“They’re Baaack” Where to View the Best Outdoor Summer Flicks in NYC

Outdoor movie screenings in the city are back in action! Looking to catch a classic, new(ish) film, fan-favorite animation, or foreign film? You’re in the right place. From rooftops to grassy lawns and more than your typical outdoor film experience, you can look forward to live performances and music, hand on arts and crafts, food and drink offerings, receptions, and more. Grab the fam or friends, or go solo, and be sure to bookmark our summer flick round-up below, and check back for new additions!  In the words of Buzz Lightyear, “To infinity and beyond!”

Updated 8/15/22

Rooftop Films

This year’s Rooftop Films Summer Series will include more than 40 outdoor screenings featuring new independent feature films, short film programs, and live performances. For the sixth consecutive year, the Rooftop Films Summer Series will be presented by SundanceTV.  Queens Drive-in is also part of Rooftop Films, screening at The New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street.

Locations: Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn; Brookfield’s Brooklyn Commons; Fort Greene Park; The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus; The Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park; The roof of New Design High School in the Lower East Side; City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage in Central Park; Industry City in Sunset Park; and multiple additional city park locations.

Days/Times: Through the end of August. Various times in the evening.

The Lineup: Various films

Pricing: Free and some require the purchase of a ticket

What You Should Know: Lay’s Potato Chips will present more than 20 musical performances throughout the summer and provide free snacks at every single Rooftop Films Summer Series. Additionally, Rooftop’s exclusive liquor sponsor Diageo will present 30 pre- and post-screening receptions throughout the summer.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Movies with a View

Movies With A View is officially back for a full season! Join Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for its 22nd season with the theme “Away We Go.”

Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park. Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn

Days/Times: Thursdays, July 7th–August 25th. Lawn doors open at 6pm and the movie begins at sundown (around 8:30pm)

The Lineup:
July 7th: Before Sunrise
July 14th: The Bourne Identity
July 21th: Crazy Rich Asians
July 28th: How Stella Got Her Groove Back
August 4th: Jurassic Park
August 11th: Thelma and Louise
August 18th: The Mitchells vs. the Machines
August 25th: Public Choice (Back to the Future, Mamma Mia!, Mission Impossible)

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Smorgasburg will provide tasty treats and drinks all evening along the Pier 1 promenade, at 5pm, featuring a selection of NYC’s favorite food vendors! Beer and wine concessions will be available for purchase for adults 21 and over.

For each night, the pre-movie lineup includes a DJ brought to you by Brooklyn Radio, and a short film by local filmmakers, selected by BAM Film. Free bike valet will be available thanks to Transportation Alternatives.

Movie Nights at the Garden

Spend the evening in Queens Botanical Garden’s urban oasis-turned outdoor cinema with after-hours admission. Experience big-screen magic with the beautiful backdrop of golden hour in the evening. We attended a screening last summer, it was really a great night out for some family fun!

Location: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street

Days/Times: Through August 19th. Doors open at 7pm, movie begins at 8:30pm

Lineup:
Saturday, June 18th: Onward
Friday, July 1st: Men in Black
Saturday, July 9th: A Bug’s Life
Saturday, July 16th: Grease
Saturday, July 23rd: Jurassic Park
Saturday, July 30th: Encanto
Saturday, August 6th: Princess and the Frog
Friday, August 19th: Jungle Cruise

Pricing: Non-Member- $17 per Adult, $15 per Child, Student, Senior, & Individual with Disabilities, $55 for a Family of Four. Member-  $12 per Adult, $10 per Child, Student, Senior, & Individual with Disabilities, $40 for a Family of Four, FREE for Children 3 and under.

What You Need to Know: Each ticket comes with after-hours admission to the Garden, a $5 snack voucher, and a craft or performance (varies based on featured film).

Rooftop Cinema Club

Rooftop Cinema Club brings you city skylines, sunsets, starlit evenings, awesome drinks, delicious food, and great movies on the big screen. Their Rooftops promise a handpicked curation of cults, classics, and new releases.

Location: Skylawn Embassy Suites, 60 West 37th Street. 3rd Floor Terrace.

Days/Times: Daily, various times throughout the day.

The Lineup: Various films and themes. This month’s themes include Juneteeth, Pride, and Black Music Month.

Pricing: From $21.50–$28.50, depending on ticket type and time of day. They also offer a variety of types including a Medan Lounge Chair, a Medan Lounge Chair + Popcorn, and an Aeri Lounge Chair + Popcorn.

What You Should Know: Screenings starting at 4:30pm or later are strictly 18+. At the box office, they offer candy and movie snacks available for order throughout the film. In addition to a full bar and food menu provided by the hotel. Wireless headphones are provided to listen to the movie. For special events, they often bring additional elements such as themed decor, photo ops, and interactive games.

Intrepid Summer Movie Nights

Experience the Intrepid Summer Movie Series on Free Fridays! Visitors can explore the Museum for FREE and watch a movie on the Flight Deck of the historic aircraft carrier. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and blankets to the Museum to view classic films.

In celebration of the Museum’s 40th anniversary, many of the films in the movie series are also celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Location: Intrepid Museum, Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue)

Days/Times: Fridays, 5-9pm; through August 26th. Doors open at 5pm, movie begins at sunset.

Lineup: 
June 24th: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
July 29th: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
August 26th: Blade Runner

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Light concessions will be sold onsite, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages. Alcohol is not permitted.

19th Annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival

Join  for the 19th Annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival, presented by National Geographic. featuring an array of documentary films.

Location: Central Park, Landscape between Sheep Meadow and the 72nd Street Cross Drive

Dates/Times: August 16th- 19th, doors open at 6:30pm

Lineup:
Tuesday, August 16th: The Territory (premiere screening)
Wednesday, August 17th: America’s National Parks
Pre-film entertainment includes a sneak peek episode of Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin.
Thursday, August 18th: Fire of Love
Friday. August 19th: JANE
Pre-film entertainment includes a sneak peek episode of Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin.

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Registration is required. There is pre-show programming and music from 6:30 pm until film starts at dusk.

NYC Parks’ Movies Under the Stars

Pack up the picnic chair, and watch a flick in the great outdoors! Through Movies Under the Stars, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and NYC Parks bring film screenings to parks throughout the five boroughs. Enjoy family-friendly entertainment in the city’s parks and playgrounds, ranging from great new movies to all-time classics. Bring some food, find a great spot, and enjoy the show!

Location: NYC Parks across the 5 boroughs

Days/Times: Daily, through the summer

Lineup: More than 150 various films

Pricing: Free

What You Need to Know: All movies have chairs reserved for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Green Room 42 Rooftop Movie Series

Join Green Room 42 for their Rooftop Movies Series across the hall on their outdoor terrace, Social Drink & Food. Sit back, relax, put on your headphones, grab a drink, and enjoy classic, new, and innovative Movies from across the decades.

Location: YOTEL, 570 Tenth Avenue at W 42nd Street (4th Floor)

Dates/Times: Through the Summer. Doors at 8pm

Lineup: Various Films

Pricing: $20 + $4.85 Fees

What You Need to Know: Headphones are provided. Food & beverage service is available before and during the movie.

Celebrity Cruises x  Green Fig Rooftop Garden Cinema Series

Also at YOTEL, Celebrity Cruises and Green Fig have teamed up for the Celebrity Cruises Rooftop Garden Cinema Series! This series is inspired by the stunning Rooftop Garden on Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series ships, and you can now have that same experience at Green Fig, set against the New York City skyline.

Each event begins with a cocktail hour featuring beverages, themed bites, and activations. Afterward, guests will enjoy a film inspired by the main features of Celebrity Cruises’ onboard experience while they enjoy plates and cocktails inspired by the movie they are watching. All ticket proceeds also benefit Broadway Cares, a nonprofit that is helping people across the country and the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling, and emergency financial assistance.

Location: YOTEL, 570 Tenth Avenue at W 42nd Street (4th Floor)

Dates/Times: Saturdays, Door at 7:30pm. Movie starts at 8:45pm.

Lineup:
July 9th: Last Holiday
July 16th: Ratatouille
July 23rd: Eat Pray Love
July 30th: Alice in Wonderland

Pricing: $45

What You Should Know: Tickets include beer, wine, appetizers, and themed activations during the cocktail hour, as well as two specialty cocktails and small plates during the film. Attendees from each event will be able to enter for a chance to win one of five staterooms for the Celebrity Beyond Preview Event on October 24th, 2022 in Bayonne, NJ!

Oculus Outdoor Movie Nights

Experience Oculus Outdoors Movie Nights – free, outdoor screenings this summer. Enjoy your very own one-of-a-kind, cinematic experience under the wings of the Oculus.

Location: Oculus Plaza, Church & Fulton Streets

Dates/Times: Select Thursdays and Saturdays through September 24th. Doors at 6pm, Movie at 7pm

Lineup:
Thursday, July 21st: The Goonies
Saturday, July 23rd: Shrek
Thursday, August 18th: When Harry Met Sally
Saturday, August 20th: Encanto
Thursday, September 22nd: Monster-In-Law
Saturday, September 24th: Minions

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Walkups are welcome, but RSVP is recommended. Bring your own blankets or portable chairs

Outdoor Cinema at Lincoln Center

Bring your friends and family to finally make up for all the flicks you missed last summer and rejoice in cinema under the stars at Hearst Plaza, presented in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center.

Reclaim your inner movie nerd at this free, three-week outdoor festival of screenings, featuring fondly remembered classics and special surprises. A huge screen and hassle-free seating on the spacious Hearst Plaza offer the comforts of your favorite theater. Every showing will be transmitted via Quiet Event headphones. A part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City Series. 

Location: Lincoln Center, Hearst Plaza, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza

Days/Times: July 13th- 30th, 9pm screening

Lineup:
Wednesday, July 13th: Buena Vista Social Club
Thursday, July 14th: Mystery Train
Friday, July 15th: Gimme Shelter *10pm screening 
Saturday, July 16th: Happy Together
Thursday, July 21st: Paris Is Burning *10pm screening
Friday, July 22nd: Time Bandits
Saturday, July 23rd: Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday
Friday, July 29th: Godzilla
Saturday, July 30th: Godzilla Raids Again

Pricing: Free

What You Need to Know: Screening is first come, first serve, but advanced registration is recommended for guaranteed entry. Onsite concessions with popcorn and drinks will be available.

Moonlight and Movies

Moonlight & Movies returns and is here to stay year-round! Join them for a series of screenings inspired by the Museum’s current exhibitions, New York, New Music: 1980 – 1986 (opened June 11, 2021) and Puppets of New York (opened August 12, 2021). These films explore some of the dazzling cultural movements, fashion trends, unexpected events, and exceptional artists that defined New York’s music scene of the 1980’s and captivated the world.

Location: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street

Days/Times: Select Thursdays, Year-round. Various times in the evening.

Lineup:
June 30th: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
July 14th: Desk Set
August 11th: Man Push Cart
August 18th: Desperately Seeking Susan

Pricing: General Admission $20, Members $15

What You Need to Know: Program tickets include Museum General Admission. Select screenings will take place on the South Terrace with drinks & snacks available for purchase.

CinemaLIC at Hunters Point

CinemaLIC is a free outdoor movie event, brought to you by NestSeekers International & Hunters Point Park Conservancy, and hosted by LIC Landing. Enjoy some of the best classic and independent movies right on the waterfront in Long Island City’s Hunters Point South Park with New York City’s skyline as the backdrop.

Location: Hunters Point South Park, Center Blvd & 51st Avenue – Long Island City

Dates/Times: Through the summer. Movies start at sunset.

Lineup:
July 14th: Black Panther
August 6th: Skyfall
August 27th: Ghostbusters Afterlife
September 9th: Encanto

Pricing: Free

Downtown Alliance x  Alamo Drafthouse Movie Nights

This summer, the Downtown Alliance is teaming up with Alamo Drafthouse and Fosun to bring you Wednesday-night screenings featuring a slate of films that’ll have you hopping off that aforementioned picnic blanket for intermittent dance breaks.

Location: Fosun Plaza, 28 Liberty Street

Days/Times: Wednesdays; 6:30pm doors, 7pm screening

Lineup:
July 13th: Dirty Dancing
August 24th: La La Land
September 21st: In the Heights

Pricing: Free

What You Need to Know: Seats are provided. Alamo will have some popcorn at the ready, though you’re also welcome to bring your own food and drinks. Alamo will also have posters and their printing press at the plaza if you want to leave with some funky movie merch.

Bryant Park Movie Nights

Join Bryant Park on the lawn for the 29th season of their iconic Movie Nights, presented by Paramount + with support from Vulture. This summer, they’re also returning to their traditional schedule of 10 screenings.

Location: Bryant Park, 6th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets

Days/Times: Mondays, June 13th- August 15th. Lawn opens at 5pm, movie begins at 8pm.

The Lineup:
June 13th: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
June 20th: Creed II
June 27th: Hairspray (2007)
July 4th: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
July 11th: Wayne’s World 2
July 18th: Scream 2
July 25th: Beverly Hills Cop II
August 1st: Star Trek VIII: First Contact
August 8th: Grease 2
August 15th:  The Godfather Part II

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Food and beverage curated by Hester Street Fair will be available for purchase on the Fountain Terrace starting at 4pm. Beer and wine will be available for purchase from Stout on the eastern end of the lawn starting at 5pm.

SHOWTIME Movies in the Park with Brooklyn Magazine: Fort Greene Park

Presented by SHOWTIME and hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Magazine, and Fort Greene Park Conservancy.

Location: Fort Greene Park, 85 South Oxford Street

Days/Times: Thursdays. Movie begins at 9pm.

Lineup:
July 7th: West Side Story
July 14th: Selena
July 21st:  Crooklyn
July 28th:  Clue

Pricing: Free

What You Need to Know:  Visit the SHOWTIME table for a complimentary lawn chair while supplies last. Myrtle Lawn Opens with DJ Set at 7:30pm

SHOWTIME Movies in the Park with Brooklyn Magazine: Prospect Park

This free, outdoor movie series is presented by SHOWTIME in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Magazine, and the Prospect Park Alliance.

Location: Prospect Park, North end of the Prospect Park Long Meadow, located nearest to the Grand Army Plaza entrance

Days/Times: Wednesdays, Through August. Films will begin shortly after sundown.

Lineup:
August 3rd: Back to the Future
August 10th: Ghostbusters (1984)
August 17th: Encanto
August 24th: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Pricing: Free

What You Need to Know: Visit the SHOWTIME table for a complimentary lawn chair while supplies last.

Seaport Cinema

Seaport Cinema returns for the summer with a wide range of movie screenings on The Rooftop at Pier 17. Dates are released on a monthly basis, additional films to be announced.

Location: The Rooftop at Pier 17, 89 South Street

Days/Times: Mondays through the summer. Doors at 6pm, movie starts at 7pm

Lineup:
Monday, June 13th: Maiden
Monday, June 27th: Walk With Me
*Space Jam was postponed from June 5th, stay tuned for a new date

Check website for additional screenings. 

Pricing: Free, RSVP Required

What You Need to Know: Reservations for each movie open 2 weeks beforehand. A limited number of chairs will be made available, or you can bring your own blankets and chairs to lay out on the turf. Enjoy a limited selection of snacks and beverages (alcoholic and non-alocholic) available for purchase as well.

Governors Island

Gov­er­nors Island free out­door film screen­ings returns on the Island for sum­mer 2022. This summer’s screen­ings are curat­ed by Film at Lin­coln Cen­ter and pro­duced by Rooftop Films and will take place on the Island’s his­toric Parade Ground — an expan­sive eight-acre lawn with wide-open views of Low­er Manhattan.

Location: Governors Island, 10 South Street, Slip 7

Days/Times: Movies start at dusk.

The Lineup: 
Fri­day, September 2nd: The Wiz (1978) *Rescheduled from August 5th

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: Pre-show enter­tain­ment kick­ing off at 7pm. Food and drinks will be avail­able for pur­chase, includ­ing a beer gar­den by Threes Brew­ing along with food from Piz­za Yard and others. Round-trip fer­ry tick­ets cost $4 for adults, reserve fer­ry tick­ets in advance and take advantage of various discounts, including IDNYC hold­ers.

Films on the Green

This year’s edition of Films on the Green, with the theme “From Page to Screen,” spotlights 12 diverse and world-class literary adaptations. An exciting lineup of international cinema and a new and vibrant visual identity inspired by movie theaters and electrifying city nightlife.

Locations: Parks across Manhattan: Washington Square Park, WNYC Transmitter Park, Tompkins Square Park, Seward Park, J. Hood Wright Park, Riverside Park-Pier 1, Columbia University – Low Plaza, Msgr. McGolrick Park.

Days/Times: Mostly Fridays, through September 9th. Movies begin at sunset.

The Lineup: 
June 17th: Band of Outsiders (Bande à part)
June 24th: Le Capitan (Captain Blood)
July 1st: Touchez pas au Grisbi
July 8th: Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress (Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise)
July 13th: Fever Mounts at El Pao (la Fièvre monte à El Pao)
July 15th: The Class (Entre les murs)
July 22nd: Mandabi (The Money Order)
July 29th: Delicacy (La Délicatesse)
September 8th: The Velvet Queen (La Panthère des neiges)
September 9th: Eleanor’s Secret (Kérity, la maison des contes)

Pricing: Free

What You Should Know: All films will have English subtitles.

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