One of my favorite cheap dates this time of year is to take a blanket and some treats to one of the many outdoor movie screenings that take place all over Philly all through the summer months. I said it once, and I’ll say it again: There is something undeniably romantic about cuddling up after the sun goes down, sharing some candy and maybe a clandestine bottle of wine or beer, and taking in an outdoor movie on a hot summer night.
And from the looks of this handy-dandy list I’ve prepared − complete with titles and times! – this is a date you can enjoy almost any given night of the summer! Choose from Blockbusters at Penn’s Landing, classic favorites at Schuylkill Banks and Liberty Lands Park, Indie hits at the Piazza, films with local ties at Headhouse Square and more! There is literally something happening almost every single night, and they are all FREE to attend.
Just BYO blankets and bottles and enjoy the show − and your date!
- June 21: Labyrinth at Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)
- June 21: Big Trouble in Little China at Dock Street Brewery (technically inside, but enjoy $1 off drafts and pizza)
- June 21: The Big Lebowski on Independence Mall for the Jewish Museum’s Cocktails and Comedy Film Series (ages 21-40, $10 includes a cocktail hour at 6:00, movie at 7:00)
- June 22: On the Waterfront for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- June 23: Goldfinger on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge, at dusk (around 8:20pm)
- June 26: Transformers: Dark of the Moon for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (5:00pm)
- June 27: Best in Show for Welcome America Night at the Movies at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (9:00pm)
- June 28: The Philadelphia Story at Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)
- June 28: Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark at Dock Street Brewery (technically inside, but enjoy $1 off drafts and pizza)
- June 28: Fame at the Dell Music Center (technically inside, but it’s a great film and it’s free!) (9:00pm)
- June 29: Rocky for Welcome America Night at the Movies at the Philadelphia Art Museum Steps (9:00pm)
- June 29: Fast Dreams for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- June 30: The Devil Wears Prada for Welcome America Night at the Movies at Rittenhouse Square (9:00pm)
- July 1: Hairspray for Welcome America Night at the Movies at Love Park (9:oopm)
- July 3: These Amazing Shadows for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE – Official Selection of Sundance 2011)
- July 5: Forest Film Festival Films (titles TBA) at Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)
- July 5: Weekend at Bernie’s II at Dock Street Brewery (technically inside, but enjoy $1 off drafts and pizza)
- July 6: Rocky Horror Picture Show for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- July 6: Quicksilver at the Philly Bicycle Coalition’s Bike-In Movie on top of the 10th & South Street Whole Foods Parking deck (8:00pm).
- July 7: Spiderman on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge, at dusk (around 8:20pm)
- July 7: 127 Hours for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- July 10: Despicable Dick & Righteous Richard for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE – Official Selection of Tribeca 2011)
- July 12: TBA Movie in the Park at Penn Treaty Park (7:00pm)
- July 12: Something to Sing About in Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)
- July 12: Back to the Future at Dock Street Brewery (technically inside, but enjoy $1 off drafts and pizza)
- July 12: The Producers on Independence Mall for the Jewish Museum’s Cocktails and Comedy film series ($15 admission includes cocktail hour at 6:00pm, movie at 7:000pm)
- July 13: Blender Animated Shorts for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- July 14: The King’s Speech for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- July 14: SECRET SCREENING for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm)
- July 17: Reindeerspotting for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (Philadelphia Premiere – Official Selection of SXSW 2011)
- July 19: Blindside at Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)6:00pm, movie at 7:00pm)
- July 19: Annie Hall on Independence Mall for the Jewish Museum’s Cocktails and Comedy film series ($15 includes cocktail hour at 6:00, movie at 7:00pm)
- July 20: Night Catches Us for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- July 21: Ironman on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge, at dusk (around 8:20pm)
- July 21: The Social Network for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- July 24: Orbit for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (Philadelphia Premiere)
- July 26: Reefer Madness at Liberty Lands Park (9:00pm)
- July 26: The Princess Bride on Independence Mall for the Jewish Museum’s Cocktails and Comedy film series ($15 includes cocktail hour at 6:00, movie at 7:00pm)
- July 27: Rocky V for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- July 28: Eat, Pray, Love for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- July 30: Fake it so Real for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (Philadelphia Premiere)
- July 31: Convento for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (Philadelphia Premiere – Official Selection of SXSW)
- Aug 2: Raiders of the Lost Ark at Liberty Lands Park (8:45pm)
- Aug 3: Down the Road for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- Aug 4: The Rocketeer on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge, at dusk (around 8:20pm)
- Aug 4: The Green Hornet for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- Aug 5: The Mummy at the Franklin Institute (9pm, Race street side)
- Aug 9: Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary at Liberty Lands Park (8:30pm)
- Aug 10: Alana for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- Aug 11: Michael Jackson’s This Is It for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- Aug 13: The Sixth Sense hosted by the Philadelphia Film Society in Rittenhouse Square (8:30pm)
- Aug 14: Senna for Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (SPECIAL PRESENTATION – Official Selection of Sundance 2011)
- Aug 16: Where the Wild Things Are at Liberty Lands Park (8:30pm)
- Aug 17: The Happening for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- Aug 18: The Incredibles on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge, at dusk (around 8:20pm)
- Aug 18: Twilight Saga – Eclipse for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30pm)
- Aug 21: Beauty Day for Awesome Fest the Piazza at Schmidt’s (7:30pm) (Official Selection of Hot Docs & Philly CineFest favorites)
- Aug 23: West Side Story at Liberty Lands Park (8:15pm)
- Aug 24: Temple Student Films for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- Aug 25: Despicable Me for Screenings Under the Stars at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (8:30 pm)
- Aug 27: Awesome fest closing night film! Details TBA.
- Aug 31: The September Issue for the Indie Film Series at Headhouse Square (7:30pm)
- Sept 1: Shut Up, Little Man for Awesome Fest at the Piazza (7:0opm)
- Sept 8: Black Power Mix Tape for Awesome Fest at the Piazza (7:00pm)
- Sept 15: Turkey Bowl for Awesome Fest at the Piazza (7:00pm)
And if that’s not enough celluloid for you, Bistro La Minette, a quaint french bistro in Queen Village, screens French films every Monday, Thursday, and Friday in its back patio for its “Dinner and a Movie Al Fresco” series. The shows start at 8:30pm (Fridays at 9:30pm) and reservations are recommended, but you can keep it a cheap date by sharing a pichet of wine or having desert and coffee instead of a full dinner. There’s a different movie each week. Click here for the roster.
this is awesome!!!
Thanks! I’ve been a little obsessed with list making lately, but finally writing up my fabulous lunch date with Midtown Lunch is next on the list!
Aww. You missed our Bike In Movie! The Bicycle Coalition is showing “Quicksilver,” on July 6th at 8pm on top of the 10th & South Whole Foods Parking deck.
Oh no! Thanks for letting me know. Of course I’ll add it. I loved the idea when I heard about the first one, but I thought it was just a one-time event. I’m glad to hear you’re doing it again!