Since films were first shown in Bryant Park in 1992, free movie screenings have become a summertime tradition in the City. All kinds of films—Hollywood classics, current blockbusters and indie gems—are screened at outdoor venues throughout the five boroughs, with stunning backdrops like the Manhattan skyline and the East River.
This season’s offerings include recent hits like Wicked: For Good, Lilo & Stitch and Hoppers; 1980s New York City classics such as When Harry Met Sally and Do the Right Thing; and family-friendly flicks such as Zootopia 2 and A Minecraft Movie. Below is a schedule of free outdoor film screenings throughout New York City. Unless otherwise noted, all screenings start at dusk, typically around 8:30pm. Check the listings for details and then grab a blanket, bring some snacks and enjoy cinema alfresco, NYC style.
Rooftop Films. Photo: Mettie Ostrowski
Rooftop Films
Citywide, through Aug 21
Don’t let the name of this popular movie series fool you—screenings take place in every manner of outdoor arena throughout NYC, from cemeteries to high schools to factories to, yes, rooftops. Their yearly lineup of over 40 independent films (with a few blockbusters scattered in) is always hotly anticipated. Just a few of this summer’s offerings include short film programs based on themes like dark cartoons (Jul 8) and romance (Aug 7); and family-friendly fare such as Wild Inside (a documentary about Flaco the Owl, Jul 29) and Zootopia 2 (TBA). Note that some of the individual Rooftop Film events are ticketed.
Courtesy, Intrepid Movie Night Series
Intrepid Movie Night Series
Intrepid Museum, Pier 86, W. 46th St. and Hudson River Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, through Aug 28
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum provides an atmospheric setting for movies on summer Free Fridays. This season, they’re screening films that mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, reflecting the adventure, resilience and imagination woven into the American story, including National Treasure (Jul 31) and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (Aug 28).
NYC Parks Movies Under the Stars
Citywide, through Sep 18
The far-reaching outdoor movie program is a film buff’s delight, with more than 300 screenings in public green spaces throughout the five boroughs, such as Forest Park in Queens, Marine Park in Brooklyn and Washington Market Park in Manhattan. Enjoy family-friendly flicks like Inside Out 2 (Jul 24, Corlears Hook Park) and A Minecraft Movie (Jul 18, Rappaport Playground; Jul 25, High Bridge Park); recent hits like Goat (Jul 8, Brownsville Playground) and Hoppers (Jul 2, Gertrude Ederle Recreation Area; Jul 11, Melrose Playground); and entries that are synonymous with the City, say, When Harry Met Sally (Jul 31, Asser Levy Park). The 2026 program also includes a soccer series celebrating the World Cup. Reserved chairs are available at each site for seniors and people with disabilities.
Oculus Outdoors 2026
North Oculus Plaza, Fulton St. between Church and Greenwich Sts., Lower Manhattan, through Sep 18
Enjoy the beauty of downtown’s World Trade Center Oculus Plaza with this film series taking place on select Thursday and Friday evenings. The family-friendly flicks include She’s the Man (Jul 24), Pretty in Pink (Aug 13), Spy Kids (Aug 14). Screenings are at 7pm, but seating opens an hour beforehand, and limited seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis—so it may be best to just bring your own chair and blanket.
Wollman Rink Movie Night on the Overlook
Wollman Rink, Central Park, enter at E. 59th St. and Sixth Ave., through Sep 24
Watch movies framed by one of the most spectacular views of Midtown’s tallest skyscrapers, soaring toward the stars. On select Thursdays a giant inflatable movie screen will beam out films at the famous rink at the southern end of Central Park. Movies start at 7:30pm or 8pm and include Captain America: Brave New World (Jul 30).
Tales of Summer with the Uptown Film Center
JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave.; Morningside Park softball fields, south side of Morningside Park near W. 110th St.; Amsterdam Ave. between W. 109th and W. 110th Sts.; and Riverside Park, north of 96th St. tennis courts, all in Upper West Side, Manhattan, Jun 30–Sep 18
This Upper West Side film series features all sorts of movies and movie-related events (a showing of the classic Footloose on July 21 will be followed by a Q&A with star Kevin Bacon for example), held at four different locations. Some of the film events are ticketed (at around $12), but screenings of Summer of Soul (Aug 6), Mamma Mia! (Aug 22) and In the Heights (Sep 18) are free. Screenings start at 7pm, 7:30pm or 8pm.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Movies with a View. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Brooklyn Bridge Park Movies with a View
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn, 80 Furman St., Dumbo, Brooklyn, Jul 2–Sep 18
This series has one of New York City’s most awe-inspiring film viewing backdrops: an evening panorama of the twinkling Lower Manhattan skyline, Governors Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. On nine consecutive Thursdays (and a Friday night finale), cozy up on the Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn for films including Hamilton (Jul 2) and Do the Right Thing (Aug 13), a movie set in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
Movies in the Square–Domino Park. Photo: Will Ragozzino for Radhika Chalasani Photography
Movies in the Square – Domino Park
Domino Park, 15 River St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Jul 7–Sep 15
For six Tuesdays from July to September, this Brooklyn waterfront park screens double bills, with the towers of Manhattan as a backdrop. At 4pm there are family-friendly showings with art activities led by A Rosie Day, while for the 7pm main feature, drinks from Other Half Brewing and snacks from Frita Batidos and Stretch Pizza are available to purchase. Movies include The Warriors (Jul 21), Mamma Mia! (Aug 4) and High School Musical 2 (Sep 15).
Courtesy, Movies in the Square – Union Square
Movies in the Square – Union Square
Union Square Park, 17th St. from Broadway to Union Square East, Manhattan, Jul 9–23
NYC Council Member Harvey Epstein’s office, NYC Parks (as part of its Movies Under the Stars program) and Union Square Partnership are laying on a limited series of free weekly movies on the North Plaza of Union Square. The plaza opens at 7:30pm, with the films—Black Panther, Shrek and Addams Family Values, taking place on consecutive Thursdays—showing at dusk.
Courtesy, Bryant Park
Paramount+ Movie Nights at Bryant Park NYC
Bryant Park, Sixth Ave. and W. 42nd St., Midtown, Manhattan, Jul 13–Sep 14
Manhattan’s popular 4-acre urban oasis has partnered with Paramount+ for another year of bringing the big screen to their lawn. The space opens for moviegoers at 5pm and screenings start at 8pm, so show up early to secure your spot. No time to pack a meal? No problem—food and drink are curated by Hester Street Fair (4–8:30pm), as well as beer and wine, is available to purchase (from 5pm). Be sure to bring your coziest picnic blankets to watch films like Bridget Jones’s Diary (Aug 3), No Country for Old Men (Aug 31) and Shakespeare in Love (Sep 14).
Roosevelt Island Outdoor Summer Movie Series
Southpoint Park, Roosevelt Island, Jul 17–Aug 7
Roosevelt Island is an attraction unto itself, so watching a movie on a 40-foot screen on this spot is “next level," as the kids would say. On four consecutive Friday evenings beginning on July 17, enjoy screenings of Zootopia 2, Wicked: For Good, Superman and How to Train Your Dragon. Hop on the tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, and once you depart on Roosevelt Island, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Southpoint Park. The event starts at 6pm and the movies screen at sunset.
Courtesy, Lower East Side Film Festival
Lower East Side Movies in the Park
Tompkins Square Park, East Village, Manhattan, Jul 22–Aug 19
This summer the Lower East Side Film Festival is hosting three free Wednesday screenings in the East Village’s historic Tompkins Square Park (at the Bandshell). Enjoy indie classics Little Miss Sunshine (Jul 22), Super Troopers (Aug 5) and Beasts of the Southern Wild (Aug 19). All showings will feature free refreshments and surprises.
Free Movie On The Waterfront – Astoria
Great Lawn, Astoria Park (Shore Blvd. between the Hell Gate Bridge and Astoria Pool), Astoria, Queens, Jul 27–Aug 17
Come to the leafy Astoria waterfront this summer (near the East River) for a series of three free movie showings on Mondays ranging from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Hamilton.
Courtesy, Randall's Island Park Alliance
Movie Night at Randall’s Island
Randall’s Island Park, Field 62, Manhattan, Aug 1
This scenic island situated between Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx hosts films on the lawn overlooking the Triborough (Robert F. Kennedy) Bridge. If you’re coming from Queens, make an adventure out of it and walk across the bridge’s pedestrian overpass onto Randall’s Island (you can also cross from a park in Manhattan at E. 103rd Street on the Ward’s Island Bridge). This year, the park is coupling the movie tradition with cocktails, small bites and activities. Cocktails on the Farm includes a screening of
Summer Movies in the Park
Fort Greene Park, Central Lawn and Prospect Park, north end of Long Meadow, Brooklyn, Aug 5–Sep 9 (select Wednesdays)
Go to one of two lovely green spaces in Brooklyn for family-friendly films. Screenings include Akeelah and the Bee (Aug 12, Prospect Park) and an anniversary showing of Space Jam (Aug 26, Fort Greene Park), which stars Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and a bunch of your favorite toons.
