Summer Movie Venues in Boston
Where to watch outdoor summer movies in Boston
Summertime means grabbing a blanket and some snacks, and watching a free movie outside. And luckily, there are quite a few outdoor movie series to choose from in the Boston area.
Here's a great list of Summer Movies under the stars that we can look forward to in 2023. We are continually adding new venues as information becomes available. If you know of a local movie night - let us know and we are happy to list it.
Mayor's Summer Movie Nights in the Parks - Boston
The Mayor's Movie Nights are part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program. Held in August and September, the shows begin at dusk. Come enjoy popular films under the night skies in Boston city parks. All shows begin at dusk (approx. 7:45 p.m.)
AUG 6 - Allston/Brighton Movie Night: The Little Mermaid
AUG 12 - Jamaica Plain Meteor Shower Movie Night: A Million Miles Away
AUG 13 - Roslindale Movie Night: Elemental
AUG 14 - West Roxbury Movie Night: Wonka
AUG 19 - Roxbury Movie Night: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
AUG 21 - South End Movie Night: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
AUG 22 - Hyde Park Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda 4
AUG 26 - Charlestown Movie Night: Trolls Band Together
AUG 27 - Dorchester Movie Night: Wish
AUG 28 - East Boston Movie Night: Encanto
AUG 29 - Downtown Movie Night: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Coolidge on the Greenway: Summer Movies Series - Boston
Experience cinema classics under the stars! The Coolidge is thrilled to be partnering with the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy once again for a free outdoor screening series this summer. Coolidge on the Greenway screenings will take place at sunset at the Greenway's Wharf District Park (located between Milk Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston).
WED JUL 31 - Godzilla 2000 35MM | (Raindate Thu Aug 1)
WED AUG 21 - Apollo 13 35MM | (Raindate Thu Aug 22)
Coolidge Movies at the Speedway - Brighton
The Coolidge is excited to present a program of free, outdoor movie screenings hosted at the Charles River Speedway (525 Western Ave, Brighton, MA) this summer!
All Coolidge at the Speedway screenings will take place at sunset. No ticket purchase or reservations needed.
WED JUL 10 - THE ROCK (1996)
WED AUG 7 - SCOOBY DOO (2002)
NEW! Movie Night on the LOT - Dorchester
Join us for Movie Nights on The LOT! Admission is free, but drinks and snacks are available for purchase. Come early to enjoy games before the movie showing.
• July 18th – Up (8:30PM showtime)
• August 1st – Frozen (8PM showtime)
• August 15th – Toy Story (8PM showtime)
• August 29th – Sandlot (8PM showtime)
• September 12th – Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (7PM showtime; doors open at 6PM)
Boston Landing Summer Movies - Brighton
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic and enjoy complimentary summer movies at Boston Landing on the rolling green hills at Athlete’s Park! Or, you can grab a bite to each at our of our restaurants or take it to go and enjoy during the movie!
Enjoy Pre-Movie fun, with Music, Snacks, Contests, and Giveaways at Athlete’s Park for about an hour before the movie. Limited Chairs are Available, BYO Blankets & Chairs to ensure you have a place to sit. Wear your favorite themed outfit for the occasion!
JUN 20 - The Greatest Showman
JUN 27 - 27 Dresses
JUL 11 - Home Alone
JUL 25 - Clueless
AUG 8 - Barbie
AUG 22 - Footloose
SEP 5 - Mighty Ducks
photo courtesy of Boston Landing
Movie Night at Fenway Park: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Prior to the movie screening, a Star Wars-themed celebration will be held in the Gate A Concourse that will be transformed into a desert spaceport with cosplayers, photo ops, and fun surprises.
Join us on Tuesday, July 2 for Movie Night at Fenway Park, presented by Alamo Drafthouse, featuring the 1977 classic, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
Summer Flicks at The Pru - Boston
The Pru is known for its iconic colorful light displays and its wide selection of shops. But it also hosts movie nights on its South Garden! Bring a blanket and a picnic, or grab some food from inside, and enjoy family-friendly entertainment before a movie showing that starts at dusk.
- Sat, 7/13: 'Legally Blonde'
- Sat, 7/20: 'The Marvels'
- Sat, 7/27: 'Elemental'
- Sat, 8/3: 'The Princess and the Frog'
- Sat, 8/10: 'National Treasure'
- Sat, 8/17: 'Migration'
- Sat, 8/24: 'The Little Mermaid
photo courtesy of Prudential Center
Watch Wednesday Movie Nights at Anchor Boston - Charlestown
Join us for our weekly movie night at The Anchor starting @ 9 PM. As always, our programs are always free and open to the public of all ages! The Anchor’s open-air courtyard is the best place to lay back and enjoy your favorite flicks all summer long.
· June 19th: 42
· June 26th: The Devil Wears Prada
· July 3rd: 4th of July – Top Gun
· July 10th: Dirty Dancing
· July 17th: In The Heights
· July 24th: Shark Week – Jaws
· July 31st: The Goonies
· August 7th: Mamma Mia
· August 14th: Knives Out
· August 21st: Barbie
· August 28th: Back to the Future
Seating at 8:30pm, movie starts just after sunset.
With our comfortable lounge seating, free-standing tables, and bar it is a great place to relax. All with views of Boston from the Charlestown Naval Yard. Enjoy delicious food and beverage options while you watch at The Anchor's full bar and kitchen.
Summer Movie Nights at the Kroc Center - Boston
Join us for a summer tradition that brings our community together for unforgettable evenings of fun, food, and fantastic films at the Boston Kroc field! Summer movie nights at the Kroc features three evenings of family fun.
Gather your family, friends, and neighbors, and join us on our field for an enchanting night of entertainment. Activities and Games start at 6:30pm, Movie starts at Sundown.
Coolidge after Midnite: Rocky Woods Double Features - Medford
Late-night programming for cinephile insomniacs with screenings of horrifying, weird, camp, avant garde, tripped-out, and cult films, often from 35mm prints.
Coolidge After Midnite is ready to serve up a slew of films and events every Friday & Saturday to satisfy your cult cinema hunger! Screenings take place in the Rocky Woods (38 Hartford Street, Medford, MA)! Parking sold separately. Limited camping spots available, sold separately.
Summer Saturdays at Urban Park | Kendall Square
Come on UP to the Urban Park roof garden for monthly movie nights! Bring your blanket and join us for a FREE family friendly film series. Complimentary snacks will be served while supplies last. DJ set starts at 4:00pm & Movie starts at 6:00pm. See listing for dates.
JUN 22 - Trolls Band Together
JUL 20 - Elemental
AUG 24 - Wish
SEP 21 - The Marvels
Theatre Thursdays at Revere Beach
Spend a day trip at Revere Beach: the perfect spot to swim and sunbathe. But on Theatre Thursdays at Revere Beach, when the weather’s cooled off and night falls, make sure not to leave without watching a movie on the beach.
Entertainment is from 6:00PM - 8:00PM with music and popcorn. Movie begins at dusk. Event is FREE! All movies have a rain date on the following night (Friday).
JUNE 27 - SHREK
JULY 11 - TROLLS BAND TOGETHER
JULY 25 - NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
AUGUST 1 - BARBIE
AUGUST 8 - CARS
AUGUST 15 - AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM
AUGUST 22 - HAUNTED MANSION
photo courtesy of Revere Beach Parks & Recreation
Summer Flicks at Patriot Place
Patriot Place invites you to Summer Flicks, a free outdoor movie series. Located in the DORA Zone outside Renaissance Boston Patriot Place and Saga Hibachi Steakhouse. Bring a blanket or chairs.
Join us for pre-show entertainment and reserve your spot beginning at 6:00 PM. The films will begin at sunset.
JULY 10 - BARBIE
Doors 6:30 PM /Movie starts at dusk
JULY 24 - RATATOUILLE
Doors 6:30 PM / Movie starts at dusk
AUGUST 07 - WONKA
Doors 6:30 PM / Movie starts at dusk
AUGUST 14 - PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE
Doors 6:30 PM / Movie starts at dusk
AUG 28 - INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
Doors 6:30 PM / Movie starts at dusk
photo courtesy of Patriot Place
============Awaiting 2024 Info===========
Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell (TBD)
It's back! WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) present the annual Free Friday Flicks, a movie series at DCR's Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston!
Free Friday Flicks is a summertime tradition in Boston, attracting thousands of moviegoers to enjoy family-oriented, feature-length movies under the stars all summer long at DCR's Hatch Shell in Boston!
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and watch a movie with family and friends on Friday night for free! Movies begin at sundown, but arrive early to grab your spot on the lawn and enjoy free games and giveaways with WBZ NewsRadio 1030. The fun starts at 6pm!
Kung Fu Films at the Chinatown Gate (TBD)
The Asian Community Development Organization (ACDC) presents Films at the Gate. Each of the three nights of film showings includes a live performance, two short films, and the main feature.
August 23 - 25, 2024 (Dates to be confirmed)*
5:30PM Games and activities for families
6:00 PM Performances & martial arts demonstrations
7:30PM Welcome program
8:00PM Main feature (timing dependent on sunset for optimal viewing)
The classic films are action-packed with kung fu scenes and are accompanied by English-subtitles.
Summer Movie Series at Christopher Columbus Park (TBD)
Pack a picnic to take to Christopher Columbus Park for one of these Sunday night films, which will begin at dusk. Free popcorn courtesy of Joe’s American Bar & Grill. Sunday Night Movie Series at Christopher Columbus Park
CX Movie Nights at Maria Baldwin Open Space at CX - (TBD)
CX Movie Nights returns to Cambridge Crossing in partnership with the Brattle Theater and East Cambridge Business Association (ECBA) for a free double-feature movie series, taking place on June 30 and July 28 from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm on Dawes Field
300 Water Street, Cambridge - located next to 350 Water Street (the Sanofi building)
Enjoy a family and pet-friendly night of movies, popcorn, and food trucks.
photo courtesy of CX
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Drive-In Movies Near Boston
In addition, more and more venues have started offering special Drive-In movie options, so take a look at our guide to what's been announced so far to see where you and your family can enjoy a drive-in movie near you this summer.
While not free, you can usually get into a Drive-in movie for one price per carload, and experience a big screen movie from the comfort of your own car with friends and family.
Mendon Twin Drive In (Milford)
Kowloon Car Hop & Movie Nights (Saugus)
Wellfellet Drive-In (Cape Cod)
More Ideas for Summer Fun!
Find Fun Things to Do on our events calendar as Summer Begins in Boston. From a myriad of Boston Beaches, Spray Parks & Pool, Waterparks and more, you'll find lots of ways to stay cool during a Boston Summer.
Summer is also the season of Boston fireworks displays so be sure to check our handy guide to find a display by date or by town, near you.
There are so many fun things to do for free in Boston - check out our guide for more money-saving ideas for family fun.
You can find lots more family-friendly Boston events each week on the BostonCentral calendar and our popular things to do this week newsletter.
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Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.