The Best NYC Outdoor Movies: Summer 2019 - The Adventuring Millennial

There are so many free outdoor movies to enjoy in NYC this summer. Browse the list and plan your perfect movie night. Pack your picnic and you are ready to go!

Plus, all of these NYC outdoor movies are FREE!

Movie Nights at Bryant Park

Bryant Park hosts the city’s most iconic outdoor movie series. Arrive early (the lawn opens at 5:00 pm) to secure a spot. Bring a blanket and snacks. Food and wine are also available from carts surrounding the lawn. For more about Bryant Park movies nights + other summer events, check out my complete guide to Bryant Park.

June 10: Big
June 17: Big Daddy
June 24: Fan Choice: Vote on Twitter @vulture starting June
July 8: Carrie (1976)
July 15: Bad Boys
July 22: Coming To America
July 29: Goodfellas
August 5: Anchorman
August 12: Fan Choice: Vote on Twitter @vulture starting July 22

Movie Series at the Intrepid Museum

Enjoy a movie from the flight deck of the USS Intrepid. Doors open at 5:00 pm and close at 8:30 pm. While you wait for the movie to start, enjoy views of the Hudson and NYC skyline. Bring a picnic and blanket!

June 21: APOLLO 11 Documentary
July 19: First Man (this movie will be on the pier not the flight deck)
August 16: Community choice pick

Films on the Green

This is a free French film festival held in various parks around NYC. All movies are shown with English subtitles. All movies start at 8:30 pm.

June 7: Where Do We Go Now? (Washington Square Park)
June 10: Minuscule, Valley of the Lost Ants (McGolrick Park)
June 14: In Safe Hands (Washington Square Park)
June 21: Peppermint Soda (Transmitter Park)
June 28: Mustang (Transmitter Park)
July 5: Tomboy (Tompkins Square Park)
July 10: The Amazing Catfish (J. Hood Wright Park)
July 12: Aya of Yop City (Tompkins Square Park)
July 19: Sequins (70th St Pier)
July 26: Chocolat (70th St Pier)
August 31: Jacquot de Nantes (Fort Lee Community Center, NJ)
September 3: Olivia (Columbia University, Low Memorial Library Steps) *this film starts at 7:30 pm*

CinemaLIC

CinemaLIC shows monthly outdoor movies in Long Island City’s Hunters Point South Park. The movies begin at sunset but people arrive early to secure a spot. The cafe nearby stays open serving snacks, ice cream, and alcoholic beverages.

June 22: Crazy Rich Asians
July 18: Dirty Dancing
August 15: Jaws
September 7: Mary Poppins Returns

Movies With A View

This popular NYC Outdoor Movies festival is held in Brooklyn’s Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn. You can enjoy food from Smorgasburg while you wait for the movies to start. It’s hard to beat the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline! The event starts at 6.

July 11: Pariah
July 18: Girlfight
July 25: It Happened One Night
August 1: Crooklyn
August 8: The Big Lebowski
August 15: An American Tail
August 22: Selma
August 29: Movies with a View Public Vote

Randall’s Island

Most of the movies on Randall’s Island start at 8:30 unless otherwise specified.

June 8: Mary Poppins Returns
June 15: Black Panther
July 14: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
July 28: Tangled
August 11: Crazy Rich Asians (8:00 pm)
August 18: Ralph Breaks the Internet (8:00 pm)
September 8: Creed II (7:30 pm)

Hudson River Flicks

This film series is held on both Pier 63 and Pier 46.

Pier 46: Family Friendly Movies

These movies start at 8:30 pm (or dusk). Pack a picnic and enjoy these animated favorites.

July 12 – Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
July 19 – Ralph Breaks the Internet
July 26 – Lego Movie 2
August 2 – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
August 9 – Incredibles 2
August 16 – How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World
August 23 – Trolls

Pier 63: Iconic NYC Movies

These movies start at 8:30 pm (or dusk).

July 10 – The Warriors
July 17 – When Harry Met Sally
July 24 – Moonstruck
July 31 – Do The Right Thing
August 7 – Tootsie
August 14 – The Last Dragon
August 21 – Big

Governors Island

You can purchase food and drinks from the island’s vendors before the films start. Pre-show entertainment begins at 6:00 pm and movies are shown at dusk. Each feature film is preceded by a short.

June 14: Men in Black, preceded by Mr. Yellow Sweatshirt
July 12: After Hours, preceded by Ada
August 9: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, preceded by To the Unknown

MOCA Cinema at Columbus Park

NYC Parks and the Museum of Chinese in America are hosting a free film festival in June. Movies begin at dusk in Columbus Park Ball Field. Chairs are prohibited, so bring a blanket or towel to sit on.

June 7: Kung Fu Panda
June 14: The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West
June 21: The Joy Luck Club
June 28: Crazy Rich Asians

Films at the Lincoln Center: The 50th Mixtape

This movie series in Lincoln Center is a free doubleheader. Each night, a classic movie is shown followed by a contemporary movie.

June 27 – Cléo from 5 to 7 (6:00 pm) and The Portrait of a Lady (9:00 pm)
July 11 – Two English Girls (6:00 pm) and Mulholland Dr. (8:45 pm)
July 18 – Come Drink with Me (6:00 pm) and The Assassin (8:00 pm)
July 25 – The Leopard (6:00 pm) and Happy as Lazzaro (9:30 pm)
August 1 – Stalker (6:00 pm) and High Life (9:15 pm)
August 8 – School Daze (6:00 pm) and Sorry to Bother You (8:30 pm)
August 15 – Nocturama (6:00 pm) and Burning (8:45 pm)
August 22 – Demonlover (6:00 pm) and Elle (8:45 pm)
August 29 – Velvet Goldmine (6:00 pm) and Her Smell (8:30 pm)
September 5 – Three Times (6:00 pm) and Moonlight (8:30 pm)
September 11 – Audience Choice

Summer on the Hudson: Pier I Picture Show

The free NYC outdoor movie series takes place on Pier 1 in Riverside Park. Seating opens at 6:30 pm and the movies begin around 8:30 pm.

July 10: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
July 17: The Darjeeling Limited
July 24: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
July 31: Little Miss Sunshine
August 7: Kubo and the Two Strings
August 14: Life of Pi
August 21: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Socrates Sculpture Park

This film series celebrates international movies. Each movie is shown in its original language with English subtitles. Entertainment begins at 7:00 pm and the movies are shown at dusk.

July 3: Cielo
July 10: Purple Noon
July 17: Anbessa
July 24: The Story of the Weeping Camel
July 31: En El Séptimo Día
August 7: Dark Toons
August 14: La Ciénaga
August 21: March of the Penguins

Movies on the Waterfront

Movies start at dusk and are shown in the Astoria Park Lawn.

July 22: Singin’ in the Rain
July 29: Clueless
August 5: Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
August 12: Incredibles 2

Central Park Conservancy Film Festival

This film festival takes place on the green area between Sheep Meadow and the 72nd Street Cross Drive. Gates open at 6:30 pm.

August 13: Back to the Future
August 14: Moonstruck
August 15: Black Panther

Movies Under the Stars

This is the largest NYC Outdoor Movies event on our list. This series includes 150+ movies in parks across all 5 boroughs. I won’t list each movie here, but check out the website for the complete schedule. A few highlights include:

June 7: Avengers: Infinity War (Henry Hudson Monument in Henry Hudson Park at 8:00 pm)
June 27: Bohemian Rhapsody (Tony Dapolito Recreation Center at 8:00 pm)
August 5: Carousel (George Seuffert Bandshell in Forest Park at 7:30 pm)

I hope you enjoyed this installment of my NYC Summer Series. If you are looking for more, be sure to check out these posts:

How to Spend a Day on NYC’s Governors Island

Best Outdoor Concerts in NYC Summer 2019

How to Score Cheap Broadway Tickets