The Matrix and Film on the Rocks celebrate 25th anniversaries at Red Rocks Amphitheater

"The Matrix" and Denver Film’s signature Film on the Rocks series will both be turning 25 this summer at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater.

The popular five-film annual summer series opens June 10 with the cyberpunk action film “The Matrix” and continues (always on Mondays) with the animated family favorites “Shrek” (June 24) and “The Wizard of Oz” (being shown for the first time ever at Red Rocks on July 8) before shifting into “Deadpool’ (July 15) and ending with the post-apocalyptic adventure "Mad Max: Fury Road" on Aug. 19.

Each show will be emceed by local comedian and actor Janae Burris. Part of the fun every year is that most events offer a short pre-show concert that showcases local bands. The lineup this year includes DARKARTS, School of Rock, Doc Sadler Band and the winner of a “Battle of the Bands” contest sponsored by Molson Coors. “The Wizard of Oz” screening will alternatively feature an undisclosed pre-show event with National Geographic.

2023 was a bit of a bounceback year for Film on the Rocks. Attendance rose to 36,672 for six films (four of which sold out), representing a nearly 5% per-event bump over 2022.

“From the 25th-anniversary celebration of a computer hacker’s journey into 'The Matrix'; to Shrek’s rescue of Princess Fiona; the 85th-anniversary celebration of Dorothy, Toto and friends' trip to the Emerald City; Wade Wilson’s transformation to Deadpool; and concluding with the daring escape of 'Mad Max', our 2024 lineup is packed full of options for a wide range of audiences,” said Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. each night with pre-show concerts at 7 p.m. and films at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets ($20-$35) go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday (April 29) at denverfilm.org. Group sales are available by emailing Russel Brewer at russel@denverfilm.org.

'THE MATRIX'

• Monday, June 10, 8:30 p.m.

• Pre-show concert by DARKARTS

• Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question: What is The Matrix? It is one that could cost Neo something more than his life.

'SHREK'

• Pre-show concert by School of Rock

• Monday, June 24, 8:30 p.m.

• Once upon a time, in a faraway swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) whose precious solitude is shattered by his quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), who harbors a deep, dark secret.

'THE WIZARD OF OZ'

• Monday, July 8, 8:30 p.m.

• Including a pre-show event with National Geographic

• When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz, where they team up with a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) to try to meet The Wizard.

'DEADPOOL'

• Monday, July 15, 8:30 p.m.

• Pre-show concert by Doc Sadler Band

• Mercenary Wade Wilson’s (Ryan Reynolds) world comes crashing down when evil scientist Ajax (Ed Skrein) tortures and transforms him into Deadpool, who is left with accelerated healing powers and a twisted sense of humor.

'MAD MAX: FURY ROAD'

• Monday, Aug. 19, 8:30 p.m.

• Pre-show concert by the winner of the “Colorado Native Sundown Throwdown” contest

• Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) leads the despot's five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive.