Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, FREE movies in the park and under the stars! Shows run from May through October, in neighborhoods from the beach to the desert, and everything in between. Movies start approximately 15 minutes after sunset.
Full schedules: https://www.summermoviesinthepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025_SMITP_Schedule_052025.pdf
From 5/12/2025 press screening:
The fate of the world and billions of lives… in a blink of an eye.
That sums up the plot of “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,” a direct continuation of “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.” And that blink of an eye? It’s in a literal sense of the word.
To refresh, in 'Dead Reckoning,' superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise, “Top Gun"series, "Edge of Tomorrow," "Oblivion") and his team (tech duo Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luthor Stickell (Ving Rhames), former MI6 operative and sharpshooter Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), and scrappy yet sophisticated pickpocketer, Grace (Hayley Atwell), are battling a pervasively invisible enemy, Entity. Entity is a sentient artificial intelligence that has penetrated social media, communication, financial, banking, military and security systems at a global level.
Entity corrupts and manipulates data, distorting truth, creating or erasing history - for anything digital or electronic, which is anywhere and everywhere these days. The sought-after solution is a two-part key, which would unlock the source code, and whoever has both pieces would have the ultimate power over the world. The faceless AI manifests into a terrorist from Ethan's past, Gabriel (Esai Morales).
In “Final Reckoning,” Ethan is joined by new team members Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis). The storyline gets convoluted with tons of moving components and parts of Ethan’s past, which in some ways, trying to connect and tie loose ends from moments with characters from the first film nearly 30 years ago and somewhere in between. It includes a lengthy cameo, montages and flashbacks to those secretive and explosive events from then to the present time.
The present time involves globe-spanning herculean efforts to get to and unlock the AI source code in a hard drive entombed inside a sunken Russian Sevastopol submarine in the Arctic Ocean, while Entity gradually but rapidly is taking control of countries’ nuclear arsenal and ready to launch them for total annihilation, as well as tussling with powerful people with incongruous interests wanting to wrap their arms around Entity.
The bottom line comes down to this: the team, frenemies and real enemies, government officials – U.S. President (Angela Bassett, “Black Panther" series), Kittridge (Henry Czerny), Briggs (Shea Whigham), and military officers are faced with conflicting choices regarding what to do with the villainous and infectious AI – destroy, control or contain.
Destroy means destruction of the cyberspace and the interconnected world as we know it. Control means putting unlimited, utter power of the world on the hands of the fallible few (or one individual). Contain means impossibly racing against time-bomb ticking Entity and risking billions of lives. At one point, there are only four countries left with their own nuclear missiles and Entity is on track to quickly take hold of every single one of them.
The final reckoning journey takes the team to contrasting landscapes of the frozen Behring Sea and stunning South African gorges and sea cliffs down to a doomsday server bunker in an underground cave.
There’s a coordinates conjecture, AI-trapping plan, poison pill of a computer virus, a source code hard drive and containment device, nuclear missiles ready to fire, potential pre-emptive strikes, explosives ready to explode, onerous wires to be cut, mercenary shootouts and sneaky close-quarter hand combats, dog-sledding across a frozen tundra, navy carrier jet mission, deep diving into a collapsing sunken submarine, ice fishing out expedition, in-between-wheels climbing and wing-walking of biplanes, as well as life threatening injuries. Yep, it’s a lot!
It's not always easy to keep up with and decipher every element, but the movie does a tremendous job in lining up key pieces, crafting tension and explanation of complex scenarios with complicated consequences that make them seem real and plausible (by Mission Impossible standards). The juxtaposition of critical scenes are effectively tensed, portraying characters one after another or side-by-side completing sentences and actions simultaneously.
Especially on IMAX, Cruise’s dare-to-die stunts with the submarine and biplanes are breathlessly out of this world. The seafloor submarine escape is claustrophobically suffocating and testing the human limit underwater. At 8,000 feet in the air and 140 mph wind without CGI, the blow-by-blow, biplane aerial acrobat and dogged pursuit are clearly shot, capturing heart-stopping contortions, and surprisingly, with situational humor.
If there’s any actioner where every second counts, this is it. Not just every second, but with precision in almost every scene. And with ‘Final Reckoning’ being billed as possibly the final installment and knowing that not everyone may survive adds to the emotional stake. Call it a calling or destiny. These people truly live and die in the shadows, for those they hold close, and those they never meet.
By any standard, there will never be another super series franchise like this. More than a cinematic spectacle, Cruise chiefly has made it iconic and irreplaceable.
“Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” is both thrillingly taut and sprawling, packed with high-stake suspense and intensity, and connected with threads of nostalgia. A crashing force to be reckoned with and exhilarating to the hilt, you won’t be able to exhale until the last minute.
Atom Tickets and Angels Studios are partnering to provide FREE movie screening nationwide, from May 22 through May 29, 2025.
Claim your FREE movie tickets here: (2 tickets/person, pre-order tickets no later than May 20, 2025)
https://www.atomtickets.com/movies/the-last-rodeo/379335?ref=LastRodeoFreeTixEmail&lid=4o4070p2veqz
Redemption code: ATOMRODEO
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A retired rodeo legend risks it all to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family. Starring: Neil McDonough.
FX will transform the Hilton Bayfront lawn into “The Wreckage,” a uniquely immersive experience which allows guests to step into the terrifying world of Alien: Earth.
FX’s ALIEN: EARTH “THE WRECKAGE” ACTIVATION:
WHAT: Guests are invited to explore the mysterious debris of the USCSS Maginot to unearth new details from the highly anticipated upcoming series from creator Noah Hawley, inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise. The experience will feature various interactive thrills and never-before-seen alien specimens. Guests can visit “The Wreckage” during the day to explore new areas of the USCSS Maginot or brave a terrifying mission at “The Wreckage: Code Red” once the sun goes down.
The activation will also feature:
An interactive Prodigy Corp Drop Site where fans can sign up to be an FX Insider to claim exclusive giveaways and get a first look at Alien: Earth VR experiences that will be available once the show premieres.
A vending machine stocked with a custom in-world beverage available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con via a collaboration with Chain, the dining experience known for its reimagined takes on Pop-Cuisine staples.
A state-of-the-art Alien: Earth Podcast Studio, which will host various talent and influencers throughout the weekend.
WHERE: Hilton Bayfront Lawn (1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101)
WHEN: July 24-27, 2025
The Wreckage: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Activation is open to the public ages 18+. Admission is free. Prodigy Corp Drop Site giveaways available during daytime hours only, while supplies last.
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
FX’s Alien: Earth makes impact August 12 on FX cable channel, Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S., and Disney+ internationally.
TWISTED METAL BUMPER BATTLE
Fans will step into a post-apocalyptic world filled with bumper-to-bumper chaos at Peacock's Twisted Metal Bumper Battle.
Fans will be able to choose their ride, featuring the show’s most iconic vehicles reimagined as bumper cars, and take part in their own version of the Calypso hosted derby.
In addition to the bumper car experience, fans can expect epic photo ops, a display of some of the tournament cars featured in the series, surprise and delight moments, and pandemonium around every corner.
WHEN: July 24-26, 2025
HOURS: July 24 (12-4 p.m.), July 25-26 (12-6 p.m.)
WHERE: The Lot @ 1st & J Street - 450 2nd Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Event is free and open to the public. No badge required. Entry and bumper car participation are first-come, first-served, and not guaranteed. Waivers must be signed by all riders and passengers.
Dates and Times:
*Sessions rolling in 50 min intervals with 10 min breaks in-between:
July 23, 2025, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
July 24-27, 2025, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Activations include:
The DEXTER: RESURRECTION Vault: The Vault has reopened…and it remembers everything. Hidden behind the sleek facade of a wine cellar lies a mysterious Vault, an unsettling shrine to the darkest corners of human nature. Inside, guests will discover a chilling collection of relics, case files, and twisted keepsakes from some of history’s most notorious killers, all curated with cold precision in true Dexter fashion.
Experience STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STARFLEET ACADEMY: To celebrate the spirit of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS season three, fans are invited to step inside an oversized Starfleet holodeck, a fully immersive sci-fi playground featuring a series of interactive vignettes, each inspired by specific episodes from the upcoming season. Guests can sip cosmic cocktails in the romantic ‘Intergalactic Love Lounge,’ or dive into a campus-inspired environment of the STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY space that features exclusive themed swag. Designed for free exploration, social sharing, and full-throttle fandom, this holodeck journey lets guests experience the series like never before.
The LANDMAN Patch Café: Step into an authentic slice of Midland, Texas and kick back in a faithful recreation of the series’ favorite watering hole. Guests can order up signature drinks at the bar in a M*Tex souvenir mug.
Go off the grid with NCIS: TONY & ZIVA. Enter a world of espionage, romance, and high-stakes tension with this Parisian café with a twist. Inspired by Tony and Ziva’s journey, this space features a cozy exterior that hints at the quiet life they crave, while inside transports guests to a different world. Step inside a stripped-down safehouse, complete with easter eggs such as surveillance equipment, photos and passports.
Paramount Pictures invites fans to celebrate the legacy of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise with an immersive experience that drops guests straight into the high-stakes world of Ethan Hunt. Die-hard fans and first-time agents alike will experience a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity in a recreation of the iconic scene from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996) where Ethan is lowered into a high-security vault. Guests can strike the legendary suspended pose for a personalized image to take home of their unforgettable IMF mission.
‘Pop’ by Pluto TV’s Popcorn Bar. For the first time ever, Pluto TV, the global leader in FAST and the complimentary free streaming service to Paramount+, will also be featured in The Lodge. This summer, Pluto TV is exploding with hundreds of fan-favorite blockbusters and cult-classics films – all for free. To celebrate the service's “Summer of Cinema” campaign, the Pluto TV activation will be bursting with free slushies, popcorn and a one-of-a-kind photo op.
Score a Touchdown at the CBS Sports Clubhouse, a stadium-inspired space repping all things THE NFL ON CBS. Fans can take a seat in the arena-style bleachers or check out a vibrant arc of all 32 jerseys, celebrating every team in the league. Down on the turf, guests can test their arm in a target practice challenge. The UEFA Champions League-themed sports bar is also the perfect spot to kick back and relax.
What happens when New York’s most iconic pizzeria collides with one of the internet’s biggest snack brands? A doughlicious Comic-Con exclusive that’s equal parts bold and indulgent: the Triple Chocolate Feast, a limited-edition dessert pizza crafted by Prince St. Pizza and MrBeast’s Feastables! Available only during San Diego Comic-Con, this sweet surprise marks Prince St.'s first-ever foray into dessert territory.
Crafted by the culinary teams at Prince St. Pizza and Feastables, Triple Chocolate Feast takes Prince St.’s iconic dough and transforms it into a rich Feastables cocoa crust. It’s loaded with dark chocolate sauce, chopped Feastables Cookies & Creme and Milk Chocolate Crunch bars, then finished with a caramel drizzle, Feastables’ signature blue and pink sprinkles, and edible white chocolate branded coins.
Feastables is on a mission to end child labor in the chocolate industry. Their cocoa is 100% Fairtrade Certified, ensuring farmers are paid a living income or the market price—whichever is higher. They only partner with farms committed to actively protecting children. And this is just the beginning.
Triple Chocolate Feast ($8) will be available in-store only, while supplies last, at Prince Street Pizza, 415 Market Street, from July 23 through July 27, 2025.
For more information, please visit @PrinceStreetPizza on Instagram.
WHERE: Promenade Plaza at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel (1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA)
WHEN: July 24-July 27, 2025, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
AR Crash Site Experience: Track a meteorite (a.k.a. our boldest scent yet) and unlock a portal to Krypton via our AR experience. Step into the Old Spice capsule and emerge transformed with the tools to “Smell Like a Hero.”
Interview the Old Spice Guy (July 26 ONLY): Yes, the “Man Your Man Could Smell Like” will be live and in the flesh, ready to capture epic interview and photo moments.
Super Giveaways: Get your hands on exclusive Old Spice x Superman products and strike your best Superman pose at our custom photo op stations.
Watch the Ad: “Look up!”... then click HERE to preview our heroic new spot in action.
Limited Edition Collection: Try out the Superman-inspired lineup of Deodorant, Body Wash and Shampoo with notes of Bright Citrus & Cosmos. A scent so bold and refreshing, it’s truly out of this world.
Nobody gets left behind when Walt Disney Studios’ live-action family adventure Lilo & Stitch lands at Comic-Conn. Fans can celebrate their ‘ohana outside the convention center with interactive experiences.
WHAT:
Catch the wave with Lilo & Stitch - no badge required. Cool off at this fun, family-friendly activation featuring island-inspired, surfing photo & video ops and a sweet taste of paradise with free shaved ice. Unnecessary cuteness guaranteed!
WHEN:
July 24-26, 10a.m. - 7 p.m.; July 27, 2025, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Gaslamp Diagonal, adjacent to the Omni Hotel (where Sixth Avenue ends)
