Where to Watch Free Outdoor Movies in Philadelphia This Summer
Grab a blanket and catch al fresco showings of old favorites, Spider-Man in his many forms, and lots of Encanto.
Catch some free outdoor movies around town this summer. / Photograph by Marisa Fischetti for Center City District.
When it comes to free outdoor flicks, you have a lot of options this summer. Especially if you want to see Encanto — people are talking about Bruno all around town this season. So dust off your blanket, pack some snacks and find a sweet spot to sprawl out.
Schuylkill Banks Movie Nights
Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Some screenings take place on Grays Ferry Crescent, while others will be just 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. Bring your own blanket and snacks, and come early to stake out your spot, watch the sunset, or take a riverboat cruise or kayak tour.
- June 23rd: Star Wars: A New Hope
- June 30th: Dazed and Confused
- July 7th: The Maltese Falcon
- July 14th: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- July 21st: Encanto
- July 28th: Super 8
- August 4th: Free Guy
- August 11th: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
- August 18th: The American President
Sunset Social
Wednesdays, 6 p.m.; 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. Lawn games begin at 5 p.m., and movies begin at 6 p.m. Food and drink are available on site. Bonus: Come Saturday afternoons for cartoons on the big screen! The movies are announced monthly, so check their site for more of the lineup as it comes.
- June 29th: Jungle Cruise
- July 4th: National Treasure
- July 6th: Godzilla vs. Kong
- July 13th: The Fifth Element
- July 20th: The Lion King (2019)
- July 27th: Moana
- August 3rd: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
- August 10th: Mary Poppins Returns
- August 17th: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- August 24th: Jumanji: The Next Level
- August 31st: Thor: Ragnarok
- September 7th: Pirates of the Caribbean: at World’s End
- September 14th: The Dark Knight
- September 21st: Avengers: Age of Ultron
- September 28th: Beetlejuice
Mount Airy Moonlight Movies
Final Fridays, multiple locations
Bring your family, friends, blankets, and lawn chairs for family-friendly flicks around Mount Airy. Some locations are TBA so be sure to check their schedule as it gets closer.
- June 24th, 8:30 p.m.: The Lion King (2019) at Lovett Park
- July 29th, 8:15 p.m.: Despicable Me at Cliveden Park
- August 26th, 7:30 p.m.: Spider-Man: No Way Home at Pleasant Playground
- September 30th, 6:45 p.m.: Coco, Location TBA
Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Movies in the Park
Neighborhood parks all around the city will be transformed into outdoor movie theaters all summer long, with plenty of family-friendly picks (and lots of Encanto). Movies are BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket) and begin at dusk. See below for the park-by-park schedule:
- June 23rd: Encanto at Loudoun Park
- July 2nd: Encanto at Elmwood Park and Fernhill Park
- July 8th: Encanto at McMichael Park
- July 21st: Sing 2 at Inn Yard Park
- July 22nd: Encanto at Harrowgate Park
- July 29th: Finding Nemo at Hagert Playground
- August 10th: Space Jam: A New Legacy at Lanier Park
- August 18th: The Croods: A New Age at Williams Moore Reed Memorial Park
- August 19th: Big Hero 6 at Overington Park
- August 20th: Raya and the Last Dragon at Cliveden Park
- August 25th: WALL-E at Matthias Baldwin Park
- August 26th: Encanto at Mifflin Square Park
- September 16th: Encanto at Coxe Park
- September 17th: Encanto at Fairview Park
- September 19th: Clifford the Big Red Dog at Benson Park
- September 22nd: The Wiz at Gilbert Stuart Park
- September 30th: Encanto at Northwood Park
- October 1st: Big Hero 6 at Powers Park
Movies @ FringeArts
Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., Haas Biergarten, La Peg, FringeArts, 140 North Columbus Boulevard
La Peg’s Wednesday-night movie series lets you sip a beer and watch an old favorite, plus play movie-themed quizzo! There’s on-site food and drinks, so no outside snacks are allowed.
- July 6th: Point Break
- July 13th: Fast Times at Ridgemont High
- July 20th: Gremlins
- July 27th: Almost Famous
- August 3: Detroit Rock City
Pictures in the Park
Summer: Fridays at 8:15 p.m., Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street
September: Fridays at 7 p.m., Sister Cities Park, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Once the skating rink leaves on July 17th, the park plans even more free activities, including concerts and movie nights. Here’s the lineup:
- July 22nd: Cruella
- July 29th: In The Heights
- August 5th: Spider-Man: No Way Home
- August 12th: Ghostbusters: Afterlife
- August 19th: Jungle Cruise
- August 26th: King Richard
- September 9th: Raya and the Last Dragon
- September 16th: Sing 2
- September 23rd: Luca
- September 30th: Encanto
Movies in Clark Park
Fridays in August at sundown, 4300 Baltimore Avenue
On Friday nights in August, bring your own blankets and gather in West Philly’s main quad. This year’s movies all have music at their center.
- August 5th: Summer of Soul
- August 12th: Wayne’s World
- August 19th: Pixar’s Soul
- August 26th: West Side Story (2021)
2 More That Aren’t Free, But Are Worth It
Movies @ The Mann
The Movies @ The Mann series is truly a unique entry in this list, because it pairs an outdoor movie experience with a live orchestra performance. While you watch the film, a band or orchestra performs the score! Tickets available online.
- July 23rd, 8 p.m.: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with the Philadelphia Orchestra
- August 11th, 8 p.m.: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi with the Philly POPS
- August 16th, 7:30 p.m.: Encanto sing-along with a live band
- September 29th, 7:30 p.m.: The Godfather with the Philly POPS
First Friday Movies Under the Stars and Stripes
First Fridays; Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street
Enjoy $8 admission (note that this series, unlike most, is not free), a tour of the Betsy Ross House, and a movie in the courtyard. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, and bring food and a bottle of wine to watch the movie! The movies are all vintage sci-fi horror B-movies, and start after sundown, so they begin earlier in the night as the series goes on. Tickets available online.
- July 1st, 8:45 p.m.: Robot Monster
- August 5th, 8:30 p.m.: It Conquered the World
- September 2nd, 7:45 p.m.: The Amazing Colossal Man
