Many local options in free summer movies series

The free Summer Movies in the Park series has returned with a record-breaking 122 film showings now through the end of October at venues throughout the county.

The ninth annual series — put on by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department — features family-oriented motion pictures on oversized screens in parks that attendees can watch from their blankets or lawn chairs.

Many of the venues will have food trucks or concession stands available for those who do not wish to bring a picnic. Some venues will also have other activities available, such as family games or crafts. The offerings vary at each location, so go to SummerMoviesInThePark.com for details and full list of movies and venues. Films will start at 8 p.m., but attendees will want to arrive much earlier to reserve their spots and enjoy other offerings.

The first locally-shown movie will be the Disney/Pixar 2003 animated film “Finding Nemo” at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 11 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park, 10502 Paseo de Linda. It is about a timid clownfish who goes on a journey to rescue his son after the youngster is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney. It is rated G.

The first movie playing in Poway will be the 2015 Dreamworks animated film “Home,” shown at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18 in Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive. The movie is about an alien on the run who befriends a girl whom he tries to help on her quest, but is at times more of an interference. It is rated PG for mild action and some rude humor.

The 2015 animated film “Minions” can be seen at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 2 at the Poway Community Swim Center, 13094 Civic Center Drive. It tells the story of how the Minions have lived to serve the world’s most despicable of masters since the dawn of time. It is rated PG for action and rude humor. Those who miss it in Poway can see “Minions” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park.

Disney/Pixar’s 2015 animated film “Inside Out” can be seen at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 16 at 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park and Poway Community Park. It is about a young girl and her conflicting emotions over navigating her new city, house and school after moving from the Midwest to San Francisco. It is rated PG for mild thematic elements and some action.

“The Good Dinosaur” is a 2015 Disney/Pixar animated film that shows a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side and form friendships. The film that is rated PG for peril, action and thematic elements can be seen at 8 p.m. Friday, July 22 in Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park, 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive; 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive; and 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 in 4S Ranch’s Patriot Park.

The 1992 musical “Newsies” will be shown at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30 in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road. The film starring Christian Bale, Bill Pullman and Robert Duvall is based on New York City’s Newsboys Strike of 1899, a youth-led campaign to force a change in how Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers compensated the youngsters selling the publications. It is rated PG for mild violence.

This year’s Disney animated film, “Zootopia,” can be seen at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Poway Community Swim Center. It is about a rookie bunny cop and cynical con artist fox who must work together to uncover a conspiracy in a city of anthropomorphic animals. The film is rated PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and action.

In the 2007 animated film “Surf’s Up” viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship. It has a PG rating for mild language and some rude humor. The film will be shown at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 in Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park.

The 2004 Disney/Pixar animated film “The Incredibles” will be shown at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. It is about two famous crime-fighting superheroes living normal lives as they raise their children until the threat of total world destruction brings them out of retirement. The film is rated PG for action violence.

The final locally-shown movie will be “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” shown at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. The 2015 movie takes place three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire when a new threat arises. Its performers include Daisy Ridley, john Boyega and Oscar Isaac. The film is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.