MWO Presents Matinees on the Mountain, screening Philip Kaufman’s “The Right Stuff”
Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history, presents its third Matinees on the Mountain screening of the 2026 season, on Saturday, July 18 at 3:00pm.
July’s screening will feature Philip Kaufman’s Academy Award-winning 1983 film “The Right Stuff.” Based on Tom Wolfe’s acclaimed book, the film chronicles the daring exploits of the Mercury Seven and the pioneering test pilots whose courage and ambition helped launch America’s first human spaceflight program.
Featuring an acclaimed ensemble cast led by Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward, and Dennis Quaid, “The Right Stuff” remains one of cinema’s most compelling portraits of the dawn of the Space Age. Tickets are priced at $20 for general admission and $15 for children under 12. For more information and tickets, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie061326.
MWO's film series takes place in its 256-seat auditorium, screening classic science fiction, vintage silent films, and even a few family-friendly surprises. Moviegoers can enjoy lunch at the Cosmic Cafe or picnic on the grounds, explore the Observatory’s rich history, and then settle in for a unique cinematic experience 1-mile above the City of Los Angeles.
The Cosmic Cafe (www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe), located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Cafe offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.
UPCOMING MATINEES ON THE MOUNTAIN OF THE 2026 SEASON
August 15: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) + Bob Baker Marionettes: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie081526
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic sees a lonely boy befriend a stranded alien, together they embark on a magical adventure to help E.T. “phone home” before the grown-ups catch him. The Bob Baker Marionettes will also be visiting MWO, bringing a selection of puppets.
September 12: “Solaris” (1972): https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie091226
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris sees a psychologist travel to a troubled space station orbiting the planet Solaris, where a mysterious alien intelligence manifests human memories and forces the crew to confront their past.
October 10: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956): www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie101026
A small-town doctor discovers that people in his community are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates grown from mysterious space-borne pods, sparking a desperate fight to stop the silent invasion.
VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum. For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/visiting
