Gene Wilder’s Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka Returning to Theaters in Boston

Photo by AP

This weekend, AMC Theatres around the country will pay tribute to Gene Wilder, the legendary actor who died at the age of 83 on Sunday.

AMC’s Boston Common location will join more than 50 theaters across the nation in bringing two of the late comedy icon’s most beloved films back to the big screen this weekend. Fans will be able to check out Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Blazing Saddles at back-to-back showings on Saturday and Sunday.

The 1971 film based on Roald Dahl’s novel as well as the 1974 comedy western have stood the test of time and are both enshrined in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress for their cultural significance.

If you can’t make it to the special screenings this weekend, there’s another upcoming opportunity to catch one of Wilder’s popular movies in theaters this fall.

Director Mel Brooks, Wilder’s frequent collaborator over the years, will be in Boston on Saturday, October 22, for a showing of Blazing Saddles at the Citi Wang Theatre. Following the screening, Brooks will participate in a Q&A session with fans in attendance.

AMC Loews Boston Common will screen ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ at 5 p.m. and ‘Blazing Saddles’ at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4. Tickets for each screening is $5. For more information, check out amctheatres.com.