Hot in the city? Free movies help Italians ‘chill’ in Rome

Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 · July 23, 2026 · 3 min read

Barbie Latza Nadeau Rome (CNN) — The city of Rome is launching “The Big Chill” initiative, named after the 1983 blockbuster movie, offering free movies in air-conditioned cinemas during the heat of the day in an exceptionally hot summer. Fewer than half of Italians have air conditioning in their ...

Why this matters in The El Paso

El Paso residents can relate to the sweltering heat that Rome is experiencing, with temperatures often reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. While El Paso has its own ways of coping with the heat, such as public pools and splash pads, the city of Rome's initiative to offer free movies in air-conditioned cinemas is an interesting approach to providing relief to its citizens. In El Paso, many residents also lack access to air conditioning, particularly in older homes or low-income neighborhoods. The idea of using public spaces like libraries, theaters, and co-working spaces as cooling centers could be an effective way to address this issue. As El Paso continues to experience its own heat waves, city officials may want to consider similar measures to help residents stay cool and safe during the hottest part of the day.

About this story

Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7. The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: KVIA ABC-7 · Reading time: 3 min

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Summary created by	The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Hot in the city? Free movies help Italians ‘chill’ in Rome

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