May 14, 2025
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Clark Park hosts two free film series programmed by cinéSPEAK and the University City District.
Watch a movie in the fresh air at one of Philadelphia's many outdoor screenings this summer.
Free film showings are soon returning to or already underway at various city parks. Audiences can expect the usual mix of '90s comedies, Disney reboots and superhero stories. "Creed" will also play, as is (presumably) written in the city charter.
This list will be updated as more organizations announce their schedules. But for now, here's where to see a free show:
This Clark Park series tends to favor films off the regular rotation. Instead of "Back to the Future," viewers can expect documentaries on the Florida Everglades and Sally Ride. A thematically complementary movie short precedes each showing. There will also be food and live music starting at 7 p.m. In case of rain, the event moves to the following Saturday.
Friday, May 23 - "It Must Be Heaven"
Friday, May 30 - "River of Grass" (2025)
Friday, June 6 - "Sally"
Friday, June 13 - "Assembly"
The University City District picks up where cinéSPEAK leaves off in August. It will show movies at sundown at the Clark Park Bowl for the first four Fridays of the month. Screenings may be canceled due to storms, high winds or muddy conditions; the district is holding Saturday, Aug. 23, as a rain date just in case.
Friday, Aug. 1 - "The Goonies"
Friday, Aug. 8 - "Clueless"
Friday, Aug. 15 - "Madagascar"
Friday, Aug. 22 - "Creed"
Grab a blanket and head to the east side of the Schuylkill River for free movies on Thursday nights. Schuylkill Banks will host 10 summer screenings, alternating between the park's Grays Ferry Crescent Esplanade and the grassy patch north of Walnut Street Bridge. The shows start whenever the sun sets.
Thursday, June 12 - "Groundhog Day"
Thursday, June 19 - "Men in Black"
Thursday, June 26 - "Before Sunrise"
Thursday, July 10 - "Paddington in Peru"
Thursday, July 17 - "WALL-E"
Thursday, July 24 - "Argo"
Thursday, July 31 - "The Lego Batman Movie"
Thursday, Aug. 7 - "Good Will Hunting"
Thursday, Aug. 14 - "The Jungle Book" (2016)
Thursday, Aug. 21 - "Top Gun: Maverick"
Each summer, the Philadelphia Film Society partners with community organizations to present free movies around the city. The programming kicks off in June at Chinatown Community Park, where local businesses will offer samples of pineapple buns and egg tarts before the martial arts comedy "Kung Fu Hustle" begins. Viewers can expect free popcorn, face painting, music and other activities at subsequent screenings of "Sister Act 2," "Inside Out 2" and "Encanto." While entry is free, registration is encouraged.
Saturday, June 21 - "Ne Zha" at Chinatown Community Park
Saturday, June 28 - "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" at Carroll Park
Friday, July 18 - "Lilo & Stitch" at Lighthouse Sports Complex
Friday, Aug. 1 - "Inside Out 2" at Belfield Recreation Center
Friday, Aug. 8 - "Ralph Breaks the Internet" at Universal Daroff Charter School
Friday, Aug. 15 - "Encanto" - Houston Recreation Center
One free movie a week simply isn't enough for Sunset Social. The urban park atop Cira Green is offering screenings each Wednesday and Saturday through late June, with more dates to come. The mid-week shows start at 7 p.m., while the weekend matinees — which play more to the kid crowd — begin at noon.
Wednesday, May 14 - "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Saturday, May 17 - "Flow"
Wednesday, May 21 - "Moana 2"
Saturday, May 24 - "Elemental"
Wednesday, May 28 - "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
Saturday, May 31 - "Mufasa"
Wednesday, June 4 - "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour"
Saturday, June 7 - "Transformers One"
Wednesday, June 11 - "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3"
Saturday, June 14 - "TMNT: Mutant Mayhem"
Wednesday, June 18 - "Wicked"
Saturday, June 21 - "Dog Man"
Wednesday, June 25 - "Inside Out 2"
Saturday, June 28 - "IF"
Following a 2024 test run, Independence National Historical Park is bringing back its outdoor movie series. The titles are all loosely connected to the site — though some ("Harriet") are a little more serious than others ("National Treasure") — and they all feature pre-show games and activities beginning at 5:30 p.m. Food and drink will also be available at Liberty Garden. While each screening is free, registration is encouraged.
Friday, June 20 - "Harriet"
Tuesday, July 1 - "Independence Day"
Friday, Aug. 22 - "National Treasure"
Friday, Sept. 19 - "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets"
Families will have several chances to see "Moana 2" and "A Minecraft Movie" in local parks this summer. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy are programming free movies at more than 30 spots from June through early October. All screenings start at dusk, and any updates or changes will be shared through local Park Friends Groups.
Saturday, June 7 - "Moana 2" at Woodside Park
Sunday, June 8 - "Captain America: Brave New World" at Philly Pumptrack
Tuesday, June 17 - "Men in Black" at Wister Woods
Wednesday, June 18 - "Inside Out 2" at Elmwood Park
Thursday, June 19 - "Mufasa" at Loudon Park
Saturday, June 28 - "Moana 2" at Burholme Park
Thursday, July 10 - "A Minecraft Movie" at Inn Yard Park
Friday, July 11 - "Inside Out 2" at La Noce Park
Saturday, July 12 - "Paddington in Peru" at 3rd and Norris Street Playground
Tuesday, July 15 - Movie TBD at Connell Park
Wednesday, July 16 - "The Wild Robot" at Dickinson Square
Thursday, July 17 - "Moana 2" at Rainbow De Colores
Saturday, July 26 - "Moana 2" at Vernon Park
Saturday, Aug. 8 - "Paddington" at Thomas Hart Park
Saturday, Aug. 16 - "Moana 2" at Cliveden Park
Tuesday, Aug. 26 - Movie TBD at Fotterall Square
Thursday, Aug. 28 - "Captain America: Brave New World" at Triangle Park
Friday, Aug. 29 - "Moana 2" at Hissey Playground
Saturday, Aug. 30 - "Inside Out 2" at Suffolk Park
Friday, Sept. 5 - "A Minecraft Movie" at Mifflin Square Park
Saturday, Sept. 6 - "Mufasa" at Benson Park
Sunday, Sept. 7 - "The Wild Robot" at Fitler Square Park
Wednesday, Sept. 10 - "Moana 2" at Lanier Park
Friday, Sept. 12 - "A Minecraft Movie" at Powers Park
Saturday, Sept. 13 - Movie TBD at Fairview Park
Thursday, Sept. 18 - "A Minecraft Movie" at Borski Park
Saturday, Sept. 20 - "A Minecraft Movie" at Pop's Park
Friday, Oct. 3 - "Wicked" at McMichael Park
Friday, Oct. 17 - "Wicked" at Harrowgate Park
Friday, Oct. 25 - Movie TBD at Fisher Park
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the backdrop to this summer movie series, running Fridays at The Oval pop-up on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Showtime is at 8:15 p.m.
Friday, June 20 - "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Friday, June 27 - "Inside Out 2"
Friday, July 11 - "A League of Their Own"
Friday, July 18 - "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
Friday, July 25 - "Wicked"
Friday, Aug. 8 - "Finding Nemo"
Friday, Aug. 15 - "Sister Act"
Friday, Aug. 22 - "Black Panther"
Friday, Sept. 5 - "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
Friday, Sept. 12 - "The Muppet Movie"
The Philadelphia Orchestra will play John Williams' iconic "Star Wars" score at a special screening of the original 1977 film at the Mann Center on Friday, June 20. Tickets start around $35.
Laurel Hill Cemetery also has upcoming movie nights. It will show the appropriately eerie "Eraserhead" on Friday, May 16, and the body horror comedy "Death Becomes Her" on Friday, July 11. Each event includes a pop-up market and trivia. General admission is $20.
This story has been updated with additional screenings.
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