Kevin Smith’s new films taps into the magic of the movie theater, where anything could happen on screen – and off.

In the trailer for his new film The 4:30 Movie, Austin Zajur (Clerks 3) plays Brian David, a character who could be a stand-in for Smith as a teenager, looking for a love connection at the matinee.

The official synopsis says the film is about “three sixteen-year-old friends (Zajur, Reed Northrup and Nicholas Cirillo) who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex. When one of the guys invites [Melody Barnegat], the girl of his dreams (Siena Agudong) to see an R-rated film, all hilarity breaks loose, as a self-important theater manager (Ken Jeong) and teen rivalries interfere with his best-laid plans.”

Smith shot The 4:30 Movie at Smodcastle Cinemas in New Jersey – the same movie theater he co-owns and the one he could be found at every weekend when he was a teenager. For the movie, Smith restored the theater to its ’80s name, Atlantic Cinemas, using the theater marquee he and his partner saved from demolition. Smith premiered the 4:30 trailer at San Diego Comic Con last week.

The film also stars Smith regulars like Justin Long, Rosario Dawson, Jason Biggs, Jason Mewes, Jason Lee, and Smith’s daughter Harley Quinn Smith, as well as Logic, Rachel Dratch, Adam Pally, Sam Richardson, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Betty Aberlin, Diedrich Bader, Ralph Garman, Kate Micucci, Jenny Mollen, Genesis Rodriguez, and Jennifer Schwalbach.

Press materials for The 4:30 Movie describe it as Smith’s “most personal film to date and a “poignant comic valentine to moviegoing and the youth of the ’80s.” Smith thanked audiences for “giving [me] an extended adolescence” in the notes.

Saban Films is distributing The 4:30 Movie, which will can be seen, naturally, in theaters at various times beginning September 13th, 2024.