(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey is proud to announce the return of the Free Summer Movie Series starting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Tickets are FREE, but registration is required at STNJ.org.
Movies featured in the 2026 series include A Minecraft Movie on July 7, Lilo and Stitch on July 14, Zootopia 2 on July 21, How to Train Your Dragon on July 28, and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants on August 4. Showings for all five movies will be at 10:30am and 6:30pm. All movie screenings will include Spanish subtitles.
Tuesday, July 7 - A Minecraft Movie. Welcome to the world of Minecraft! Four misfits—Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—find themselves pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. Follow along as they meet expert crafter Steve (Jack Black), and use their unique creative skills to craft their way back home in A Minecraft Movie!
Tuesday, July 14 - Lilo & Stitch. A live-action retelling of Disney’s 2002 animated classic, Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. Stitch, an alien from another world, comes to Earth after escaping prison, where he gets adopted by Lilo. The two learn the true meaning of ohana as they protect each other from the entities threatening to split up their growing bond.
Tuesday, July 21 - Zootopia 2. Detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile (voiced by Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan) who arrives in Zootopia, turning the mammal metropolis upside-down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before in Zootopia 2.
Tuesday, July 28 - How to Train Your Dragon. A shy Viking boy unexpectedly befriends a playful dragon and steers their feuding species toward peace in this live-action remake of the animated film How to Train Your Dragon. As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup and Toothless, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together in a Viking-style fairy tale that's fun for the whole family.
Tuesday, August 4 - The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. It's time to embark on a journey of nautical nonsense with The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants! Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by teaming up with the Flying Dutchman, a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate. Follow along as Spongebob and Patrick go on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes them to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.
The entire series is free of charge to the community, offering young people the chance to enjoy these films, whether with their families, summer camps, or other groups. The movies will be shown at the historic State Theatre New Jersey, a 1921 movie palace that has become one of New Jersey's premier venues for live performance. The State Theatre's state-of-the-art HD digital cinema projection system includes a 46' Stewart film screen, a Barco projector, and digital surround sound.
State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
State Theatre New Jersey, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrated its 100th Anniversary after major renovations in December 2021. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre's historic significance was honored when PBS featured it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey. Having played a significant role in revitalizing New Brunswick—crowned "Jersey's Best Destination of the Year" for 2025 by Jersey's Best magazine—State Theatre resides in the heart of the city's arts district.
Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six and a half million people through its doors since reopening as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have included high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Peter Frampton, and Leanne Morgan. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey's programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
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