Your Guide to Outdoor Movies in New York

Beyond the jam-packed Monday nights already under way at Bryant Park, free outdoor movies have popped up in the far corners of the city, turning New York into a giant drive-in theater without the cars.

Sometimes they're small-scale, outdoor cinema screenings in schoolyards, community gardens or playgrounds like tonight's CinemaParque on the handball courts at East Williamsburg's Sternberg Park showing films made by local youth about growing up as Latino immigrants. Several, like ones listed below, have become popular community events:

Outdoor Movies in Brooklyn

  • Where: Greenpoint, SummerScreen in McCarren Park
  • When: Wednesdays, July 8 Aug. 12
  • Highlight: Fame will light up the sky like a flame on Aug. 5.
  • Where: DUMBO, Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park
  • When: Thursdays, July 9 Aug. 27
  • Highlight: Maltese Falcon on July 16.
  • Where: Park Slope, Brooklyn Film Works in J.J. Byrne Park
  • When: Wednesdays in July
  • Highlight: Dr. Strangelove on July 8
  • Where: Prospect Park, Celebrate Brooklyn! Movies and Music series
  • When: Aug. 1, Aug. 6
  • Highlight: Prince's Purple Rain on Aug. 6

Outdoor Movies in Queens

  • Where: L.I.C., City Outdoor Cinema in Socrates Sculpture Park,
  • When: Wednesdays, July 15 Aug. 19
  • Highlight: International films matched to cuisine: Waltz with Bashir on Aug. 5.
  • Where: Bayside, Movies Under the Bridge in Little Bay Park
  • When: Tuesdays, Aug. 18 - Sept. 1
  • Highlight: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will be shown on Sept. 1

Outdoor Movies in Manhattan

  • Where: Washington Sq. and Tompkins Sq. parks, Films on the Green.
  • When: Fridays, June and July
  • Highlight: All French films such as Eric Rohmer's Claire's Knee on July 24 at Tompkins Square.
  • Where: The Elevated Acre, 55 Water St., River to River Festival
  • When: Mondays in July
  • Highlight: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, the 1974 original version, on July 13.
  • Where: Riverside Park South at 70th Street, Summer on the Hudson, Pier
  • When: Wednesdays, July 8 Aug. 12
  • Highlight: Wall Street on July 15.

Source: "Your outdoor movie guide" by Amy Zimmer -Metro International.

Join our mailing list

Get the latest outdoor cinema updates and benefits straight to your inbox

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Join our community of 4,000+ Open Air Cinema enthusiasts and professionals. Get exclusive tutorials, guidance and discounts in our weekly email newsletter.

Subscribe now 👇