‘Purple Rain’ will be screened at Target Center 40 years to the day of its initial release
While there were plenty of opportunities to celebrate Prince (who was born June 7, 1958) and the 40th anniversary of “Purple Rain” last month, the film itself was actually released on July 27, 1984. As such, members of Prince’s estate are hosting a “Purple Rain” screening at 4 p.m. July 27 at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.
Tickets are $19.99 and are available via axs.com. VIP tickets are also available for $199.99 and include “a special reserved seating area, an exclusive event-related gift, unique photo opportunities, a private reception following the film and more.”
“Purple Rain” will be shown at center court, with people who worked on the film in attendance.
Prince headlined the basketball arena twice in December 1997 on his Jam of the Year World Tour and returned there on July 7, 2007, the day he also performed an afternoon show at Macy’s and a late-night gig at First Avenue, the club he helped make famous thanks to its prominence in the film. In addition to frequent visits to watch the Timberwolves and Lynx play, Prince joined Lenny Kravitz during his encore at Target Center in August 1999 to play guitar during “Fly Away.”
“We are thrilled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ‘Purple Rain,’ a film that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide,” said Prince’s eldest sister Sharon L. Nelson in a news release. “This event is a heartfelt tribute to Prince’s unparalleled talent and the lasting impact of his artistry.”
“Purple Rain” grossed $70.3 million worldwide, against its $7.2 million budget and won an Academy Award for best original song score. In 2019, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The soundtrack spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spawned five hit singles and won two Grammys. A musical based on the film is set to have its world premiere in April at Minneapolis’ State Theatre.
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