In the summer, Philadelphia comes alive with a variety of different outdoor experiences. A movie under the stars is one of our favorite ways to spend a summer night in the city, and there are plenty of options available. Our Philadelphia adoption professionals recommend checking out the following outdoor movie places in the city:
Schuylkill Banks at the Walnut Street Bridge
During select Thursday nights, outdoor movies are hosted directly on the banks of the Schuylkill River, near the Walnut Street Bridge. This is one of our favorite backdrops for enjoying outdoor movies, with the river and bridge in the background looking especially beautiful at sunset. These free screenings fill up fast, so we recommend arriving early to find a spot on the grass for your blanket.
Films on the schedule at the Walnut Street Bridge this summer include:
- June 29: Charade
- July 13 – The Big Lebowski
- July 27 – Ratatouille
- August 10 – Jaws
Schuylkill Banks at Grays Ferry Crescent
The Schuylkill Banks series has a second location at Grays Ferry Crescent, just south of the Walnut Street Bridge location. The selection here is a bit more family-friendly, so we like going here with our kids. But the movies on view are also award-winning, so both parents and children can enjoy them.
The following films are on the schedule this summer at the Grays Ferry Crescent:
- June 22: The Sandlot
- July 20: Finding Dory
- August 3: Hidden Figures
Screenings Under the Stars at Penn’s Landing
Screening Under the Stars runs weekly movies at Penn’s Landing in July and August. This year, the lineup has an even mix of family-friendly movies and some that are better suited for adult audiences. The schedule includes:
- July 6: Captain America: Civil War
- July 13: La La Land
- July 20: Stars War: Rogue One
- July 27: Purple Rain
- August 3: Magnificent Seven
- August 10: Kong: Skull Island
- August 17: Beauty and the Beast
- August 24: The Lego Batman Movie
- August 31: Sing
Second Sunday Cinema Series at Spruce Street Harbor Park
Spruce Street Harbor Park is one of our favorite outdoor spaces in Philly, and they host a classic TV show followed by a movie every second Sunday through September. There are plenty of other fun activities to experience at Spruce Street Harbor Park every night of the week, including bocce, ping pong, shuffleboard, and an arcade – not to mention food stands from some of the best restaurants in the city.
Screenings this year include:
- July 9 – TV Show: Bewitched | Movie: Sabrina (1954)
- August 13 – TV Show: Leave it to Beaver | Movie: Ocean’s 11 (1960)
- September 10 – TV Show: The Adventures of Superman | Movie: Philadelphia Story (1940)
Pictures in the Park at Dilworth Park
On select Friday evenings in July and August, you can watch movies right in the heart of Center City at Dilworth Park – right outside of City Hall. The lineup this year includes:
- July 21: Beauty and the Beast
- July 28: Central Intelligence
- August 4: Jurassic World
- August 11: Trainwreck
- August 18: Avengers: Age of Union
- August 25: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
