Last night marked the end of Bryant Park’s 16th annual movie series with Superman closing season. My first Bryant Park movie experience, I had expected a crowd – but I hadn’t realized how big that crowd would be.

I arrived a little after 5 and already the park was packed. Luckily, a friend had gotten there earlier and reserved a not terrible spot. We munched on a modest picnic of fruit and cookies as our respective significant others joined us. Some female picnickers next to us required my husband’s help opening a wine bottle and rewarded us with free, much appreciated glasses of wine.

After watching some folks in Superman costumes and listening to a couple business sponsors, the show began. The crowd sang along to the 80’s HBO song which opened the movie (I have to admit it did make me a little nostalgic). I had never actually seen the whole film, but I enjoyed the ridiculous dialogue and the terrible effects. I understood why the film had acquired the cult following that it must have, judging by the enthusiastic audience. The sound died at a climactic part of the movie, right as Lois’s car was filling with dirt. The audience chimed in with their own sound effects and a rousing version of the Superman theme music. After some further technical problems, the film came back up to show Superman reversing time and saving the night.