Spend your evenings outdoors with these free movie screenings in and around Boston. Photo via iStock/Vera_Petrunina

Film

Where to Watch Free Movies Outdoors All Summer Long

Enjoy cult classics, recent releases, and snacks and drinks under the stars

Grab some popcorn, trade your couch for a lawn chair or picnic blanket, and head outdoors to see a movie on the big screen this summer—for free. Whether you’re in the mood for a movie, want to take advantage of the warm summer weather, or even if you’ve been meaning to get your friends together for a picnic, the Boston area’s many outdoor movie programs are sure to keep you entertained.

We’ve compiled a guide to the best spots around Boston to enjoy the latest flicks and fan favorites under the night sky, including what you need to know about seating and snacks.

Time Out Market Free Movie Mondays

Right in the heart of Fenway sits Time Out Market—a 29,000-square-foot food hall—and its green space, at 401 Park Drive. An ice skating hot spot in the colder months, 401 Park transforms in the summer to welcome fitness classes, concerts by Berklee College of Music musicians, and free movie screenings. Free Movie Mondays kicks off June 30 with a screening of 10 Things I Hate About You, followed by a July 7 screening of Finding Nemo, with more to be announced. Movies start at 8 pm, but be sure to get there early; there’s free popcorn from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. For something other than popcorn, you can choose from more than a dozen food and drink options just steps away. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair, as the grassy area doesn’t have seating.

401 Park Drive, Boston
Select Mondays, 8 pm

Friday Movie Night at the Kendall/MIT Open Space

The green oasis in the middle of this tech hub offers a wide range of public programs throughout the year, all aimed at connecting the Cambridge, Kendall Square, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology communities. The space is often packed with food trucks and music ensembles, but in the warmer months, movies are on the menu. Embrace your inner child with a showing of Toy Story on June 27 or fuel your sleuthing skills with the Hitchcock classic Rear Window on July 11. Free movie screenings begin at 6 pm, and seating is available on a first come, first served basis; consider bringing a blanket or chair. Free treats from local stores will be offered while supplies last. The event is free, but registration is recommended for real-time updates on location or date changes because of inclement weather. 

Kendall/MIT Open Space, 292 Main St., Cambridge
Select Fridays, 6 pm

Urban Park Roof Movie Nights

Spend your evening among the clouds at the Kendall Center’s Rooftop Garden, with great views of the Cambridge city skyline. The recently renovated Urban Park Roof Garden offers public access to art installations, picnic tables, bean bag toss games, and a convertible pickleball-volleyball court. Come for the outdoor activities during the day and stay for the free movie screenings in the evening. Saturday Movie Nights began with a showing of Moana 2 on June 21. There will also be Throwback Thursday screenings through the fall, starting with a July 17 screening of Disney’s Flubber. Each movie starts at 6 pm. Stop by one of many nearby restaurants or retailers to grab snacks and drinks to enjoy during the screening; alcoholic beverages are not permitted. You’ll also need to bring your own seating.

Urban Park Roof Garden, 325 Main St., Cambridge
Select Thursdays and Saturdays, 6 pm

Summer Flicks at the Prudential Center

You may know the Prudential Center as the retail capital of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. But did you know there is a 1.3-acre garden nestled between shops that hosts summer concerts, fitness classes, and free movie screenings? Summer Flicks at the Prudential Center’s South Garden runs from July to August with a selection of movies for all ages. Tune in for the July 12 showing of Miss Congeniality or the 2000s classic School of Rock on August 2. Movies begin at dusk, with musical entertainment at 6:30 pm. There’s no seating in the South Garden, so pack a blanket or lawn chair.

Prudential Center South Garden, 800 Boylston St., Boston
Saturdays, 6:30 to 10 pm

Movie Nights at Boston Landing

Just minutes away from campus lies a retail, residential, and recreational hub that blends business and community living. Besides its expansive commuter rail station, Boston Landing houses the practice and training facilities for the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins, as well as the global headquarters of New Balance Athletics. It also holds an annual Outdoor Movie Night series. Enjoy themed movie nights on select Thursdays, complete with a live DJ and a variety of food and drink options from nearby eateries. Movies start around 8 pm, but a pre-party begins about 6 pm. You can look forward to Christmas in July with a showing of Elf on July 24. Movie nights are held rain or shine and will be screened indoors at the New Balance Track in the event of inclement weather. Don’t forget a picnic blanket! 

Athletes Park at Boston Landing, 80 Guest St., Brighton
Select Thursdays, 6 pm

Hatch Shell Friday Flicks

Catch a feature-length film at the historic Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. In addition to its annual July 4th extravaganza, the 84-year-old Hatch Shell hosts multiple concerts, orchestral performances, charity events, and free movie screenings throughout the summer. This year’s Free Friday Flicks, organized by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in collaboration with WBZ NewsRadio 1030, will provide free games and giveaways leading up to the screening. Movies begin at sundown, but arrive early for the fun celebrations at 6 pm. Bring a group of friends and a few blankets—this is the perfect spot to have a picnic. 

Hatch Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston
Select Fridays, 6 pm

Films at the Chinatown Gate

This three-day Chinese-language film festival—hosted by the Asian Community Development Corporation—modernizes the traditional Chinatown movie house and introduces classic Kung Fu films to younger audiences. Started in 2006, Films at the Gate doesn’t have just movies, but live entertainment, too. From 5:30 to 7:30 pm, enjoy games, family-friendly activities, dance performances, and martial arts demonstrations, followed by the main feature at 8 pm (with English subtitles to help follow along). Complete the evening with a nearby take-out order from one of Chinatown’s many food spots. Be sure to arrive early, as seating is limited. 

Chinatown Gate, John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road and Beach Street, Boston
Friday, August 22, to Sunday, August 24, 5:30 pm

Coolidge Corner Theatre at the Charles River Speedway

Brookline’s oldest movie theater is on the move this summer, with movie screenings at various locations around Greater Boston, including the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Charles River Speedway, Mount Auburn Cemetery, and the Rocky Woods Reservation in Medfield, Mass. Tune in at sundown—about 8 pm—on select Wednesdays for throwbacks like Mean Girls, Good Burger, and The Blob, carefully curated by the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Speedway screenings are held in the Upper Courtyard and seating is limited. Get there early and grab a bite to eat from one of the nearby restaurants or food trucks.

Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton
Select Wednesdays, 8 pm

Thursdays on the Lawn at Assembly Row

Clear your Thursday evenings and head over to Somerville to enjoy free outdoor activities at The Lawn, a waterfront park that’s part of Assembly Row’s 45-acre mixed-use retail and residential space. Thursdays on the Lawn feature an ever-changing selection of live music, comedy shows, boxing classes, and outdoor movie nights—all free. See the most recent installment in the Paddington franchise, Paddington in Peru, on July 10 or the worldwide phenomenon Wicked on August 7. Top off your movie experience with endless food and drink options, and be sure to bring a blanket to sit on.

The Lawn at Assembly Row, 301 Assembly Row, Somerville 
Select Thursdays, 8 pm 

Science on Screen, Rose Kennedy Greenway

One of the Coolidge Corner Theatre’s most popular programs, Science on Screen, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Science on Screen pairs classic cult movies, shown on old-school 35mm film, with discussions about recent scientific research or technological advancements from local figures in the science, tech, and medicine worlds. Boston University’s own Brian Kulis, a College of Engineering and Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, will lead a discussion on how AI informs the concepts of “replicants” in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner: The Final Cut on June 25 at the Rose Kennedy Greenway, before an 8 pm screening of the film. Come back throughout the summer for discussions featuring Harvard University and MIT faculty. The Greenway has several food and drink trucks, but you’ll need to bring your own seating. 

The Rose Kennedy Greenway Wharf District Park, between Milk Street and Atlantic Avenue.
Select Wednesdays, 8 pm

Cinemarina: Movie Night at Boston Harbor

Boston Shipyard and Marina will celebrate Eastie week—a celebration of the vibrant East Boston community—with a free screening of Moana 2 on Boston Harbor. This movie night is a great way for all ages to enjoy a fun film near the salty sea air, while enjoying the Boston skyline. When you’re packing something to sit on, keep in mind that the screening is on a gravel parking lot. Also, there is no parking at the Harbor, so plan to walk, bike, or take public transportation.

Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, 256 Marginal St., East Boston
Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 to 11 pm

Mayor Movie Nights

Through August, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program is offering a series of free movie screenings in parks citywide. The showings, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, begin at dusk and there will be free popcorn while supplies last. Multiple showings will be held in the South End, Downtown Boston, and the Allston/Brighton area, among others. You can expect to see movies like Wall-E, Transformers One, and Captain America: Brave New World. 

Multiple locations, select dates in August. Find the full list here.