Outdoor Movies in NYC: all the free screenings to see this summer

Bryant Park’s big screen will light up summer nights in Midtown on select nights through August 11. These summertime screenings are very popular, so Bryant Park recommends getting there at 6pm in order to snag a good spot. However, we suggest getting there even earlier, like 5pm, when the lawn opens for picnicking. 

Check out all of the top-notch titles you'll be able to watch for free this summer at Bryant Park:

• June 9: Pretty in Pink 
• June 16: The Wood 
• June 23: Kinky Boots
• June 30: Stand by Me
• July 7: Good Will Hunting 
• July 14: Interstellar 
• July 21: Ghost 
• July 28: Pulp Fiction
• August 4: Blades of Glory 
• August 11: The Godfather

For more information on the screenings and other free programming at Bryant Park, visit their website.

Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn are back for the 2025 season from June 13–August 27. The series features 16 free weekly screenings in four prized public spaces across the borough: McCarren Park, Fort Greene Park, Coney Island and Prospect Park.

All films will begin shortly after sundown, and there will be complimentary popcorn and candy provided for RSVP holders at screenings (first come, first served while supplies last). 

Here's the full schedule: 

This year’s theme for the Movies with a View summer series is "Women in Hollywood," with movies made by and starring famous leading ladies like Judy Garland, Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and more.

These free screenings—which will be held every Thursday in July and August at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn—draw big crowds, so it’s best to arrive early. The lawn opens at 6pm, with opening credits rolling at sunset; however, spots are on a first-come, first served basis. 

Remember that chairs are not allowed, but you can always pack a picnic blanket or personal-sized, stadium-style cushions (without legs or hard feet) to get cozy during your favorite flick

Here's the full lineup:

• July 10: Bottoms
• July 17: Alien
• July 24: Waitress
• July 31: The Matrix
• August 7: The Wizard of Oz 
• August 14: Trainwreck
• August 21: Hidden Figures
• August 28: Public Choice: Vote for Julie & Julia, Marie Antoinette, or Pretty in Pink

Many free outdoor movie screenings are taking place all over town this summer, but none boast an ambiance quite like that of the Intrepid Museum's Summer Movie Series. After all, you get to watch some awesome movies while hanging out on the aircraft carrier's flight deck at sunset. How cool!

This year's films dive deep into the mysteries of the ocean, inspired by the museum's newest exhibition, Mysteries From the Deep: Underwater Archaeology. From high-seas adventures to underwater discoveries, each movie explores humanity's fascination with the deep.

Here is the upcoming schedule:

• June 27: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
• July 25: The Abyss
• August 22: Atlantis: The Lost Empire

The movie will be played on a huge inflatable screen, so there's not a bad seat in the house. Doors open at 5pm and the movie starts at sunset. Fair warning: the spots fill up fast, so make sure to get there pretty early! Make sure to bring some blankets and lawn chairs along. You can also bring your own food and drinks (alcohol is not permitted, though), and light snacks will be sold at the event. 

We'll never turn down an opportunity to watch a movie under the stars, especially when it's free and open to the public. You'll enjoy exactly that with the Bond With Brooklyn Movie Series coming to Prospect Heights this July, sponsored by TF Cornerstone.

The first-come, first-served screening series will run for four weeks, from July 7 through 28, on the central lawn between 595 Dean St and 645 Dean St. Among the crowd-pleasing titles is Amanda Bynes comedy She's the Man, animated favorite The Iron Giant, cult classic Ghost World and spy farce Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with each title beginning at sunset.

Tired of spending hours scrolling Netflix for the perfect movie to watch at night? Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and the Union Square Partnership have you covered with Movies in the Square. On four select Thursday evenings, Union Square Park's North Plaza will turn into a  free cinema. Here's the lineup: 

• July 24: The Muppets Take Manhattan 
• July 31: Men in Black
• August 7: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
• August 14: 13 Going on 30 (2004)

With the Williamsburg Bridge soaring in the background and the Manhattan skyline twinkling beyond it, Movie Nights in the Square at Domino Park will screen two movies a night every other Tuesday (no matter the weather, so be prepared).

Each movie night will include a family-friendly 4pm screening and a 7pm screening that explores New York City from the 1980s through the 2010s. A DJ set will play between movies at 6 p.m. for those who want to make it a double feature. 

Here's the lineup: 

• June 9: A Night at the Museum, followed Big 
• July 29: Elf and Party Girl
• August 12: The Secret Life of Pets and Rent
• August 26: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and the all-star Ocean’s 8

On Wednesday evenings this summer, free outdoor movies will once again light up Nolita's sculpture-filled sanctuary of Elizabeth Street Garden at 8pm sharp. And no, there’s no ticketing system—it’s first come, first spread-out.

This summer’s lineup blends whimsy, classics, and cult hits with its lineup:

• July 9: Arrietty
• July 23: Hairspray (1988)
• August 6: Laura (1944)
• August 20: The Royal Tenenbaums.

The New York City Parks & Recreation and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment present the all-summer-long film festival Movies Under the Stars. The festival spans all five boroughs, so you can definitely find a screening near you.

Weeknight or weekend, enjoy the epitome of New York City in the summertime. Movie Under the Stars features dozens of film screenings, from family-friendly new additions to old-time classics. The festival reserves chairs for seniors and people with disabilities.

Check out the full list here with a handy map, so you can find your neighborhood's screenings.