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This week at Tryon Theatre, we have a rescheduled pairing of two classic films, “Back to the Future” (Zemeckis 1985) and “E.T.” (Spielberg 1982). These two films premiered only three years apart and permanently imprinted themselves in the imagination of a generation.

To this day, there are turns of phrase and gestural references still employed that were born from these two juggernauts of 80s cinema, but it’s not just the reach into popular culture that still provides these films their worth. Both films tap into universally relatable emotions, accessible by any generation, making them rewatchable and perfect for first-time viewings. However, they differ significantly in their tone and mechanisms to touch their audiences’ hearts.

Both films are well-known, so I’ll focus on their artistry, assuming the stories are relatively understood even for a first-time viewer. “Back to the Future” is pure, unadulterated fun, with a great soundtrack, charming cast, and colorful science fiction madness, keeping the plot twisting and turning, with laughs and thrills aplenty. While covering multiple time periods in its story, it perfectly bridges these generations through a blend of comedic styles, slapstick and one-liners.

“Back to the Future”, while the slightly more modern of the two films, in many ways is more classical in its cinematography and shot structure. “E.T.” is a film that, despite the dated contents on screen, employs a use of the camera that feels far more current and evolved. It is a far more serious film, with fear and sadness registering amongst otherwise positive emotions of curiosity and joy. “E.T.” is absolutely a fun film, but it is almost guaranteed to make one cry as well, reaching depths of emotion that elevate it far beyond the genre of comedy or children’s science fiction. It is a truly beautiful film.

Initially, these two titles were programmed for the week that Tropical Storm Helene hit the Polk County area, and we had to cancel most of our showtimes. As a result, many patrons were left unable to use the tickets they had purchased. For any of those applicable customers, the original tickets will apply to these makeup showtimes; we need only be reminded of your initial booking (name and showtime) or be presented with your paper ticket from the box office. For any other outstanding concerns over making up those canceled tickets, please contact us, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

“Back to the Future” will show Wednesday, November 6, at 7 p.m., Thursday, November 7, at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 9, at 7 p.m. “E.T.” will play on Thursday, November 7, at 7, Friday, November 8, at 7, and Sunday, November 10, at 2:30 p.m.