Where to See Free Summer Movies in NYC for an Outdoor Movie Night
New York City screens tons of FREE outdoor movies each summer, and many of them are just for kids and families. We keep an eye on these special outdoor summer movie screenings all season long, including the Movies Under the Stars series, which offers screenings in some of our favorite parks and playgrounds, Bryant Park Movie Nights, and Sidewalk Cinema.
New in 2022: Movies Under the Stars, hosted by NYC Parks Department, requires online registration so be sure to click through to the website for the movies you want to see and secure your spot.
If you're looking for paid options, check out our roundup of drive-in movie theaters near NYC.
Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.
Movies usually begin when evening falls, but plan to arrive early to stake out a good viewing spot. Even if your local park is screening a flick you've watched a dozen times before, it's a totally different experience viewing it in the open air alongside other fans. It's a thrilling, communal event, and a summer rite of passage for New Yorkers of all ages.
Bookmark this page, because we update it constantly.