AMC Theaters Host Two-Day Best Picture Showcase

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the expansion of the Best Picture category to ten films, one of my first thoughts was about the annual AMC Theaters Best Picture Showcase, where moviegoers could see all of the nominees in a one-day marathon. There was no way they could do it the same way with ten pictures – it would easily need to be a two-day affair.

Turns out I was right, as AMC has put tickets on sale for their 2010 Best Picture Showcase, which will run on consecutive Saturdays instead of Saturday and Sunday (as some hopeful festival-goers originally figured).

The first Showcase day, Saturday, February 27, will feature “Avatar” and four more movies as decided by vote by the general public. (All of the North Texas theaters hosting the Showcase will present “Avatar” in 3D.) The following Saturday, March 6, will feature the remaining five movies. “Avatar” will be shown on the first weekend to accommodate the following week’s premiere of Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland.” Voting ends Sunday, February 7, so get clicking if you have a preference.

AMC Theaters holding the Best Picture Showcase in the North Texas area:

• Firewheel 18
• Grapevine 30
• Parks at Arlington 18
• NorthPark 15
• Stonebriar 24

Tickets for members of AMC’s MovieWatcher program get ‘em at a discount – $25 for a single-day pass, $40 for all ten movies on both Saturdays. Walk-up tickets are $30 for single-day passes, and $50 for the whole shebang.