Actor offers free drivein movie series

Actor Michael B. Jordan is inviting everyone out to “A Night at the DriveIn,” spotlighting the stories of persons of color — and the tickets are on him.

Jordan’s new marketing company 8788 and his production company Outlier Society are partnering with Amazon Studios to sponsor drivein movie screenings every other Wednesday from July 1 to Aug. 26. The venues across the nation include the West Wind driveins in Concord and Sacramento.

Reserved tickets are required, through ANightAtTheDriveIn.com.

There will even be free refreshments courtesy of Black and brownowned businesses Path Water, Pipcorn Popcorn and Partake Cookies.

It’s an eclectic mix, with movies ranging from the 1980s to 2018, and curated into double features. Films include the megahit “Black Panther” and Spike Lee’s classic “Do the Right Thing,” which is awesomely paired with Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” (Unfortunately, while Jordan programmed two of his own films, the lineup does not include the Oaklandshot “Fruitvale Station” or the recent “Just Mercy.”)

The schedule begins Wednesday, July 1, with “Movies to Make You Fall in Love” — a double feature of “Love & Basketball,” Gina PrinceBythewood’s film from 2000 starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps; and the recent hit “Crazy Rich Asians.”

Other films billed include:

July 15, “Movies to Make You Proud”: “Black Panther” (2017) and “Creed” (2015). Both starring Jordan and directed by Oakland native Ryan Coogler, who partially set the former film in his hometown. These are movies made for the big screen.

July 29, “Movies to Inspire Your Inner Child”: “SpiderMan: Into The SpiderVerse” (2018) and “Hook” (1991). While “SpiderVerse” is one of the best animated films of the past decade, the other choice, one of Steven Spielberg’s least interesting films, starring Robin Williams as Peter Pan, is the headscratcher of this bunch.

Aug. 12, “Movies to Make You Open Your Eyes”: “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and “Get Out” (2017). Both movies not only have a lot to say and are relevant for these times, but they’re incredibly entertaining as well.

Aug. 26, “Movies to Make You

Laugh”: “Coming to America” (1986) and “Girls Trip” (2017). Comedy from the archaic, ’80s guys point of view in the nostalgic Eddie MurphyArsenio Hall comedy, and from the more modern female POV in the funnier, better tale of sisterhood with Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish.