In anticipation of America’s 250th birthday, the Colonial Theatre has selected the following films for its Semiquincentennial Films Series, all of which are set or shot in the city that birthed America, Philadelphia. These are the next seven films in the series. Each spotlighting a different era for the City of Brotherly Love.
JOIN THE 250 CLUB! The Colonial Theatre is honoring Philadelphia-area cinema, leading up to the 250 celebration in 2026, and we hope you’ll help us celebrate! For $250, a heavily discounted film sponsorship price tag, you, your company or family can support one film within the Semiquincentennial Film Series. Reach out to Kristine Connolly at kristine@thecolonialtheatre.com to learn more!
See the first five films in the series here.
Traveling back in time isn’t simple, as James Cole (Bruce Willis) learns the hard way. Imprisoned in the 2030s, James is recruited for a mission that will send him back to the 1990s. Once there, he’s supposed to gather information about a nascent plague that’s about to exterminate the vast majority of the world’s population. But, aside from the manic Jeffrey (Brad Pitt), he gets little in the way of cooperation, not least from medical gatekeepers like Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe). January 23rd, on 35mm!
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Jonathan Switcher (Andrew McCarthy), an unemployed artist, finds a job as an assistant window dresser for a department store. When Jonathan happens upon a beautiful mannequin he previously designed, she springs to life and introduces herself as Emmy (Kim Cattrall), an Egyptian under an ancient spell. Despite interference from the store’s devious manager (James Spader), Jonathan and his mannequin fall in love while creating eye-catching window displays to keep the struggling store in business. Febraury 11th, on 35mm!
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Fearing it would compromise his career, lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) hides his homosexuality and HIV status at a powerful Philadelphia law firm. But his secret is exposed when a colleague spots the illness’s telltale lesions. Fired shortly afterward, Beckett resolves to sue for discrimination, teaming up with Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), the only lawyer willing to help. In court, they face one of his ex-employer’s top litigators, Belinda Conine (Mary Steenburgen). Sunday, March 1st.
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One petty hoodlum’s (Peter Falk) lifelong friendship with another (John Cassavetes) allows one to lead a hit man to the other. Sunday, April 12th. 50th Anniversary Screening!
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A thief (Dan Duryea), his half-sister (Jayne Mansfield), and his gang steal a diamond necklace from a Philadelphia mansion. Sunday, May 17th.
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David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is a mysterious stranger who offers a bizarre explanation as to why David escaped without a single scratch — an explanation which threatens to change David’s family and his life forever. Friday, June 12th.
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Our Grand Finale to the Series will be…
While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri (John Travolta) stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally (Nancy Allen) from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead. Sunday, July 26th.
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