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.
Outdoor movies on Independence Mall in Philadelphia’s Old City / Photograph by Hope Daluisio for Visit Philly
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.
Movies on the Mall
Select evenings at 5:30 p.m. on Independence Mall
This 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 — and free popcorn!
- June 19th: Harriet
- August 21st: National Treasure
- August 22nd: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
- September 19th: Hamilton
- October 16th: Hocus Pocus
Penn Treaty Pictures
Select evenings at sundown in Penn Treaty Park, 1301 North Beach Street
The pop-up cinema collective returns to Penn Treaty Park this summer, partnering with partnering with Secret Handshake Vintage, VHS Club, and Sights & Sounds to curate an eclectic lineup including samurai, horror, and more to discover. Screenings start at sundown, but come early for for DJs, local vendors, and prizes at 7 p.m.
- June 20th: Sword of Doom and Shogun Assassin
- June 27th: Excalibur
- July 11th: Desert Hearts and The Green Ray
- July 25th: Point Break
- August 7th: Wild Style
- August 8th: The Lovers on the Bridge
- August 22nd: The Swimmer
- August 29th: Midnight Run and Rolling Thunder
- September 5th: Rockers
- September 12th: 12 Monkeys
- September 26th: The Warriors
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 Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Hoppers. Movies are BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket) and begin at dusk. See below for the park-by-park schedule:
- June 20th: Superman (2025) at Benson Park
- June 24th: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants at Gold Star Park
- June 25th: Rear Window at McMichael Park (rescheduled)
- June 26th: Hoppers at Thomas Stokley Playground
- July 9th: Hoppers at Rainbow de Colores
- July 17th: Hoppers at Hope Park (starts at 7 p.m.)
- August 1st: Sarah’s Oil at Thomas Hart Park
- August 7th: Zootopia 2 at Carpenter Green
- August 8th: A Minecraft Movie at 3rd & Norris Street Playground
- August 13th: Goat at Triangle Park
- August 14th: Zootopia 2 at Whitaker
- August 20th: Goat at Mifflin Square Park
- August 21st: Hoppers at Fotterall Square
- September 9th: Zootopia 2 at Lanier Park
- September 10th: You, Me & Tuscany at Loudoun Park
- September 11th: Goat at Ridgway Park
- September 12th: Zootopia 2 at Fairview Park
- September 18th: Zootopia 2 at Palmer Park
- September 18th: Hoppers at Dickinson Square Park
- September 19th: Hoppers at Pop’s Park
- September 26th: When Harry Met Sally at Inn Yard Park
- October 2nd: Zootopia 2 at McMichael Park
- October 16th: A Minecraft Movie at Harrowgate Park
Watch free outdoor movies all over Philly this summer. / Photograph courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy
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 6 p.m., while the kid-friendly Saturday matinees are at noon.
- Movie Nights (6 p.m.)
- July 1st: Jaws
- July 8th: Zootopia 2
- July 15th: Creed
- July 22nd: Happy Gilmore
- July 29th: Iron Man
- August 5th: Pitch Perfect
- August 12th: Project Hail Mary
- August 19th: Godzilla
- August 26th: The Devil Wears Prada 2
- September 2nd: Wicked
- September 9th: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Saturday Matinees (noon)
- June 27th: Ice Age
- July 4th: How to Train Your Dragon
- July 11th: Encanto
- July 18th: Ponyo
- July 25th: Paddington in Peru
- August 1st: Rango
- August 8th: The Little Prince
- August 15th: Elio
- August 22nd: Remember the Titans
- August 29th: Kiki’s Delivery Service
- September 5th: Toy Story 3
- September 12th: The Lorax
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 lean heavily into throwback. (A League of Their Own! Jaws!) Bring your own blanket and snacks, and come early to stake out your spot and watch the sunset.
- July 9th: Dirty Dancing
- July 16th: A League of Their Own
- July 23rd: Office Space
- July 30th: Before Sunrise
- August 6th: The LEGO Batman Movie
- August 13th: Jaws
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.
- July 10th: Good Burger at Tustin Recreation Center, 5901 West Columbia Avenue. Pre-movie activities include back-to-school giveaways, a book raffle, and literacy activities from Read to Succeed
- July 31st: Raya and the Last Dragon at Guerin Recreation Center, 2201 South 16th Street
- August 8th: Wonder at Alain Locke School, 4550 Haverford Avenue
- August 21st: Men in Black at 12th and Cambria Recreation Center, 2901 North 12th Street
- August 22nd: The Incredibles at Holman Field, 6309 Cherokee Street
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. The theme for this year’s series is “Freedom,” and the lineup expresses it in vastly different ways, from sci-fi to biopic.
- August 7th: A League of Their Own
- August 14th: Harriet
- August 21st: Zootopia 2
- August 28th: The Matrix
Chestnut Hill’s Movies Under The Stars
Fridays in August at 8 p.m. at Water Tower Recreation Center, 209 East Hartwell Lane
Bring your own blankets and chairs to Water Tower Rec Center’s terraced lawn to watch movies on the 26-foot-tall screen on Friday nights in August.
- August 7th: The Sandlot
- August 14th: Hamilton
- August 21st: Bend It Like Beckham
- August 28th: The Princess Bride
More Outdoor Movie Screenings That Aren’t Free, But Are Worth It
An outdoor movie screening at Philly’s historic Laurel Hill Cemetery / Photograph by Stephanie Ramones, Contigo Photography
Movies @ Highmark Mann
June 20th and July 24th, 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) at the Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue
The Mann’s movie 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: The Lion King
- July 24th: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Betsy Ross House: 1776
July 3rd at 9 p.m. (pre-show activities at 8:30 p.m.) in the Betsy Ross House courtyard, 239 Arch Street
Ring in America’s 250th in style with a movie under the stars — and stripes. There’ll be a Colonial costume contest, trivia with prizes, interactive props, and full-on sing-alongs to this very apt movie musical screening. Tickets are $25, but include a tour of Betsy Ross House, plus pizza and snacks. Plus, it’s BYOB! But wait, there’s more: After the movie, there will be an “epic countdown and Liberty Bell drop” to ring in America’s 250th birthday at midnight.
Laurel Hill Cemetery: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
August 21st, 8:30 a.m. at Laurel Hill East, 3822 Ridge Avenue
Pack a picnic and BYO blankets or lawn chairs for a movie screening in a historic cemetery, presented by Philadelphia Film Society and Friends of Laurel Hill. Before the 8:30 p.m. screening, there will be a pop-up market of local vendors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, with discounts for kids, seniors, students and members.
