This week, a mischievous 3rd grader from a popular book series debuts in theaters looking for "thrill points" - some of the most memorable ones found at a classic amusement park - in Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Of course, summer and amusement parks go together like movies and popcorn. Here, we recount ten more favorite movie memories spent in those great outdoor adventurelands!
Set in 1987 at a Pennsylvania amusement park aptly named Adventureland, this dramedy starring The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg and Twilight's Kristen Stewart feels so real that when Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" plays during the 4th of July Fireworks show, you'll swear you're right back there even if you were never alive in the Reagan era. It's the perfect movie moment.
A 12-year-old slaps a coin in the "Zoltar Speaks" carny machine, wishes he was 'big,' and the next thing you know, he's Tom Hanks. Made actually during the late '80s, it's still a potent mix of innocence and sentiment, and great fun for kids big and small.
There's only a couple scenes set at the amusement park, but Despicable Me the movie, with the antics of super villian Gru softening under the touch of three orphans, warms into a rollicking summer time adventure. Plus, we can never get enough of Gru's crazy yellow minions.
Chevy Chase's finest moments on film (other than perhaps the Fletch movies) can be found in National Lampoon's Vacation, especially after his Clark Griswold finally reaches Wally World and hijacks John Candy's put-upon security guard. Who's the moosiest moose you know? Of course. Marty Moose. Throw in some Lindsey Buckingham, and get shaking down the "holiday road."
The second Jesse Eisenberg amusement park movie on our list is Zombieland. It features not only a super fun amusement park called Pacific Playland, but has Woody Harrelson as a zombie killer riding the roller coaster and machine gunning zombies at the same time. What's more fun that that?
Jeff Conaway may no longer be with us, but we'll always be together with him and Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and Stockard Channing in the classic music number "We Go Together" during the school carnival. Once you watch it, you'll want to gather your friends and hightail it to your own local amusement park.
In the summer of 1993, dinosaurs did rule the earth in Steven Spielberg's groundbreaking Jurassic Park. Eighteen years later, these velociraptors and T-Rex are still more than capable of scaring the living daylights out of moviewatchers in sparkling, loud digital sound.
You might remember the actor at left (Alex Winter) from his role as Bill S. Preston in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. But in '87, he was tearing up the Santa Carla boardwalk alongside Kiefer Sutherland and some other cool vampires, looking MTV stylish eons before R-Patz and his crew.
While admittedly not the best film in the Beverly Hills Cop canon, we still give Eddie Murphy and director John Landis brownie points for trying to throw in some summer fun and setting the finale at a cool-looking outdoor venue known as 'Wonderworld' (actually California's Great America, south of San Francisco).
Steve Martin is his own sort of amusement ride in the deliriously stupid comedy The Jerk. When the oblivious man-boy secures a job as a weight guesser in a traveling carnival, well, it's a match made in movie heaven. For some old-school laughs, this one's still a keeper.
Get the RUN IT Live Viewing Exclusive Bundle and receive one ticket to Stray Kids World Tour <RUN IT> LIVE VIEWING and an exclusive photocard set!
RUN IT Live Viewing Exclusive Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Fandango Exclusive Photocard Set (Set of 8) will begin shipping in November. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Fandango Exclusive Photocard Set (Set of 8) shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/run-it-live-viewing-exclusive-bundle
Buy one ticket to Klara and the Sun, get one free (up to $15 off ticket price and fees) with code KLARABOGO
Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log in to your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 10/9/26 and 11/30/26, buy at least one (1) ticket to see Klara and the Sun at a participating Fandango theater, and use Fandango Promotional Code KLARABOGO (“Code”) to get up to $15 off (total ticket price and associated fees and charges) one (1) additional ticket for the same showtime. Code expires, and can no longer be used, upon the earlier of 11:59PM PT on 11/30/26, the limit of Code redemptions being reached, or when Klara and the Sun is no longer available in theaters. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to redeem a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code must be entered at checkout. Only valid for purchase of movie ticket(s) made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. If cost of movie ticket(s) and associated fees and charges are more than Code’s maximum discount, then user must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code’s maximum discount will not be refunded. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Void where prohibited. Not valid with any other offer. Offer valid in U.S. only, excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law. Limit one (1) Code redemption per person. You may have to pay taxes additionally. Non-transferable. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time without notice. This offer and the redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Street Fighter Collector's Pack for one movie ticket to Street Fighter, plus an Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and a Lenticular Collectible.
*Street Fighter Collector's Pack is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and a Lenticular Collectible will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and Lenticular Collectible shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/street-fighter-collectors-pack
Buy 2 IMAX tickets for Street Fighter and use code STREETFIGHTERIMAX to redeem your special offer! Not a member? Add FanClub to your Street Fighter purchase of 2 IMAX tickets and the offer will be applied automatically, no promo code needed.
The “Choose Your Fighter” offer (the “Offer”) will begin on September 21, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. PT and run for a limited time, while supplies last (the “Offer Period”). Eligible Customers that redeem the Offer will receive, subject to these terms (the “Offer Benefit(s)”): up to $7.00 off each of two (2) IMAX tickets for the Offer Titles on Fandango, the maximum total discount is $14.00. Delivery of Offer Benefit(s) may differ based on redemption method. Offer Title(s): Street Fighter in IMAX format as available on Fandango. Eligible Customers: existing FanClub members (“Existing Members”) and new customers (no active FanClub membership at the time) that subscribe to a Qualifying Membership during the Offer Period (“New Member(s)”) only. Qualifying Membership: a monthly FanClub membership ($9.99 + tax/month) added to a Qualifying Ticket Purchase. Qualifying Membership will automatically renew as described above at the applicable frequency and price until cancelled. Prices subject to change. Cancel before renewal date to avoid future charges. To cancel, go to the FanClub Membership Dashboard in your account settings and click “Cancel Membership”. If your Qualifying Membership includes a free trial and you cancel before being charged, you will not be eligible for the Offer or receive Offer Benefit(s). See FanClub Program Terms. Qualifying Ticket Purchase: buy at least two (2) tickets to a showing of the Qualifying Titles on Fandango during the Offer Period. Qualifying Titles: Street Fighter in IMAX format as available on Fandango. To redeem the Offer, you must complete the Qualifying Ticket Purchase and/or Qualifying Membership transaction to which the Offer is applied. Existing Members (Instant): must enter the single-use code STREETFIGHTERIMAX at checkout during Qualifying Ticket Purchase to apply Offer and Offer Benefit(s). New Members (Instant): Offer and Offer Benefit(s) will be applied instantly at checkout when Qualifying Membership is added to a Qualifying Ticket Purchase. Offer Benefit(s) may not cover the total cost of your transaction; you are responsible for paying any amounts remaining after Offer Benefit(s) are applied (including taxes and fees). Any unused portions of the Offer Benefit(s) will be forfeited upon redemption. If redemption transaction is cancelled or refunded, eligibility for Offer may be forfeited. Offer Benefit(s) will not be refunded. Adjustments to prior purchases not permitted. Taxes may apply. Offer and Offer Benefit(s): (a) are limited to one per person or Fandango account; (b) are only redeemable on the Fandango website or mobile app (“Fandango”) while logged in to your account; (c) are not redeemable at any theater or third-party directly; (d) are non-transferable, are not for resale, and have no cash value; (e) cannot be combined with any other offers or promotional codes, except as expressly stated in these terms; (f) are void if sold, transferred, or exchanged; (g) cannot be replaced if lost or stolen; and (h) are valid only in the fifty (50) United States, D.C., and Puerto Rico, excluding other U.S. territories. Void where prohibited. Fandango reserves the right to withdraw or modify this Offer at any time, in its sole discretion, and without notice. Additional terms and conditions apply, including Fandango’s Terms and Policies.
Buy one IMAX ticket to ALWAYS LALISA and use code ALWAYSLALISA to redeem a special offer.
*Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log in to your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 9/9/26 and 10/14/26, purchase at least one (1) IMAX ticket to see ‘ALWAYS LALISA’, and enter the Fandango promotional code ALWAYSLALISA (“Code”) to get up to $7 off your purchase. Code expires, and can no longer be used, if not redeemed by 10/14/26, or when the limit of Code redemptions is reached, or when ‘ALWAYS LALISA' is no longer available in IMAX theaters, whichever comes first. Code must be entered at checkout. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. You must have, and be logged into, a Fandango account to redeem the Code on Fandango. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. If cost of movie ticket and associated fees and charges is more than Code’s maximum discount, then you must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code’s maximum discount will not be refunded. Void where prohibited. Non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You may have to pay taxes additionally. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango's Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Whalebucket Bundle and receive one movie ticket to Whalefall, a Whale Popcorn Bucket, plus the first chapter of the bestselling book Whalefall!
*The Whalebucket Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Whalebucket will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Whalefall Popcorn Bucket shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions https://redeem.fandango.com/products/the-whalebucket-bundle
Buy a ticket to Clayface and get a 30-Day Free Trial to DC Universe Infinite Ultra!
Limited time offer. Log in to your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 9:00am PT on 10/7/26 and 11:59pm PT on 11/1/26 and purchase at least one (1) ticket to see ‘Clayface’ at a participating Fandango theater. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing one (1) DC Universe Infinite Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for one (1) 30-day free trial to DC Universe Infinite Ultra (“DCUI”) with sign-up for a paid DCUI Ultra Monthly subscription. Code expires, and must be redeemed by, 11:59pm PT on 5/1/27. Code is one-time-use only. Free trial offer may be redeemed only once per person and cannot be combined with any other promotional or free trial offer for DCUI. After the free trial period ends, your paid membership will begin at the then-current rate (currently $12.99/month), plus applicable taxes, unless you cancel before the end of the free trial period, and your subscription will automatically renew at the then-current rate plus applicable taxes on a recurring basis, unless you cancel before the applicable renewal. Subscription fees are non-refundable. To cancel or prevent the automatic renewal of your subscription, log in to your DCUI account, go to Settings and click “Cancel” under the Subscription tab. DCUI is not intended for children. Code has no cash value and is non-transferable. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango's terms and policies, at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies. Redemption of the Code and DCUI subscription are subject to DC Universe Infinite’s Terms of Service, at https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/terms.