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 the ultimate guide to outdoor movies in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

• Downtown D.C. Summer Flicks

The Downtown D.C. Summer Flicks – CAN I KICK IT? movie series is back for its sixth season at Franklin Park! This free event series begins June 1 and runs every Thursday evening through July 13.

Seating starts at 7:30 p.m., when guests can enjoy music by an impressive lineup of special guest DJs. All movies are mixed with a LIVE music soundtrack of Hip Hop & Soul by Shaolin Jazz’s own DJ 2-Tone Jones.

Moviegoers can also enjoy 20% off from Pow Pow using code “canikickit” for online and in store orders (ordering ahead is strongly encouraged).

*Family nights when guests can enjoy additional child-focused activities.

Thursday, June 22: The Hunger Games (PG-13)

Thursday, June 29: Everything Everywhere All At Once (R)

Thursday, July 6: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (PG-13)*

Thursday, July 13: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG-13)

Location: One Franklin Square, 1315 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• Drive-In at Union Market

Let’s roll down the windows, feel that warm breeze and turn up the radio because the 11th Annual Drive-In at Union Market is back. Movies play the first and third Friday of every month through July 21st.

Friday, July 7: Top Gun Maverick

Friday, July 21: Hairspray

Location: Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Price: Each movie showing costs $20 per car. Visit their website for more info.

• Films at the Stone

An inspiring summer film series located at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Films at the Stone screens stories of individuals who, against all odds, fought for what was right and whose lives inspire viewers to live the values of democracy, justice, hope and love. Films start at 8:00 p.m. Come early, pack a sack and bring blankets or low profile lawn chairs.

Friday, July 21: Avatar: The Way of Water

Friday, August 18: The Woman King

Location: Lawn adjacent to the bookstore at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. 1964 Independence Avenue SW.

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• Adams Morgan Movie Nights

Voted as one of the best outdoor movie series in D.C. by readers of the Washington City Paper, Adams Morgan Movie Nights is a can’t-miss event! Movies are free and are shown on the soccer field at Marie Reed School.

Tuesday, June 27: Shrek

Location: Marie Reed School, 2201 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• Summer Movies on the Lawn

The Library of Congress will host its annual “Summer Movies on the Lawn” series. The series featuring films from the Library’s National Film Registry will be presented Thursday evenings at sundown on the southeast lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building. Music will be presented prior to each film, with live performances on July 6, July 20 and Aug. 3.

Thursday, July 6: Iron Man (2008)

Thursday, July 13: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Thursday, July 20: Shrek (2001)

Thursday, July 27: Groundhog Day (1993)

Thursday, Aug 3: Mary Poppins (1964)

Thursday, Aug 10: Jaws (1975)

Location: Library of Congress,101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• Sunset Cinema at the Wharf

On Thursdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, visit Transit Pier at The Wharf to enjoy the following free outdoor movies.

Thursday, June 15: The Goonies

Thursday, June 22: Jungle Cruise

Thursday, June 29: Top Gun: Maverick

Thursday, July 6: Forrest Gump

Thursday, July 20: Bend It Like Beckham

Thursday, July 27: Where the Crawdads Sing

Thursday, August 3: A Dog’s Purpose

Thursday, August 10: The Sandlot

Thursday, August 17: Ratatouille

Thursday, August 24: School of Rock

Thursday, August 31: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Location: 970 Wharf Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

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. See this week’s films at bengies.com

Location: 3417 Eastern Blvd. Middle River, MD 21220 Price: $12.50 per person, $7 per child ages 4-10, free for children under 4 (in cars). Visit their website for more info.

• Movies in the Parks

Get outside this summer and get into Rockville’s free outdoor movies in the parks on the big screen. Enjoy four different movies at four different neighborhood parks throughout the city. Movies begin at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.) Bring your own chairs, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Wednesday, Aug 2: The Boss Baby (Potomac Woods Park)

Wednesday, Aug 9: The Secret Life of Pets (Woodley Gardens Park)

Wednesday, Aug 16: Cool Runnings (Montrose Park)

Wednesday, Aug 23: Raya and the Last Dragon (Maryvale Park)

Location: Various locations Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• 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.

Thursday, June 15: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Sunday, June 18: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Thursday, June 22: Jurassic World Dominion

Sunday, June 25: Cool Runnings

Thursday, June 29: King Richard

Sunday, July 2: DC League of Super-Pets

Thursday, July 6: Black Adam

Sunday, July 9: Up

Thursday, July 13: Wonder Woman (2017)

Sunday, July 16: The Princess Diaries

Thursday, July 20: She’s the Man (2006)

Sunday, July 23: Her Best Move (2007)

Thursday, July 27: Gracie (2007)

Sunday, July 30: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Thursday, August 3: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Sunday, August 6: Incredibles

Thursday, August 10: A Journal for Jordan

Sunday, August 13: Incredibles 2

Thursday, August 17: Invictus

Sunday, August 20: Air Bud: World Pup (2000)

Thursday, August 24: Sister Act

Sunday, August 27: Space Jam a New Legacy

Thursday, August 31: Cruella (2021)

Sunday, September 3: Shrek

Thursday, September 7: A Man Called Otto

Sunday, September 10: Shrek 2

Thursday, September 14: Coming 2 America

Sunday, September 17: Coco

Thursday, September 21: La Bamba

Sunday, September 24: Encanto

Thursday, September 28: Maid in Manhattan

Location: The Plaza, 165 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. 20745

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

VIRGINIA

• Rosslyn Cinema

Rosslyn Cinema is back on the lawn at Gateway Park Friday evenings in June. 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.

Friday, June 16: Moana (plus free face painters!)

Friday, June 23: The Parent Trap

Location: 1300 Lee Hwy. Arlington, Va. 22209

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• 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.

Tuesday, June 27 @ SRC Stage: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Tuesday, July 11th @Town Green: DC League of Super Pets

Tuesday, July 25th @ SRC Stage: The Bad Guys

Tuesday, Aug 8 @ Town Green: Tangled

Location: Alternates between Town Green, 43055 Center St., South Riding, Va. 20152 and SRC Stage, Corner of Riding Center Dr. & Ulysses St., South Riding, Va. 20152

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.

• Starlight Drive-In Cinema

These movie nights bring the community together and nurture community spirit with features that appeal to both children and adults. Our 2023 season provides children’s shows before each of the four movies, free for the public to enjoy. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal so feel free to bring a picnic, blanket and chairs, and enjoy the movies.

Saturday, Aug 5: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Saturday, Aug 12: Lightyear

Saturday, Aug 19: The Bad Guys

Saturday, Aug 26: DC League of Super-Pets

Location: 12055 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax, Virginia 22035

Price: Free Visit their website for more info.