The original Top Gun has the top billing for the return of Rosslyn’s fall film Fridays.
For the third straight year, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) is hosting a fall film series in Gateway Park.
On the remaining Fridays in October, Rosslyn BID will be screening a movie in the county park along Langston Blvd. There will also be food trucks, lawn games, a cash bar, and other movie-themed activities.
The line-up for the rest of the month:
- Oct. 14 — Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
- Oct. 21 — Top Gun (1986)
- Oct. 28 — Scooby-Doo (2002)
This past Friday (Oct. 7), the 1978 musical Grease, starring the late Olivia Newton-John, was shown.
Movies will begin shortly after sundown, around 7 p.m., “to ensure the perfect lighting for the show!” reads the website. Given the falling nighttime temperatures, warm apparel is advised.
The decision to do a fall film series again was due to “the attendance levels and interest in our summer series,” a Rosslyn BID spokesperson told ARLnow. The movies were curated based on popularity and genre. The BID wanted to do one sing-along, one family film, one throwback, and one “howl-o-ween” feature.
“From there, we put out a survey to the BID’s entire staff to help us narrow down our choices,” the spokesperson said.
There’s also a topical angle to their choices. Top Gun was chosen partially based on the huge success of the sequel that just came out this past summer. Minions: The Rise of Gru has made nearly a billion dollars at the box office worldwide since it was first released in July.
“We know minions attract a large family crowd and we can’t wait for a major evening of family fun,” the spokesperson said.
The final film in the series — 2002’s Scooby-Doo — will coincide with the BID’s “Howl-o-ween” event at Gateway Park’s interim dog park. That event will feature dog-friendly activities, treats, and a pet costume contest. The winner will be announced at the movie screening.
Rosslyn BID has hosted movies in Gateway Park for at least a decade, including during the summer. The Columbia Pike Partnership and the National Landing BID have also held outdoor film screenings, mostly during warmer weather months; both told ARLnow they are not planning any movies this fall.