Longtime TechCrunch readers know we like to have movie screenings on opening day for cool science fiction type blockbusters. Sometimes we get into legal trouble, but let us worry about that. It always works out in the end.

TRON LEGACY officially opens this Friday, December 17. We&'ve reserved and prepaid two big theaters for the 3-D version of the movie, one in New York (470 seats) and one in San Francisco (404 seats). Movies in both locations start at 11:15 pm (EST or PST, depending on the theater) Thursday night, December 16.

Want to go We&'re releasing tickets starting right now. We&'re asking for a minimum donation of $10 per seat, 100% of which will be donated to the UCSF Benioff Children‚a4‚¬‚a4„s Hospital (and we&'re matching donations up to $10,000), but you can donate more (or less) if you like. The normal ticket price is $16 or $17.50, depending on the city.

If you aren‚a4‚¬‚a4„t attending, please do not purchase a ticket. Charitable donations to the UCSF Benioff Children‚a4‚¬‚a4„s Hospital can be made HERE. But no-shows mean an empty seat and someone else misses out. Send us an email if you can‚a4‚¬‚a4„t attend so we may fill that spot later. Take a break from the holiday madness, we‚a4‚¬‚a4„ve got your ticket to a great sci-fi escape. See you Thursday night!

Details and tickets for each venue are below. This is the first batch of tickets. More will be released later, so keep checking back.

If you‚a4‚¬‚a4„d like to co-sponsor the event by buying attendees popcorn and drinks, email us at sponsors [at] techcrunch.com and put TRON in the headline (this is a very inexpensive and easy way to make people love you).

NEW YORK:

Thursday, December 16 at 11:15 pm EST (check-in)

Regal Union Square Stadium 14 &8211' House (TBD) 850 Broadway (at 13th) New York, NY 10003

BUY NEW YORK TRON TICKETS HERE

SAN FRANCISCO:

Thursday, December 16 at 11:15 pm PST (check-in)

AMC Metreon 16 &8211' House 13 101 4th St (at Market) San Francisco, CA 94103 Get Driving Directions

BUY SAN FRANCISCO TRON TICKETS HERE

PS &8211' we keep a small number of tickets in reserve as well. So if the tickets sell out and you really, really, really want to go, leave a comment below and an appropriately sad or funny story, whether true or not, may get you reserve seat!