Summer 2023 - Outdoor Movie Theaters in NYC
With the weather slowly getting warmer, New York City outdoor movie theaters have started opening. This summer activity is a great way to spend time on a date, with your friends, or family. What can be more romantic and fun than a picnic under the stars with a good old movie on a huge screen right before you?
If you agree, here are a couple of parks with outdoor movie theaters and a great selection.
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is probably one of the most popular spots for outdoor movies. Every Monday the park welcomes all audiences for a free movie. Make sure to take the best spot on the lawn before the movie begins! The lawn typically opens at 5 pm, and the movie starts at 8 pm, so you have plenty of time to pick a spot, settle, and relax.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is perfect for outdoor screenings. You get a view of the water and Manhattan skyscrapers, just like a screenshot from a movie! And it’s not very crowded! The lawn opens at 6 pm, and the screening starts at sundown, which in summer is typically between 8 pm - 8:30 pm.
Skyline Drive-In
Another great place for outdoor screenings is Skyline Drive-In. The doors open two hours before the movie, so you have plenty of time to settle and chat. Note that for this one, you need to buy tickets in advance.
Movies Under the Stars
This project by NYC Parks and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment hosts hundreds of screenings throughout all five boroughs. You will definitely find the park with a great movie! Check out their website to learn more about the locations and screening times!
And now, some advice for those who are planning to spend their evening at the open movie theater:
Don’t forget to bring a blanket to sit on. There might not be chairs available, and the ground at night gets colder, so make sure you have something warm to sit on.
Make sure to take snacks! You can always buy something at the park, there are usually a bunch of vendors available, but the lines can get long, and you don’t want to miss the movie!
Take a coat. Evenings can get chilly, and taking a coat or an extra blanket is the best way to make sure you don’t spoil the screening for yourself by getting cold.
Take a spray from the bugs and mosquitoes. That might be necessary, especially in the evening.
With the air situation being unstable in NYC right now, check the park’s website to make sure the movie has not been canceled, and, just in case, take a mask.
By Mary Zakharova