Summer Movie Venues in Boston
Where to watch outdoor summer movies in Boston
Summertime means grabbing a blanket and some snacks, and watching a free movie outside. And luckily, there are quite a few outdoor movie series to choose from in the Boston area.
Here's a great list of Summer Movies under the stars that we can look forward to in 2022. We are continually adding new venues as information becomes available. If you know of a local movie night - let us know and we are happy to list it.
Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell
It's back! WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) present the 35th annual Free Friday Flicks, a movie series at DCR's Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston!
Free Friday Flicks is a summertime tradition in Boston, attracting thousands of moviegoers to enjoy family-oriented, feature-length movies under the stars all summer long at DCR's Hatch Shell in Boston!
Free Friday Flicks Summer Movie Lineup
Friday July 15, Sunset (~8:19 pm) - Encanto
Friday July 22, Sunset (~8:14 pm) - Frozen 2
Friday July 29, Sunset (~8:07 pm) - Onward
Friday August 5, Sunset (~7:59 pm) - Trolls World Tour
Friday August 12, Sunset (~7:50 pm) - Unchartred
Friday August 19, Sunset (~7:40 pm) - Sing 2
Friday August 26, Sunset (~7:29 pm) - Cruella
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and watch a movie with family and friends on Friday night for free! Movies begin at sundown, but arrive early to grab your spot on the lawn and enjoy free games and giveaways with WBZ NewsRadio 1030. The fun starts at 6pm!
DCR Summer Movies in the Park
Pack up a blanket, lawn chair and picnic for FREE movies under the stars at DCR Parks. All movies begin at sundown. Movies play through the week as listed at the following locations:
Fridays - Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplande
Saturdays – Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesdays - Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesdays - Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursdays - Pope John Paul II Reservation, Dorchester
Movie Lineup
Encanto - (1hr 49 min)
Friday 7/15 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 7/16 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 7/19 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 7/20 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 7/21 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Frozen 2 - (1hr 43 min)
Friday 7/22 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 7/23 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 7/26 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 7/27 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 7/28 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Onward - (1hr 42min)
Friday 7/29 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 7/30 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 8/2 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 8/3 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 8/4 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Trolls: World Tour - (1hr 31 min)
Friday 8/5 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 8/6 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 8/9 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 8/10 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 8/11 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Uncharted - (1hr 56 min)
Friday 8/12 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 8/13 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 8/16 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 8/17 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 8/18 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Sing 2 - (1hr 50 min)
Friday 8/19 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 8/20 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 8/23 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 8/24 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 8/25 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
Cruela - (2hr 14 min)
Friday 8/26 Hatch Shell, Charles River Reservation
Saturday 8/27 Sylvester Baxter Park Somerville
Tuesday 8/30 Blackstone Heritage State Park, Uxbridge
Wednesday 8/31 Lowell Heritage State Park, Lowell
Thursday 9/1 Pope John Paul II State Park, Dorchester
photo courtesy of Assembly Square / Baxter Park
Mayor's Summer Movie Nights in the Parks
The Mayor's Movie Nights are part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program. Held in August and September, the shows begin at dusk. Come enjoy popular films under the night skies in Boston city parks.
All shows begin at dusk (approximately 7:45 p.m.)
Summer Movie Schedule
- Tue, 8/2, Jamaica Plain: ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’
- Jamaica Pond - Pinebank
- Tue, 8/9, Roslindale: ‘Sing 2’
- Healy Playground, 160 Florence Street
- Mon, 8/15, East Boston: ‘Luca’
- East Boston Memorial Park, 143 Porter Street
- Tue, 8/16, Dorchester: ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
- Ronan Park, 92 Mt. Ida Road
- Ronan Park, 92 Mt. Ida Road
- Wed, 8/17, Roxbury: ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’
- Marcella Playground, 260 Highland Street
- Mon, 8/22, Hyde Park: ‘Encanto’
- Iacono Playground, 150 Readville Street
- Tue, 8/23, South End: ‘Soul’
- Ramsay Park, 1917 Washington Street
- Thu, 8/25, Charlestown, ‘Encanto’
- Winthrop Square, 55 Winthrop Street
- Mon, 8/29, Brighton: ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’
- Hardiman Playground, 360 Faneuil Street
- Tue, 8/30, South Boston/ Seaport: ‘Soul’
- Moakley Park, 1005 Columbia Road (Near Roller Hockey Rink)
- Thu, 9/1, Downtown: ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’
- Boston Common Frog Pond, 38 Beacon Street
Coolidge on the Greenway: Summer Movies Series
Experience cinema classics under the stars! The Coolidge is thrilled to be partnering with the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy for a free outdoor screening series this summer.
Movie Lineup (Wednesdays)
6/15 - The Birds (35mm)
7/13 - Tremors (35mm)
8/10 - Fast 5 (35mm)
CX Movie Nights at Maria Baldwin Open Space at CX
CX Movie Nights returns to Cambridge Crossing in partnership with the Brattle Theater and East Cambridge Business Association (ECBA) for a free double-feature movie series, taking place on June 30 and July 28 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm in the Maria Baldwin Open Space at CX.
Enjoy a family and pet-friendly night of movies, popcorn, and food trucks.
June 30 - Moana at 5:30 pm and School of Rock at 7:30 pm.
July 28 - Encanto at 5:30 pm and Mrs. Doubtfire at 7:30 pm.
photo courtesy of CX
Family Flicks at Prudential Center
Family Flicks at Prudential Center (formerly know as Family Film Festival) features free, family-friendly movies on Prudential Center’s South Garden every Saturday starting on July 9th. All movies will start at dusk.
Movie Schedule:
July 9th: Encanto
July 16th: Shrek
July 23rd: The Parent Trap
July 30th: Luca
August 6th: Space Jam
August 13th: Tangled
August 20th: Sing 2
August 27th: Trolls: World Tour
photo courtesy of Prudential Center
Movies by Moonlight at Boston Harbor Hotel - Boston
The Boston Harbor Hotel will once again transform its harbor side terrace into an outdoor cinema beneath the stars for its Annual Movies by Moonlight series on the waterfront.
Visit Hollywood by enjoying an all-star lineup of both classic and contemporary movies every Friday night against the backdrop of the starlit harbor.
The cool evening breeze and view from Intrigue Café set the stage for the perfect opportunity to view these classic films under the stars. Movies begin at dusk.
Movie Lineup
JUNE
6/10: Lorax
6/17: ET
6/24: Jaws
JULY
7/8: Sing
7/15: Grease
7/22: Wizard of Oz
7/29: Luca
AUGUST
8/5: Crazy Rich Asians
8/12: Guardians of the Galaxy
8/19: Encanto
8/26: Dune
Kung Fu Films at the Chinatown Gate
The Asian Community Development Organization (ACDC) presents Films at the Gate. Each of the three nights of film showings includes a live performance, two short films, and the main feature.
August 26 - 28, 2022
5:30PM Games and activities for families
6:00 PM Performances & martial arts demonstrations
7:30PM Welcome program
8:00PM Main feature (timing dependent on sunset for optimal viewing)
The classic films are action-packed with kung fu scenes and are accompanied by English-subtitles.
Summer Movie Series at Christopher Columbus Park
Pack a picnic to take to Christopher Columbus Park for one of these Sunday night films, which will begin at dusk. Free popcorn courtesy of Joe’s American Bar & Grill. Sunday Night Movie Series at Christopher Columbus Park
2022 Summer Movie Lineup
July 17: Sandlot
July 24: Dirty Dancing
July 31: Philadelphia Story
Aug. 7: Meet the Parents
Aug. 14: Selma
Aug. 21: Batman Begins
Summer Movies at 'Old Ironsides'
Summer Movie Nights on “Old Ironsides” kick off on Friday, June 24 with a free showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on the spar deck of USS Constitution!
6/24 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
7/15 - Master and Commander
8/20 - Captain Phillips
The doors open at 7:30pm and the film will begin at 8:30pm. Seating is first come first served. From 7:30-8:30pm enjoy family-friendly activities with Museum educators.
General seating will be available, though guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for viewing. Small bags, food, and drinks are permitted on board. Alcohol is not permitted.
Guests ages 18 and up will be asked to show a photo I.D. and pass through a security screening to board the Ship.
Boston Landing Summer Movies - Brighton
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic and enjoy complimentary summer movies at Boston Landing on the rolling green hills at Athlete’s Park! Or, you can grab a bite to each at our of our restaurants or take it to go and enjoy during the movie!
Featured movies for 2022 (in date order) are:
7/20 - Top Gun
8/17 - Grease
9/14 - Hocus Pocus
*7:00pm Pre-Movie Fun
*8:30pm Movie starts
Pre-Movie Activities & Fun at Athlete’s Park, including a live DJ! Limited Chairs are Available, BYO Blankets & Chairs to ensure you have a place to sit. Wear your favorite themed outfit for the occasion!
photo courtesy of Boston Landing
Movies in the Park at Assembly Row - Somerville
Grab a picnic blanket or lawn chair and make your way down to Baxter Park for free movie screenings on Saturday nights, courtesy of DCR. Movies will run on Saturday nights from July 16 - August 27 at sundown.
July 16 – Encanto
July 23 – Frozen 2
July 30 – Onward
August 6 – Trolls: World Tour
August 13 – Uncharted
August 20 – Sing 2
August 27 – Cruella
Theatre Thursdays at Revere Beach
Spend a day trip at Revere Beach: the perfect spot to swim and sunbathe. But on Theatre Thursdays at Revere Beach, when the weather’s cooled off and night falls, make sure not to leave without watching a movie on the beach.
- Thu, 7/14: ‘Dog’
- Thu, 7/21: TBD
- Thu, 7/28: ‘Ghostbusters– Afterlife’
- Thu, 8/4: ‘Encanto’
- Thu, 8/11: ‘Jungle Cruise’
- Thu, 8/18: ‘Luca’
Entertainment is from 6:00PM - 8:00PM with music, popcorn an& d cotton candy. Movie begins at dusk. Event is FREE! All movies have a rain date on the following night (Friday).
photo courtesy of Revere Beach Parks & Recreation
Summer Flicks at Patriot Place 2022
Patriot Place invites you to Summer Flicks – a free outdoor movie series. Located in the DORA Zone outside Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel and Saga Hibachi Steakhouse on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Bring a blanket or chairs.
Join us for pre-show entertainment beginning at 6:00 PM. The films will begin at sunset.
2022 Summer Movie Schedule
6/ 22 - Sing 2
7/6 - Encanto
7/20 - Cruella
8/3 - The Mitchells vs. The Machines
824 - Spiderman No Way Home
Guests can reserve their seats beginning at 6 p.m. and each showing will begin at sunset.
photo courtesy of Patriot Place
Movies at the Mansion: Lyman Estate
Summer nights are perfect for an outdoor movie on the historic Lyman Estate grounds. Come early to walk the landscape, have a picnic, explore the c. 1793 mansion, and enjoy musical entertainment by the Waltham High School show band.
Come early to walk the landscape or bring lawn chairs and a blanket and have a picnic at Movies at the Mansion 2022.
Please bring your own lawn chairs and/or blankets. In the event of rain the movie will be shown indoors with masks required.
2022 Movie Schedule:
July 14th: Encanto
July 21th: Captain Marvel
July 28th: Notting Hill
Candy and drinks are available for sale. Alcohol is not permitted.
Hammond Castle Summer Movie Series ($) - Gloucester
Come have a unique summer experience with a big screen movie on the oceanside lawn of Hammond Castle Museum!
* July 7: Wizard of Oz
* July14: My Neighbor Totoro
* July 21: Willow
* July 28: Labyrinth
Bring a picnic dinner, chairs or a blanket, and come early to spend time on the back lawn or stroll around the Castle.
MFA Sunset Cinema - June 28, 2022
The Museum of Fine Arts MFA Sunset Cinema will host free monthly movies on its Huntington Avenue lawn.
Celebrate the return of summer 2022 with an outdoor screening of the beloved 1997 romance Love Jones, presented in partnership with the Roxbury International Film Festival.
The screening takes place on the Huntington Avenue Lawn from 8:00pm - 10:30pm on June 28, 2022 weather permitting. No ticket is required.
Bring a blanket or low chair (maximum 3 feet high), a picnic supper, and nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy during the film. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase.
photo courtesy of MFA Boston
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Drive-In Movies Near Boston
In addition, more and more venues have started offering special Drive-In movie options, so take a look at our guide to what's been announced so far to see where you and your family can enjoy a drive-in movie near you this summer.
While not free, you can usually get into a Drive-in movie for one price per carload, and experience a big screen movie from the comfort of your own car with friends and family.
Mendon Twin Drive In (Milford)
Kowloon Car Hop & Movie Nights (Saugus)
Wellfellet Drive-In (Cape Cod)
More Ideas for Summer Fun!
Find Fun Things to Do on our events calendar as Summer Begins in Boston. From a myriad of Boston Beaches, Spray Parks & Pool, Waterparks and more, you'll find lots of ways to stay cool during a Boston Summer.
There are so many fun things to do for free in Boston - check out our guide for more money-saving ideas for family fun.
You can find lots more family-friendly Boston events each week on the BostonCentral calendar and our popular things to do this week newsletter.
Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.