Summer is the best time to be a local. Whether you’re in Baltimore, Columbia, Ocean City, or right in the heart of DC, there’s a free outdoor movie within driving distance almost every weekend from now through October.
Tip: Most screenings start at dusk (roughly 8:30–9pm). Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, arrive 30–45 minutes early for a good spot, and check each venue’s website for any weather-related cancellations before heading out.
(Bookmark and come back as I update the list if I find new ones)
Maryland
Flicks from the Hill – Baltimore AVAM
7/9 – The Wiz (1978)
7/16 – A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
7/23 – Men in Black (1997)
7/30 – Labyrinth (1986)
Rhythm & Reels – Baltimore City Recs and Parks
6/27 – Sinners
7/17 – Freakier Friday
8/7 – Just Wright
8/22 – Wicked For Good
9/26 – Dirty Dancing
10/2 – Jurassic Park
10/18 – Beetlejuice 2
10/23 – The Craft
The Wine Bin – Ellicott City, MD
Movie Nights at The Columbia Lakefront in Downtown Columbia, MD
6/5 – Lilo & Stitch (Live Action) (2025)
6/26 – Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
7/1 – Hamilton (2020)
7/10 – Wicked (2024)
7/11 – Wicked: For Good (2025)
7/17 – GOAT (2026)
7/24 – The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
7/31 – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
8/7 – Zootopia (2016)
8/8 – Zootopia 2 (2025)
8/21 – Freakier Friday (2025)
8/28 – Elio (2025)
9/4 – How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
Movie Nights in Color Burst Park – Merriweather District Columbia, MD
9/18 – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
9/25 – Masters of the Universe (2026)
10/2 – Toy Story 5 (2026)
10/9 – Moana (Live Action) (2026)
Movies on the Potomac – National Harbor, MD
Movies Begin 7pm-9pm
5/21 – Wicked: For Good
5/24 – GOAT
5/28 – F1
5/31 – Zootopia 2
6/4 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
6/7 – Miracle
6/11 – Captain America: Brave New World
6/18 – Song Sung Blue
6/21 – Remember the Titans
6/28 – Hoppers
7/2 – Hamilton
7/5 – Back to the Future
7/9 – Top Gun
7/12 – October Sky
7/16 – Top Gun: Maverick
7/19 – Freakier Friday
7/23 – The American President
7/26 – Sarah’s Oil
7/30 – Forrest Gump
8/2 – First Kid
8/6 – Dave
8/9 – Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
8/13 – Rocky
8/16 – Elio
8/20 – Creed
8/23 – Babe
8/27 – Michael
8/30 – Little Giants
9/3 – Clueless
9/6 – Rudy
9/10 – Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
9/13 – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
9/17 – Superman (2025)
9/20 – How to Train Your Dragon
9/24 – Moneyball
9/27 – The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Movie Nights on the Village at Lansdowne Town Center – Lansdowne, MD
6/12 – Lilo & Stitch
7/10 – Zootopia 2
8/14 – How to Train Your Dragon
Friday Night Movie Night – The Collection at Chevy Chase, MD
5/29 – 10 Things I Hate About You
6/12 – Crazy Rich Asians
6/26 – The Parent Trap
Summer Nights Series at Cabin John Village– Potomac, MD
6/12 – Mamma Mia!
7/10 – Encanto
8/14 – The Parent Trap
9/11 – Toy Story
10/9 – Hotel Transylvania
City of Laurel Summer Friday Flicks – Laurel, MD
Carroll County Arts Free Summer Movie – Carroll County, MD
7/7 – Spy Kids
7/14 – Shrek1
7/21 – Space Jam
7/28 – Robin Hood (Animated)
8/4 – Muppet Treasure Island
Summer Movie Nights- Bel Air Downtown
Bethesda Outdoor Movies – Bethesda, MD 8:45pm Start
Located at County Parking Lot 24, behind the Farm Women’s Market.
July 25 – Ocean’s 8
July 31 – La La Land
August 7 – Bring it On
Movies on the Beach- Ocean City
Starts at 8:30PM
6/3 – Surf’s Up
6/10 – The Land Before Time
6/17 – Hoppers
6/24 – Elio
7/1 – The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
7/8 – The Bad Guys 2
7/15 – Smurfs
7/22 – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
7/29 – Lilo & Stitch (Live Action)
8/5 – Zootopia 2
8/12 – GOAT
Movies on the Beach – North Beach, MD
Bengies Schedule – Middle River, MD (Cost Money)*
Shows newer movies at dusk with 2-3 films each night Friday-Sunday
Washington DC
2026 Sunset Cinema – Weds. Night at The Wharf
5/27 – Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
6/3 – Shrek 2 (2004)
6/10 – Hairspray (2007)
6/17 – Sinners (2025)
7/1 – National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
7/8 – Hamilton (2020)
7/15 – A League of Their Own (1992)
7/22 – Catch Me If You Can (2002)
7/29 – Apollo 13 (1995)
8/5 – Roman Holiday (1953)
8/12 – 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
8/19 – F1 (2025)
8/26 – Project Hail Mary (2026)
9/2 – Double Feature: When Harry Met Sally (1989) & First Wives Club (1996)
Downtown DC Summer Flicks – DC
6/5 – To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar + Mamma Mia!
6/12 – Loving + The Birdcage
6/19 – Mufasa: The Lion King + Wicked
6/26 – The Little Mermaid + Barbie
7/17 – National Treasure
9/11 – Jurassic Park
Adams Morgan Movie Nights – DC
5/28 – East Side Sushi
6/4 – Hamilton (Sing-Along)
6/11 – Sitar Arts Center Family Night
6/18 – MILK (Pride Night)
6/25 – Kangaroo
7/2 – Rain Makeup (Movie TBD)
The Drive-In at Union Market – DC (Cost Money)*
5/8 – Mulan
6/12 – Barbie
7/10 – Iron Man
8/14 – F1 The Movie
9/4 – Mean Girls
10/9 – The Addams Family
At Dusk
6/6 – National Treasure -3pm show time
6/11 – Captain America: The First Avenger
6/18 – Miracle
6/25 – Apollo 13
Library of Congress Movies – DC
7/9 – Clueless (1995)
7/16 – Rocky (1976)
7/23 – Back to the Future (1985)
7/30 – A League of Their Own (1992)
8/6 – Apollo 13 (1995)
TBD:
Moonlight Movies at the Mansion – Gaithersburg (July – September)
Love on the Lawn – The Hennessy Creek Brandywine, MD
Movies in the Park – Rockville, MD
Almost everything on here is completely free, so there’s really no excuse not to get outside and enjoy it. Grab a blanket, call up a friend, and go. The popcorn is optional but highly recommended.
I’ll keep updating this list all summer as new screenings get announced, so bookmark this page and come back. And if you know of one I missed, hit reply and let me know!
Looking for more things to do this summer? I’ve got you.
