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Where to Catch Outdoor Movies in Philly All Summer Long

Grab a blanket and catch a flick outside with your family!

Now that summer’s here, we look forward to lots of outdoor time, and that includes summer nights outside on a blanket under the stars! Outdoor movie nights are such fun ways to get together as a family (and as a community) and enjoy a movie in a relaxed setting. If you’re anything like us and barely get to the movie theater anymore, this is a great way to see some new movies too!

 

Note that not all movies are exactly kid-friendly, so be sure to check our lists and plan accordingly.

Bartram’s Garden Family Outdoor Movie Nights

One Friday night each month, at dusk
5400 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia

 

These free outdoor monthly family movie nights also include free popcorn, lemonade, and water. Come early for a family tour of the gardens!

 

May 25: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
June 29: The Wiz
July 20: The Jungle Book
August 31: Peter Rabbit
September 21: The Good Dinosaur

The Piazza at Schmidt’s Commons

Thursday nights through July, 7 pm or 8 pm (see website for details), plus a bonus extra on June 29
1001 N. Second St., Philadelphia

 

Bring your own chair and enjoy a new movie each week on the Jumbotron in the Piazza at Schmidt’s. These screenings are every Thursday night, but the week of Wawa Welcome America, there will be an extra movie on June 29 as well!

 

May 31: Coco
June 7: The Greatest Showman
June 14: Casablanca
June 21: Pitch Perfect 3
June 28: Spiderman: Homecoming
June 29: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
July 5: Blade Runner
July 12: Rocky
July 19: The Sound of Music
July 26: Wonder Woman

First Friday Movies Under the Stars and Stripes

First Friday of the month, from June—October (plus an extra on June 15)
Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St., Philadelphia

 

Enjoy $5 admission, 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! Other than the outlier June 15 (which isn’t even a first Friday, and features Wonder Woman), the movies are all vintage sci-fi horror B-movies, so maybe leave very small kids at home (but older kids will probably get a kick out of the kitsch). Movies start after sundown, so as it gets to be fall they begin earlier in the night. Check the website for showtimes.

 

June 1: Attack of the Giant Leeches
June 15: Wonder Woman
July 6: The Giant Claw
August 3: Invaders from Space
September 7: Revenge of the Creature
October 5: Bucket of Blood and Night of the Living Dead (double feature)

Movies @ The Mann

June 2; July 20, 24, and 26, 7:30 pm
Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., Philadelphia

 

The “Movies @ The Mann” series is truly a unique entry in this list, because it pairs an outdoor movie experience with a live performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra. While you watch the film, the orchestra performs the score! Bring a picnic and the whole family! There’s an extra special performance on July 24 to celebrate the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship along with the Eagles Cheerleaders and Swoop—plus it’s a sensory-friendly performance benefiting the Eagles Autism Challenge.

 

June 2: Jaws
July 20: Star Wars: A New Hope
July 24: A Championship Season celebrates the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win (sensory-friendly performance)
July 26: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

La Peg’s Louis Bluver Outdoor Movie Series

Wednesdays from June—August, 8:30 pm
Haas Biergarten underneath the Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia

 

For this summer’s movie series, June’s theme is “High School,” July’s theme is “90s Action Movies,” and August’s theme is “Summer Camp.” There’s also food available on site, and for grown-ups, each movie will be paired with a special cocktail you can buy at the outdoor bar!

 

June 6: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
June 13: Can’t Hardly Wait
June 20: Mean Girls
June 27: 10 Things I Hate About You
July 11: Men in Black
July 18: Con Air
July 25: The Fifth Element
August 1: Moonrise Kingdom
August 8: The Parent Trap
August 15: Wet Hot American Summer

Schuylkill Banks

Thursdays at 8 pm, beginning June 7
Walnut Street Bridge or Wharton Street, depending on the date, Philadelphia

 

The Schuylkill Banks will host 10 movie nights by the river. From new releases like Black Panther to classics like Casablanca, they have a whole range of films. Note that not all the selections are exactly kid-favorites, but for all-ages fun, there will be Coco on July 19 and Moana on July 26. Some screenings take place on the east (South Philly) side of the Schuylkill by Wharton Street, while others will be under the Walnut Street Bridge. See their schedule for details.

 

June 7: Beetlejuice
June 14: Going in Style
June 21: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
June 28: The Fifth Element
July 12: Casablanca
July 19: Coco
July 26: Moana
August 2: Black Panther
August 9 : Silver Linings Playbook

 Manayunk Stroll the Street

Select Thursdays from June—August, 5—9:30 pm
Main Street, Manayunk

 

On Thursday nights this summer, Manayunk throws a weekly summer block party with food trucks, activities, specials at local shops, and more. Certain weeks include a movie too!

 

June 7: Zootopia
June 28: The Secret Life of Pets
July 19: Wonder Woman
July 26: Elf (Christmas in July)
August 23: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Summer Movies at Ryerss in Burholme Park

June 20, July 18, August 15, and October 6
7370 Central Ave., Philadelphia

 

Come early, because two hours before the movie there will be games, refreshments, face painting, and free admission to Ryerss Museum and Library (plus $5 tours of the museum’s cupola). Bonus: on the July 18 movie night, there will also be Parks on Tap!

 

June 20, 9 pm: Beauty and the Beast
July 18, 8:30 pm: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (plus Parks on Tap)
August 15, 8 pm: The LEGO Batman Movie
October 6, 7 pm: Coco

Mt. Airy Moonlight Movies

Select Fridays and Saturdays from June—August, movies begin at sunset
Lovett Park, Pleasant Playground, or New Covenant Campus on Fridays; Trolley Car Diner on Saturdays

 

Friday nights will feature a rotating location, and activities like storytime and book swap starting at 6:30 pm. Saturday nights will take place at Trolley Car Diner, so grab some dinner and ice cream before the show!

 

June 8: Big Hero 6 at Lovett Park (6945 Germantown Ave.)
June 9: Queen of Katwe at Trolley Car Diner (7619 Germantown Ave.)
June 15: Coraline at Lovett Park
June 23: Rio at Trolley Car Diner
June 29: A Wrinkle in Time at Pleasant Playground (6757 Chew Ave.)
July 7: Kung Fu Panda at Trolley Car Diner
July 13: Coco at Pleasant Playground
July 21: Hugo at Trolley Car Diner
July 27: Ratatouille at New Covenant Campus (7500 Germantown Ave.)
August 4:  Ferdinand at Trolley Car Diner
August 10: Black Panther at New Covenant Campus
August 18: The Princess and the Frog at Trolley Car Diner

Wawa Welcome America’s Philly @ The Movies

June 28—July 2, 7 pm (5 pm on June 30 and July 2)
Various locations

 

As part of the week-long Welcome America July Fourth celebration, there will be free movies around town for five nights in a row. Note that two of these dates are indoor venues, and start at 5 pm instead of 7 pm. Before the movies, there will be fun activities—for example, before Rocky, there will be a “boot camp” and a look-alike competition for the best Rocky impersonator!

 

June 28, 7 pm: The Nutty Professor at Dell Music Center
June 29, 7 pm: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial at Piazza at Schmidt’s
June 30, 5 pm: SING! at Pennsylvania Convention Center
July 1, 7 pm: Rocky on the Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
July 2, 5 pm:  Pitch Perfect at Xfinity Live!

Penn’s Landing Screenings Under the Stars

Thursdays in July, 8:30 pm; in August, 8 pm
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia

 

Every Thursday night in July and August, a different film will be screened outdoors on a big screen at Penn’s Landing for free. Movies range from recent blockbusters to all time classics and are all family friendly.

 

July 5: Justice League
July 12: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
July 19: Mission: Impossible III
July 26: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
August 2: Austin Powers in Goldmember
August 9: Black Panther
August 16: A Wrinkle in Time
August 23: Coco
August 30: Despicable Me 3

Riverfront North’s Free Outdoor Movie Nights

Thursdays from July 19—August 16, 8 pm
Pennypack on the Delaware Park, 7750 State Road, Philadelphia

 

All movies start at sundown. Bring your own blankets, chairs, and food.

 

July 19: The Little Mermaid
July 26: A Bug’s Life
August 2: Ghostbusters
August 9: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
August 16: Back to the Future

Dilworth Park’s Pictures in the Park

Fridays in July and August, 8:30 pm
1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia

 

Spend Friday evenings in July and August watching movies on the big screen in Dilworth Park. Come early to splash in the fountains, get some dinner at the café, and even play some movie trivia!

 

July 20: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
July 27: A Wrinkle in Time
August 3: Black Panther
August 10: Ready Player One
August 17: The Greatest Showman
August 24: Wonder Woman

The Oval+

Friday nights from July 20—August 17, 9 pm
2451 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

 

This pop-up park will host Food and Flicks Fridays, with a DJ spinning tunes and food trucks serving dinner starting at 5 pm, and the movie beginning at 9 pm. While you wait for the movie, you can also play in the sandbox or grab a beer (or boozy water ice) at the beer garden!

 

July 20: The Greatest Showman
July 27: Battle of the Sexes
August 3: Karate Kid
August 10: Wayne’s World
August 17: Creed

 Franklin Square: Friday Night at the Movies

July 27 and August 24, 8:30 pm
200 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia

 

Franklin Square will host kids’ movies on the Great Lawn! Enjoy a beautiful night in the square, play some golf, ride the carousel, then round out your night with a free movie.

 

July 27: The Lion King
August 24: Coco

Chestnut Hill Movies Under the Stars

August 3, 10, 17, and 24, 8 pm (food trucks start at 7 pm)
The Water Tower Recreation Center Field, 209 E. Hartwell Lane, Philadelphia

 

Enjoy popular films on the lawn of the Water Tower Recreation Center projected from a 28-foot screen. Bring your family, friends, blankets, and lawn chairs. Movie titles TBA.

 Movies in Clark Park

Fridays from August 10–31, 8 pm
4300-4398 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia

 

The park will transform into an outdoor amphitheater to showcase a great lineup of films projected on a giant screen for the entire family to enjoy. Families can enjoy food and dessert offerings from a rotating list of vendors, beginning around 6pm, as well as extra activities and promotions before the screenings.

 

August 10: Back to the Future
August 17: Coco
August 24: A Wrinkle in Time
August 31: Black Panther

More: Movies in the Park

More than a dozen Philly parks will host free movie nights all summer long and into the fall, thanks to Fairmount Park Conservancy. The movies begin at dusk, and take place all over the city.

 

June 21: Black Panther at Loudoun Park (4650 Germantown Avenue)
July 10: Coco at Penn Treaty Park (Columbia Avenue and Beach Street)
July 14: Black Panther at Overington Park (4600 Leiper Street)
July 25: Coco at Mifflin Square Park (500 Wolf Street)
August 3: A Bug’s Life at Pleasant Hill Park (Linden and Delaware Avenues)
August 3: Black Panther at Cliveden Park (6737 Germantown Avenue)
August 4: Iron Man 2 at Rainbow de Colores Park (2326 N. Fifth Street)
August 8: Moana at Fisher Park (571 W. Spencer Street)
August 11: Avengers: Infinity War at Hunting Park (1101 W. Hunting Park Avenue)
August 16: Zootopia at Inn Yard Park (4208 Ridge Avenue)
August 17: Inside Out at Pennypack Park (Pine Road to Delaware River)
August 18: Black Panther at Triangle Park (5423 Upland Way)
August 23: Black Panther at Hart Park (1315 N. Fourth Street)
August 25: Coco at 1477 N. Fourth Street)
September 7: Coco at Powers Park (2601 E. Ann Street)
September 8: Coco at Shot Tower Recreation Center (101 Carpenter Street)
September 14: Solo: A Star Wars Story at Coxe Park (2134 Cherry Street)
October 5: WALL-E at Tacony Creek Park (Sides of Tacony Creek)

 

Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.

Contributing Writer

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