrek
- 1:15 pm – Ratatouille: Open Captions
- 4:15 pm – Edward Scissorhands
- 7:30 pm – Happy Gilmore
- 10 pm – True Romance
Sunday, September 10th
No screenings
Monday, September 11th
- 5:45 pm – Poetic Justice
- 8:45 pm – The Blackening
Tuesday, September 12
- 4:45 pm – Freaky Friday (2003)
- 7:15 pm – The Devil Wears Prada
- 10 pm – Wedding Crashers
Wednesday, September 13
- 4:15 pm – The Greatest Showman
- 7:15 pm – The Best Man
- 10 pm – Love Jones
Thursday, September 14
- 4:15 pm – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- 7:15 pm – Boyz N the Hood
- 10 pm – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Friday, September 15
- 4:45 pm – Mean Girls
- 7:45 pm – Brown Sugar
- 10:30 pm – Bridesmaids
Saturday, September 16
- 10:45 pm – The Lion King (1994)
- 1:15 pm – Hocus Pocus
- 4:15 pm – Batman (1989)
- 8 pm – Batman Returns
- 11 pm – Candyman (2021)
Sunday, September 17
- 2:15 pm – Casablanca
- 5:15 pm – The Blues Brothers
- 8:30 pm – Goodfellas
Monday, September 18
- 5:45 pm – 13 Going on 30
- 8:30 pm – Creed III
Tuesday, September 19
- 5 pm – Crazy Rich Asians
- 8 pm – Legally Blonde
- 10:30 pm – House Party
Wednesday, September 20
- 4:30 pm – How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- 7:30 pm – Love & Basketball
- 10:20 pm – 50 First Dates
Thursday, September 21
- 5:15 pm – Clueless
- 8 pm – La La Land
- 11 pm – Step Brothers
Friday, September 22
- 5 pm – Pitch Perfect
- 8 pm – Love Jones: Open Captions
- 10:30 pm – 500 Days of Summer
Saturday, September 23
- 10 am – The Little Mermaid (2023)
- 1:15 pm – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
- 4:30 pm – Mars Attacks!
- 7:45 pm – A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
- 10:30 pm – The Wood
Sunday, September 24
- 1:45 pm – The Parent Trap (1998)
- 5 pm – Dreamgirls
- 8:15 pm – Everything Everywhere All At Once
Monday, September 25 (National Comic Book Day)
- 5 pm – Black Panther
- 8:30 pm – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Tuesday, September 26
- 5 pm – Dirty Dancing
- 8 pm – 10 Things I Hate About You
- 10:30 pm – The Blackening
Wednesday, September 27
- 4:45 pm – She’s the Man
- 7:30 pm – Love Jones
- 10:15 pm – Crazy, Stupid, Love
Thursday, September 28
No screenings
Friday, September 29
- 4:15 pm – Top Gun: Maverick
- 7:30 pm – Love & Basketball
- 10:30 pm – Brown Sugar
More information can be found at rooftopcinemaclub.com
Chicago’s Rooftop Cinema Club is located on the fifth floor of The Emily Hotel at 311 N Morgan St.
[Featured photo from Rooftop Cinema Club]