WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Paramount+ Movie Nights on the National Mall (Part 1)

DC movie fans were devastated when HBO canceled its popular series “Screen on the Green” in 2016.

Now you can enjoy a revival of sorts, as the National Mall hosts Paramount+ Movie Nights for the first time.

“If you miss Screen on the Green, come out this Saturday night and see our Paramount+ Movie Night, taking place for the first time on the National Mall,” Puja Vohra, executive vice president of marketing, told WTOP. “We’ve done our Movie Nights series in New York. … We chose this incredibly iconic location for our very first in DC … Is there a more iconic landmark in America than the National Mall, America’s front yard?”

The free open-air event on Saturday will feature a special screening to mark the 30th anniversary of “Forrest Gump” (1994).

“The film itself offers glimpses of this iconic location, so bringing this film to the National Mall seemed like the perfect partnership,” Vohra said. “The film includes this scene with Forrest and Jenny in the Reflection (Pool) during the protest march. … Forrest is in DC to visit several presidents, including LBJ and Kennedy, so it should be a fantastic setting for us to see this film as it’s happening in the film itself.”

This turns the entertaining film into a deceptively profound journey through American history.

“‘Forrest Gump’ is an incredibly iconic film,” Vohra said. “It’s kind of crazy to think that it’s been 30 years, but if you love the movie and want to remember all the reasons why it’s the perfect family-friendly blockbuster with some incredible stars, including Tom Hanks, then come see the film this weekend.”

To this day, Forrest Gump remains one of the most popular Oscar winners of all time, winning no less than six Oscars, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis.

“It’s so rare for us to have these big blockbusters that also get critical acclaim and awards. Sometimes those things can be very different, but this is one of those rare films like Titanic, Lord of the Rings or Oppenheimer that has it all: big stars, great locations, an incredibly heartbreaking story, phenomenal acting, awards, box office success, all in one. It’s such a part of the American legend. It’s one of the greats.”

The giant screen will be set up on the National Mall near the Smithsonian subway station.

The meadow will officially open at 5 p.m. and the film screening will begin at dusk.

Further information can be found here.

WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Paramount+ Movie Nights on the National Mall (Part 2)

Listen to our full conversation here.

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