FAST CARS FOREVER – A Repertory Film Series at the Southampton Playhouse

From the earliest days of moving pictures, cars have zoomed across the screen. To get in the mood for the upcoming release of F1: The Movie, the Playhouse is proud to present FAST CARS FOREVER!, a series of movies dedicated to the thrill of racecars and the daredevils behind the wheel, which begin June 20.

The series culminates with a special car meetup in our lot ahead on Saturday, June 28, the opening weekend of F1, prior to the 7:30 showtime on IMAX.

Join us for more than 50 years’ worth of car movies that range from action to documentary and horror, which collectively will put you in exactly the right mindset for the IMAX spectacle around the corner. This series will also feature special events, including a short film on the history of racing in Bridgehampton and a Q&A featuring the producers of Ferrari.

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Two-Lane Blacktop is a haunting, minimalist road movie that defined an era of American cinema. Directed by Monte Hellman, this 1971 cult classic follows two enigmatic street racers as they drive across the American Southwest in a souped-up ’55 Chevy, engaging in a quiet yet intense showdown with a boastful driver in a GTO. With its existential themes, stripped-down dialogue, and stark visual aesthetic, Two-Lane Blacktop stands as one of the most unique films of the 1970s. Don’t miss your chance to see this rare screening in the Hamptons.

This screening will be preceded by the 15-minute short film Glory Days at Bridgehampton: The Thrilling History of Car Racing in the Hamptons, which is narrated by Richard Kind. Producer Peter Klebnikov, a former race driver, flagger, and Secretary of the Bridgehampton Racing Heritage Group, will introduce the evening.

Christine (1983)

Saturday, June 21 at 9:30 p.m.

Stephen King by way of John Carpenter, this shadowy exploration of the fading thrills of 1950s Americana plays like a nightmarish American Graffiti. With Carpenter’s signature synth score as its guide, Christine follows Keith Gordon as a plucky high school pariah whose lack of self-confidence evolves with the help of a vintage car that may or may not have murderous tendencies under its hood. A skillful coming-of-age drama with shadowy implications about the nature of growing up in a society on the brink of change, Christine has lost none of its haunting power or genuine thrills, which makes it the perfect choice to kick off the Playhouse’s late-night programming for the horror fans in our community.

Days of Thunder (1990)

Sunday, June 22, at 6 p.m.

A young hot-shot stock car driver (Tom Cruise) gets his chance to compete at the top level in Tony Scott’s fast-paced NASCAR action-drama, which epitomizes the cinematic nature of racecar movies and provides the ideal precedent for F1. Thirty-five years after its release, Cruise’s performance sits at the center of a movie that positions the intensity of the racetrack within the framework of genuine human stakes, and explores the boundaries of the testosterone drive at the root of the sport from several angles at once.

Ferrari: Fury and the Monster (2025)

Wednesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m.

This documentary unveils the story of Mauro Forghieri, the visionary engineer who helped shape Ferrari’s legacy, his complex relationship with the charismatic Commendatore Enzo Ferrari and his pivotal role in creating the most coveted cars in the history of car making: the Ferrari 250 GTO.

At just 26, the young aerodynamics engineer was unexpectedly put in charge of Ferrari’s racing department in 1961 after the infamous “Great Walkout” of the company’s top engineers and executives. At the time, Ferrari was grappling with significant financial and personal challenges and was in desperate need of a victory. Against all odds, Forghieri created the 250 GTO — a car that would not only define Ferrari’s success but also go on to triumph in its class at Le Mans in 1962. This is the tale of an underdog who saved one of the most iconic car companies in the world, interwoven with the trajectory of his most famous creation.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the producers of the film, Michael Covino and Emily Korteweg.

Cars (2006)

Sunday, June 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Pixar’s delightful animated hit kicks off our Playhouse Jr. matinee series. The screening will be preceded by arts and crafts presented by our friends at Craft Studios for the younger members of our community in our lounge at 9:30 a.m.