Cinema Detroit is having a full moon outdoor screening of Nicolas Cage's 'Moonstruck'

As Cinema Detroit continues its quest to keep showing movies without a permanent home, it’s turning to the moon and the stars — including “Moonstruck” and star Nicolas Cage.

The indie theater that is saying goodbye to its Midtown site has announced three screenings at New Center Park this summer, starting July 18 with the smart, unsentimental charmer “10 Things I Hate About You,” the 1999 high school rom-com starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles that puts a modern spin on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Then on Aug. 1, Cinema Detroit turns to “Moonstruck,” the comedic love-triangle tale featuring Cher as the Brooklyn woman torn between her steady boyfriend, played by Danny Aiello, and his pizza-baking brother, who is portrayed by a passionate Nicolas Cage. In keeping with the story’s theme, a real-life full moon will be shining over the event, if cloud coverage allows.

Appropriately enough, “Moonstruck” is being shown in partnership with Nicolas Uncaged, the Detroit group that celebrates the power and glory — and over-the-topness — of Cage’s screen style with an annual festival now in its ninth year.

Another lunar nod, Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” wraps up the trio of screenings. The 2012 coming-of-age comedy gathers an ensemble of top actors (including Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton) for the story of star-crossed runaways on a small Maine island.

Since launching in 2013, Cinema Detroit has become a staple for movie lovers in Detroit and beyond. The closing of it Third Avenue location, the theater's home since 2015, was forced by the combination of financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, the post-pandemic downturn in moviegoing and soaring rent prices in the city.

One more showing is planned at the Third Street location, a free sneak preview of the debut feature film of director Savanah Leaf, "Earth Mama," at 5:30 p.m. July 23.

While searching for a new home, Cinema Detroit founder and programmer Paula Guthat is focusing on pop-up events like the screenings in the park and a recent run of films at the University of Michigan Dearborn.

Tickets for “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Moonstruck” and “Moonrise Kingdom” are $10 online at the Cinema Detroit website. Arrivals start at 8 p.m. for screenings that begin at dusk.

Directions to New Center Park and parking options are available here.

Contact Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cinema Detroit's moonlight screenings of rom-coms could make you swoon