Few things connect families and communities together like the magic of movies. This summer, your family can experience all of the joy, excitement and laughter of the cinema while sitting comfortably under the stars. From pop-up outdoor theaters to classic drive-ins straight out of the 1950s, read on for your definitive guide for outdoor movies in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
D.C.
Downtown D.C. Summer Flicks
Back for its fifth season, Downtown D.C. Summer Flicks – CAN I KICK IT? will have a new home in Franklin Park. Free screenings start at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday between June 7 and July 26. This year’s lineup solely features action films and every film will be “scored with an original music soundtrack of hip-hop, soul, and more, mixed by weekly guest DJs.” Attendees are encouraged to register for screenings in advance. Note that many films in this series are R-rated, so please exercise caution when bringing along young kids.
June 14: “F9: The Fast Saga” (PG-13, 2021)
June 21: “Passenger 57” (R, 2002)
June 28: “Family Night: Spider-Man: No Way Home” (PG-13, 2021)
July 5: “House of Flying Daggers” (PG-13, 2004)
July 12: “The Warriors” (R, 2011)
July 19: “Black Widow” (PG-13, 2021)
July 26: “Rush Hour” (PG-13, 1998)
Free
Click here for more information
One Franklin Square, 1315 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Drive-In at Union Market
The 10th Annual Drive-In at Union Market is here! Films are screened on the second Friday of each month until October 14, with varying start times depending on the film. There are a limited number of parking reservations for each showing so don’t wait to book your outdoor movie night with the family!
June 10: “In The Heights
July 8: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
August 12: “Dirty Dancing”
September 9: “Encanto”
October 14: “Black Panther”
$20 per car
Click here for more information
1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Films at the Stone
Films at the Stone is the first and only summer film series to take place at a memorial site on the National Mall. Films are screened on select Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m., on the lawn adjacent to the bookstore, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Films at the Stone chooses films that depict the best of humanity. No reservations or tickets are needed!
June 16: “Fatherhood”
July 21: “Encanto”
August 25: “Just Mercy”
Free
Click here for more information
1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20418
Georgetown Sunset Cinema
Enjoy “Fan Favorite” films this summer on Tuesday nights at Georgetown Waterfront Park. This year’s line-up of classic films starts at sunset, about 8:30/8:45 p.m., from August 2nd until September 6th. Event organizers recommend coming early to grab the best seats and pick up food at a nearby restaurant.
August 2: “The Goonies” (PG)
August 9: “Encanto” (PG)
August 16: “Bridesmaids” (R)
August 23: “Black Panther” (PG-13)
August 30: “Summer of Soul” (PG-13)
September 6: “Knives Out” (PG-13)
Free
Click here for more information
3303 Water St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Millennium Stage Films
Presented by The Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage Films is hosting free outdoor movies in DC on the REACH’s video wall, Thursday nights throughout June. Screenings begin at dusk and require no tickets or advanced registration. A limited number of seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for guests with disabilities. Other attendees are welcome to bring their own blankets and chairs.
June 9: “Moonrise Kingdom”
June 16: “Amazing Grace”
June 23: “Encanto”
June 30: “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting”
Free
Click here for more information
2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
Summer Movies on the Lawn
The Library of Congress is hosting its 5th annual outdoor film festival, starting July 7 on Thursday evenings. All films shown are part of the library’s National Film Registry, chosen as “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant to America’s heritage. No tickets are required for the outdoor film screenings, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early as space is limited.
July 7: “Top Gun” (1986) (2015 National Film Registry)
July 14: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971) (2014 National Film Registry)
July 21: “Rocky” (2006 National Film Registry)
July 28: “Mary Poppins” (2013 National Film Registry)
Aug. 4: “Wall-E” (2021 National Film Registry)
Free
Click here for more information
101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20543
Sunset Cinema at the Wharf
In partnership with Pacifico Beer, you and the family can enjoy food and drinks while watching classic films on the waterfront. Screenings take place on Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., no reservations or tickets are needed. This year’s lineup includes:
June 16: “Black Panther”
June 23: “Best in Show”
June 30: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”
July 14: “A League of Their Own”
July 21: “Girls Trip”
July 28: “Top Gun”
August 11: “Spider-Man: No Way Home”
August 18: “Crazy Rich Asians”
August 25: “Summer of Soul”
Free
Click here for more information
Transit Pier, 970 Wharf St SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Maryland
Bengies
Home to the biggest movie screen in the USA, Bengies has been serving up double and triple features on its 6,240-square-foot screen for 66 years and counting. Patrons can experience an authentic drive-in experience every weekend this summer with new films updated each week. Be sure to read through their policies ahead of your visit to ensure a smooth evening of filmatic fun.
$12.50 per adult, $7 per child. Kids under 4 are FREE
Click here for more information
3417 Eastern Blvd. ,Middle River, Md. 21220
Movie Night at The Wine Bin
This season’s largest outdoor movie line-up is provided by The Wine Bin located in Ellicot City. Films are provided free of charge and seating is on a first-come, first- served basis. In addition to the extensive selection of alcoholic beverages on site, families can purchase popcorn, cheeses, charcuterie and sweets. Start times vary throughout the season.
June 11: “Respect” (2021) PG-13
June 18: “The Goddess” (1958) NR
June 25: “Free Guy” (2021) PG-13
July 2: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) PG-13
July 9: “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) R
July 16: “Soul” (2020) PG
July 23: “Galaxy Quest” (1999) PG
July 30: “American Underdog” (2021) PG
August 6: “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972) G
August 13: “Jungle Cruise” (2021) PG-13
August 20: “West Side Story” (2021) PG-13
August 27: “Princess Bride” (1987) PG
September 3: “Back to the Future” (1985) PG
September 10: “Cruella” (2021) PG-13
September 17: MAIN STREET MUSIC FEST – NO MOVIE
September 24: “Barefoot in the Park” (1967) G
October 1: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002) PG
October 29: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) PG-13
Free
Click here for more information
8390 Main Street, Ellicott City, Md., 21043
Movies in the Parks
Get outside this summer and into Rockville’s free outdoor movies in the parks on the big screen, each Wednesday during August. Bring chairs, blankets, food and nonalcoholic beverages, and enjoy four different movies at four different neighborhood parks throughout the city. Movies begin at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.) and are free to the public.
August 3: “The Parent Trap”
August 10: “The Boss Baby”
August 17: “The Secret Life of Pets”
August 24: “Shrek”
Free
Click here for more information
Various Locations
Movies on the Potomac
National Harbor is hosting film nights for families on Sundays and classy date nights under the stars on Thursdays. Each month of movies this summer has its own theme, like travel movies in June or food movies in July. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets and to pick up food from one of the dining establishments nearby.
June 9: “The Bucket List”
June 12: “Hotel Transylvania 3”
June 16: “The Terminal”
June 19: “Are We There Yet?”
June 23: “Crazy Rich Asians”
June 26: “The Great Outdoors”
June 30: “Under the Tuscan Sun”
July 3: “Lady and the Tramp”
July 7: “Julie & Julia”
July 10: “Ratatouille”
July 14: “The Hundred-Foot Journey”
July 17: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
July 21: “The Founder”
July 24: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”
July 28: “No Reservations
July 31: “James and the Giant Peach”
August 4: “Yesterday”
August 7: “Newsies”
August 11: “Singin’ in the Rain”
August 14: “Nanny McPhee” (2005)
August 18: “In the Heights”
August 21: “Annie” (2014)
August 25: “Hairspray” (1988)
August 28: “The Jungle Book” (1967)
September 1: “Argo”
September 4: “An American Tail”
September 8: “42”
September 11: “Miracle”
September 15: “Apollo 13”
September 18: “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story”
September 22: “A League of their Own”
September 25: “The Gabby Douglas Story”
September 29: “Minari”
Free
Click here for more information
The Plaza, 165 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. 20745
Virginia
Rosslyn Cinema
Rosslyn Cinema is back on the lawn at Gateway Park Friday evenings in June. Movies range from kids’ animated films to the perfect date night rom-com as well as adventure flicks. Screenings are free, require no registration and start promptly at sundown. There are food trucks on-site as well as options for purchasing beer and wine.
June 10: “Mamma Mia”
June 17: “Space Jam”
June 24: “National Treasure”
Free
Click here for more information
1300 Lee Hwy, Arlington, Va. 22209
South Riding
Bring your family and enjoy fresh blockbuster hits from June till August this summer. All screenings are free to the public and begin promptly at sunset. Attendees are encouraged to set up blankets and chairs for their families, as well as asked to not bring alcohol. Please note that showings will alternate each week between the Town Green and SRC Stage.
June 21: “Encanto” – Town Green
June 28: “Sing 2” – Murrey Park
July 5: “Clifford” – Town Green
July 12: “Raya and the Last Dragon” – SRC Stage
July 19: “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” – Town Green
July 26: “Lilo & Stitch” – SRC Stage
August 9: “Luca” – SRC Stage
August 16: “The Karate Kid” (1984) – Town Green
Free
Click here for more information
Town Green, 43055 Center St., South Riding, Va. 20152
SRC Stage, Corner of Riding Center Dr. & Ulysses St., South Riding, Va. 20152
Starlight Drive-In Cinema
As part of the Summer Entertainment Series with Fairfax County Parks, Starlight Drive-In Cinema will screen four films this August, all of which are free for the public to enjoy. The 2022 season will highlight films about communities and families “coming together.” Attendees are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics.
August 6: “Luca”
August 13: “Encanto”
August 20: “Sing 2”
August 27: “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”
Free
Click here for more information
12055 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, Va. 22035
Grab the bug repellant, picnic basket and cosy blankets for a summer of outdoor movies in D.C. with the fam.
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