With summer
officially underway (congrats to all the graduates!), movie theaters promise to
be packed with critics, young and old, looking for the next summer blockbuster.
Instead of sitting in a crammed cineplex, why not watch your favorite flick
while sitting under the stars? We’ve scouted out the best places that offer
free outdoor movie screenings for the entire family. So grab the popcorn (and
don your comfiest quilt) and settle in for an evening of silver screen magic. —
Outdoor Film Series at the Intrepid:
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is hosting their third annual
Summer Movie Series. Guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks, lawn
chairs, picnic baskets and blankets. The series includes: Spiderman,
E.T.
The Extra-Terrestrial, The
Goonies, Back To The Future, and Jurassic
Park. Fridays are
sure to please!
Hudson River Park‘s RiverFlicks for Kids: Hudson River Park’s outdoor Friday film series,
RiverFlicks for Kids, is screening both new and classic delights at Pier 46. At
each screening, complimentary popcorn will be provided and beverages and snacks
will be available for purchase. Up on July’s roster: The
Karate Kid, Despicable
Me, and Toy
Story 3. What does August have in store? How
To Train Your Dragon, Shrek
Forever After, and the Mandy Moore-studded Tangled.
Socrates Sculpture Park‘s Outdoor Cinema: Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City will host its Outdoor Cinema film series as part of their 13th
Annual Festival of International Film, Music, Dance and Food. This year’s films
include a Lebanese flick Caramel
and The
Straight Story. At the end of August, the park will host a silent
film fest and potluck.
Riverside Park‘s Movies Under the Stars: As part of Riverside Park’s Summer on the Hudson 2011,
classic horror films will be shown during its TERRORIBLE! Terror Through the Decades film series. Daring teens
will enjoy movies such as, The
Invisible Man, Invasion
of the Body Snatchers, The
Birds, Attack
of the Killer Tomatoes, Return
of the Swamp Thing, and Mars
Attacks. Head to Pier I at 70th Street to scream and shout!
Brooklyn Bridge Park‘s Syfy Movies With a View: The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (with shorts curated by
BAMcinématak) is hosting the 12th season of their movie series this summer at
Pier 1. The chosen genre is science fiction and titles sure to thrill are: Ghostbusters,
Sweet
Smell of Success, and An
American Tail.
Coney Island‘s Flicks on the Beach: As part of the historic area’s makeover, Coney Island will be showing free movies on the
beach beginning Monday nights in July. Stroll the boardwalk and then watch films
like Rango
and Justin
Bieber: Never Say Never (purple tees optional.)
The Central Park Conservancy Film Festival: For five nights beginning at the end
of August (23-27), the Conservancy’s ninth annual film festival will
celebrate movies featuring the best in popular music. Before dusk guest DJ’s will spin tunes and when the sun sets, the movies begin. Adults and teens will see films
spanning all genres (from rock to country) including El Cantante, Bird, Dreamgirls, Shine a Light, Coal Miner’s
Daughter, and A Star is Born. On
the final day of the festival, the Park will show a Viewer’s Choice movie which
the public can vote for in August.
Roosevelt Island‘s Outdoor Summer Movie Series: The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation presents their
Outdoor Summer Movie Series on Saturday nights. The series will include hits
like Iron
Man 2, The
Goonies, Star
Trek, the animated smash UP,
Tron:
Legacy, and The
Incredibles.
Stuck
inside on a rainy day? Check out Central Park Zoo’s 4-D Theater for the
fascinating BBC documentary, Planet
Earth: Ice Worlds where blustery winds and seat vibrations amp up the Arctic.
