BELLINGHAM - A variety of recently released and seasonal movies highlight next week's preview events at the new Barkley movie theater.

Regal Entertainment Group announced its slate of $2 movies for Dec. 10-12, including "Journey 2: Mysterious Island" on family fun day, "Big Miracle" on its inspirational day and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on its holiday-theme day.

Sixteen movies will be shown on each of the preview days.

Other non-themed movies will run those three days, including "The Dark Knight Rises," "Finding Nemo 3D" and "The Hunger Games."

The movies are being shown as a way to show off the new 16-screen theater to the community before it officially opens Friday, Dec. 14.

A list of all the movies, including times, is online at regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings and by clicking on the Barkley link.

Tickets for the preview event movies cannot be purchased online, but must be purchased at the theater. The first movie on Dec. 10 is an 11 a.m. showing of "Cloud Atlas."

Each movie ticket, popcorn and soft drink are on sale for $2 each for the preview events, with all of the proceeds going to a local charity each day. On Dec. 10, Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County will receive proceeds, followed by Extend-a-Hand on Dec. 11 and Bellingham Food Bank on Dec. 12.

From Dec. 14 through Dec. 20, moviegoers can have free popcorn and soft drinks with each paid admission, according to a news release from Regal.

Heading into the final week, spokeswoman Rachel Lueras said they are anticipating a strong opening.

"We are looking forward to this opportunity to give back to the Bellingham community," she said.

Lueras said she didn't have further information about the status of Regal's Sehome and the Sunset movie theaters, which are slated to close sometime after the opening of the Barkley theater. Regal's theater at Bellis Fair will remain open.

Advance ticket sales through Fandango for the release of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" on Dec. 14 are strong, Lueras said. The IMAX for the 12:01 a.m. showing is already sold out, but tickets were still available for other times and screens that day.

The new facility has 16 screens and can seat more than 3,300 moviegoers at a time. Along with an IMAX screen, the theater has a 3D screen called the Regal Premium Experience.

The 68,000-square-foot theater is about the same size as the nearby Barkley Haggen store.

Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2269.