Stars dot the sky above the old Redwood City courthouse, where a courtyard full of visitors sit in lawn chairs, cuddling leashed pups, snacking on treats from local restaurants and reveling in the goofy cinematic joy of watching a beloved movie franchise hero engage in a series of implausible but tightly choreographed chase scenes through cities around the globe.

On this particular Thursday evening, it’s a free screening of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” at Courthouse Square, with the 10th most expensive movie ever made projected onto a 23-foot-by-13-foot screen complete with surround sound.

Redwood City’s is California’s only outdoor movie setup to offer surround sound, according to events coordinator Brandon Council, and the audio holds up, making the movie feel more immersive. You can almost imagine yourself on the streets of Tangier as Indy chases down bad guys in a tuk tuk.

The summer series flicks are hand-selected by the city’s Parks and Rec employees, who look for recent popular features and classics hitting milestone anniversaries. Then, staff members vote on the films they want to see.

“It’s a fun, free way to get a full movie-going experience, and to bring family and friends to hang out downtown,” Council says.

Details >> On Aug. 29, a double feature will screen Disney’s 2023 live-action “Little Mermaid” at 6 p.m. followed by “Galaxy Quest” (1999) at 8:30 p.m.; redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies.

But wait, there’s more >> Looking for more outdoor movie nights? Family-friendly flicks abound around the East Bay, with options on most Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 25. Find a full roundup at 510families.com/east-bay-summer-movie-round-up/. Rather catch a current blockbuster under the stars? Head to the West Wind drive-in theaters in San Jose or Concord.