Last year, movies were shown on Friday nights only. This year, movies are shown at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays. All showings are at the Varsity Theatre and cost $2 with a valid Marquette Card and $3 without.

Movies scheduled to appear this fall include “Chicago,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Italian Job” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.” This Friday’s showing of “Chicago” will be held for free outside the Alumni Memorial Union.

“One of the reasons we (added extra showings) was to promote (Friday) Late Night at Marquette,” said MUSG Communication Vice President Nicole Garland. “If we’re pushing films in the Varsity Theatre and Late Night as well, they have to choose between the two. Now, if you miss on Friday, you can catch the Saturday shows.”

Movies are selected for a given weekend several weeks in advance.

“We get mailings for available movies from companies, and our film committee — which is open to everyone and meets every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in the MUSG office — chooses the movies for the next few weeks,” said junior Jess Ripp, the film commissioner for MUSG.

Ripp also said they don’t want to pick movies too far in advance.

“I try to see how well films do in theatres before they are brought here,” he said. “My plan is to show films that people want to see, and to have these nights be fun and enjoyable.”

He cited “Gigli” as an example of a movie he would not bring to Marquette.

Ripp also said he would try to have a variety of movies brought in throughout the year.

“We’re hoping to get “The Shining” for Oct. 31,” he said. “Also, we’d like to show some animated movies, classic movies, stuff like that.”

Both Ripp and Garland agreed on another important reason for holding Varsity Theatre Movies.

“We want to provide more activities (on campus),” Garland said. “Activities such as the Varsity Theatre films are a positive alcohol alternative on a Friday or Saturday night.”

Students at the MUSG-sponsored showing of “Bruce Almighty” at West Towne Mall were enthusiastic about the choice of movies.

“It’s a great idea,” sophomore Abby Rehfeldt said. “It’s a great way to go to the movies for less money. I’ll go every weekend if it’s a good movie. I’ve seen a couple of them before, but I’ll go see them again for two dollars.”

Freshman Dani Drexler agreed.

“I’d go to all of them — I love movies,” Drexler said. “I’m really excited about ‘Finding Nemo’ (showing Sept. 19 and 20).”

Rehfeldt was happy to hear of the expansion to Saturdays.

“I’m a theater major, and it was hard to make it to movie nights because of rehearsals, so Saturday is great for me,” she said.