Where to Watch Free Outdoor Movies in Philadelphia This Summer
Grab a blanket and catch al fresco showings of old favorites, new favorites, and lots of family-friendly films.
Watch free outdoor movies all over Philly this summer. / Photograph courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy
When it comes to free outdoor flicks, you have a lot of options this summer. So dust off your blanket, pack some snacks and find a sweet spot to sprawl out.
Sunset Social
Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons at 129 South 30th Street
Ride the elevator to the top of the city, and gather on Cira Green for a free movie night with a view. Food and drink are available on site. Dogs are welcome. Movie nights begin at 7 p.m., while the kid-friendly Saturday matinees are at noon.
- Movie Nights (7 p.m.)
- June 4th: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
- June 11th: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
- June 18th: Wicked
- June 25th: Inside Out 2
- Saturday Matinees (noon)
- June 7th: Transformers
- June 14th: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
- June 21st: Dog Man
- June 28th: If
More TBD
Schuylkill Banks Movie Nights
Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. (then 8:15 p.m. in August). Movies are shown either at the Grays Ferry Crescent Esplanade or the lawn north of the Walnut Street Bridge. See schedule for details.
This popular Thursday-night series gets points for ambiance, setting up its big screen in a serene little spot near the Schuylkill River. Movies range from kid-friendly to throwback films. Bring your own blanket and snacks, and come early to stake out your spot and watch the sunset.
- June 12th: Groundhog Day
- June 19th: Men in Black (1997)
- June 26th: Before Sunrise
- July 10th: Paddington in Peru
- July 17th: WALL-E
- July 24th: Argo
- July 31st: The LEGO Batman Movie
- August 7th: Good Will Hunting
- August 14th: The Jungle Book (live action)
- August 21st: Top Gun Maverick
Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Movies in the Park
Neighborhood parks all around the city will be transformed into outdoor movie theaters all summer long and into the fall. There are plenty of family-friendly picks, including many screenings of Moana 2 and A Minecraft Movie. Movies are BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket) and begin at dusk. See below for the park-by-park schedule:
- June 7th: Moana 2 at Woodside Park
- June 8th: Captain America: Brave New World at Philly Pumptrack
- June 17th: Men in Black at Wister Woods
- June 18th: Inside Out 2 at Elmwood Park
- June 19th: Mufasa at Loudon Park
- June 28th: Moana 2 at Burholme Park
- July 10th: A Minecraft Movie at Inn Yard Park
- July 11th: Inside Out 2 at La Noce Park
- July 12th: Paddington in Peru at 3rd and Norris Street Playground
- July 15th: TBD at Connell Park
- July 16th: The Wild Robot at Dickinson Square
- July 17th: Moana 2 at Rainbow De Colores
- July 26th: Moana 2 at Vernon Park
- August 9th: Paddington at Thomas Hart Park
- August 16th: Moana 2 at Cliveden Park
- August 26th: TBD at Fotterall Square
- August 28th: Captain America: Brave New World at Triangle Park
- August 29th: Moana 2 at Hissey Playground
- August 30th: Inside Out 2 at Suffolk Park
- September 5th: A Minecraft Movie at Mifflin Square Park
- September 6th: Mufasa at Benson Park
- September 7th: The Wild Robot at Fitler Square Park
- September 10th: Moana 2 at Lanier Park
- September 12th: A Minecraft Movie at Powers Park
- September 13th: TBD at Fairview Park
- September 18th: A Minecraft Movie at Borski Park
- September 20th: A Minecraft Movie at Pop’s Park
- October 3rd: Wicked at McMichael Park
- October 17th: Wicked at Harrowgate Park
- October 25th: TBD at Fisher Park
Movies on the Mall
Select evenings at 5:30 p.m. on Independence Mall
This monthly, free outdoor movie series celebrates “the themes and history of Independence National Historical Park.” Before the screenings, come for family-friendly activities starting at 5:30 p.m. including 18th-century games, crafts, and free popcorn.
- June 20th: Harriet
- July 1st: Independence Day
- August 22nd: National Treasure
- September 19th: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Bartram’s Garden Family Movie Nights
Select Fridays, 8 p.m. at 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard. Screenings take place in the Upper Meadow.
Before each screening, there will be nature-based pre-movie activities with the Pennsylvania Game Commission starting at 7 p.m., and free concessions while supplies last.
PFS Movies on the Block
Philadelphia Film Society’s a free summer screening program includes pre-movie activities including performances, educational demonstrations and more. Activities start at 6:30 p.m., and movie screenings begin around 8:30 p.m.
- June 21st: Ne Zha at Chinatown Community Park (227 North 11th Street)
- June 28th: Sister Act 2 at Carroll Park (1299 North 59th Street)
- July 18th: Lilo and Stitch (2002) at Lighthouse Sports Complex (101 East Erie Avenue)
- August 1st: Inside Out 2 at Belfield Recreation Center (2109 West Chew Avenue)
- August 8th: Ralph Breaks the Internet at Universal Daroff Charter School (5630 Vine Street)
- August 15th: Encanto at Houston Playground (900 Grakyn Lane)
Movies in Clark Park
Fridays in August at sundown at Clark Park, 4300 Baltimore Avenue
On Friday nights in August, bring your own blankets and gather in West Philly’s main quad.
- August 1st: The Goonies
- August 8th: Clueless
- August 15th: Madagascar
- August 22nd: Creed
Outdoor movies at the Oval / Photograph by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
The Oval
Eakins Oval
TBD, but the Parkway’s summertime pop-up park is planning to reopen soon-ish. Details are scant — aside from the return of Libertee Grounds mini golf! — but if it’s anything like previous years, you can expect some outdoor movie nights happening at the Oval this summer, too.
More Outdoor Movie Screenings That Aren’t Free, But Are Worth It
Laurel Hill Cemetery
June 13th and July 11th, 8:30 a.m. at Laurel Hill East, 3822 Ridge Avenue.
Pack a picnic and BYO blankets or lawn chairs for movie screenings in a historic cemetery, presented by Philadelphia Film Society and Friends of Laurel Hill. Before the 8:30 p.m. screenings, there will be a pop-up market of local vendors at 7 p.m., and trivia inspired by the movie at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, with discounts for kids, seniors, students and members.
- June 13th: Eraserhead
- July 11th: Death Becomes Her
Movies @ The Mann
June 20th and July 24th, 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) at the Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue
The Movies @ The Mann series is truly a unique entry in this list, because it pairs an outdoor movie experience with a live Philadelphia Orchestra performance. While you watch the film, they perform the score! Here’s what they’ve got planned:
- June 20th: Star Wars: A New Hope
- July 24th: A Championship Season. Hosted by Merrill Reese. With the Eagles Cheerleaders and Swoop.
