June 3, 2026
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971) – AFI Movie Club
Featuring one of cinema’s great car chases – a visceral, frenetic race against an elevated train – director William Friedkin’s THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971) also includes another thrilling chase, at the end of which Fernado Rey’s heroin-smuggling Charnier evades Gene Hackman’s Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle by slipping onto a departing subway car. The film was included...
June 2, 2026
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) – AFI Movie Club
Bringing the visceral chaos of D-Day to the screen and hauntingly examining the tolls of war, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN’s (1998) odyssey behind enemy lines was masterfully realized by three recipients of the AFI Life Achievement Award – director Steven Spielberg, star Tom Hanks and composer John Williams. Shot by AFI Conservatory alum Janusz Kaminski (AFI...
June 1, 2026
MOONLIGHT (2016) – AFI Movie Club
From writer/director Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT was honored in 2016 with an AFI AWARD, recognizing it as one of the year’s most outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image – with the official rationale stating that, “MOONLIGHT illuminates the peerless power of cinema to inspire empathy for others and embrace a greater understanding of...
May 31, 2026
AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) – AFI Movie Club
Groundbreaking for its use of popular music in lieu of a traditional score, AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) was co-written and directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree George Lucas – based largely on his own experiences in Modesto, CA – and also features a breakout early role for AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Harrison Ford. Legendary...
May 30, 2026
ZARDOZ (1974) – AFI Movie Club
A strange science fiction epic in a far-flung future where humanity has been reduced to savagery and subjugated by an ostensible god in the form of uncanny floating head, writer-producer-director John Boorman’s ZARDOZ (1974) features a distinctive central performance from AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Sean Connery. Visit the AFI Catalog to learn more about...
May 29, 2026
DIRTY DANCING (1987) – AFI Movie Club
Featured on three of AFI’s lists of the greatest American films, DIRTY DANCING (1987) was named one of the art form’s most enduring love stories – with “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” also ranking among the greatest film songs and “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” appearing among the most memorable movie quotes....
May 28, 2026
THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) – AFI Movie Club
Starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, André the Giant, Christopher Guest and Wallace Shawn in a delightful fantasy adventure from the great Rob Reiner – and adapted by screenwriter William Goldman from his own novel – THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) was named by the American Film Institute among the most romantic films...
May 27, 2026
THE MISFITS (1961) – AFI Movie Club
Directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree John Huston and marking the first original screenplay from playwright Arthur Miller, THE MISFITS (1961) featured Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe – two shining stars named by the American Film Institute among the art form’s greatest screen legends – both in their final film roles. Visit the AFI...
May 26, 2026
ROMANCING THE STONE (1984) – AFI Movie Club
A rollicking and hilarious comedy-adventure ripped from the pages of romance-pulp novels, director Robert Zemeckis’ ROMANCING THE STONE (1984) is a breathlessly escapist treasure hunt across the jungles of Colombia – rife with breakneck chases, deadly diversions and other thrilling escapades – starring the inarguable trio of Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and AFI Life Achievement...
May 25, 2026
GLORY (1989) – AFI Movie Club
A powerful tale of the Union Army’s first African American regiment in the Civil War, GLORY (1989) was directed by AFI Conservatory alum Edward Zwick (AFI Class of 1975), edited by Steven Rosenblum (AFI Class of 1976) and stars two AFI Life Achievement Award recipients – Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. The film marked the big screen debut for...
May 24, 2026
LADY BIRD (2017) – AFI Movie Club
A tender and clear-eyed story of – among so many things – a daughter and her mother, Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut with LADY BIRD (2017) marked the arrival of a singular talent – earning recognition in the year of its release with an AFI AWARD in 2017, which named the film among the most...
May 23, 2026
MERRILY WE GO TO HELL (1932) – AFI Movie Club
One of the preeminent – and only! – women directors working consistently in Hollywood during cinema’s Golden Age, Dorothy Arzner maintained an illustrious career even in an otherwise male-dominated field, with work spanning from the silent era until her retirement in the 1940s. She directed some of the most notable stars of the day, including...
Donate today and join the nation’s strongest community of film lovers.
AFI is a 501c3 non-profit advancing the art of the moving image by empowering storytellers and inspiring audiences
