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Where to watch outdoor movies in Philly this summer

Catch a movie this summer while enjoying the great outdoors

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Note: This story was last published in the summer of 2018, and has been recently updated with the latest information.

You can always freeze yourself out by heading to an ice-cold movie theater to beat the heat, but why blow your money on popcorn and tickets when you can catch a film and enjoy the great outdoors?

In Philly you can find a park or outdoor venue showing a movie almost every day of the week—and nearly all of them are free.

Here, we've compiled the best screenings we know of so far. If there’s a good one that we missed, let us know in the comments.

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Schuylkill Banks

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The Schuylkill Banks movie nights are a popular event, and you can catch free movies on several Thursdays through August 29. Movies are shown on the banks by the Walnut Street Bridge or Grays Ferry Crescent and there are free snacks and drinks served on a first-come, first-serve basis. Movies start at dusk.

Grays Ferry Crescent

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The Schuylkill Banks splits its movie nights between its Walnut Street Bridge location and Grays Ferry Crescent. Movies, like The Karate Kid this Thursday, start at dusk around 8:30 p.m.

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La Peg Beer Garden

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The Haas Biergarten at La Peg has a long lineup of movies planned for the summer, now through August 21. You can watch movies every Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. Movies are free, food and drinks are not.

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Penn's Landing

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On Thursdays through August 29, Penn's Landing will host Screenings Under the Stars. You can check out films like Captain Marvel, Creed 2, and Clueless for free every Thursday starting July 11. Movies start at 8 p.m.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts

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The Mann Center hosts movie nights with a twist: Each movie is accompanied live by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Pretty neat, especially since the movies have such classic soundtracks, like Star Wars and Harry Potter. Tickets start at $25.

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Betsy Ross House

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While you're out enjoying First Fridays in Old City, you might as well catch a free movie at the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House, from July 5 through October 4. Admission is $5, but that includes a tour of the house and you can BYOB and picnic, too.

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Clark Park

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Movies at this West Philly park don't start until August 9, but there's a good lineup, including Crazy Rich Asians and Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Brink a blanket and some food.

Dilworth Park

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Every Friday night from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. from July 19 to August 23, Dilworth Park will host "Pictures in the Park," a screening of a movie on Dilworth’s patch of grass. This year there’s a theme, too: Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes, hosted by the Franklin Institute. Movies will include Solo: a Star Wars Story and Captain Mavel. You'll be able to drink a cocktail, wine, or beer, but you'll have to bring your own chair or towel.

Laurel Hill Cemetery

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Laurel Hill Cemetery holds a popular pop-up movie event one Friday each month through September 13. They show movies like Coco and Beetlejuice with tickets starting at $12 a person.

Schuylkill Banks

The Schuylkill Banks movie nights are a popular event, and you can catch free movies on several Thursdays through August 29. Movies are shown on the banks by the Walnut Street Bridge or Grays Ferry Crescent and there are free snacks and drinks served on a first-come, first-serve basis. Movies start at dusk.

Grays Ferry Crescent

The Schuylkill Banks splits its movie nights between its Walnut Street Bridge location and Grays Ferry Crescent. Movies, like The Karate Kid this Thursday, start at dusk around 8:30 p.m.

A post shared by kalinom (@kalinom) on

La Peg Beer Garden

The Haas Biergarten at La Peg has a long lineup of movies planned for the summer, now through August 21. You can watch movies every Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. Movies are free, food and drinks are not.

A post shared by Ryan (@ryanmcg215) on

Penn's Landing

On Thursdays through August 29, Penn's Landing will host Screenings Under the Stars. You can check out films like Captain Marvel, Creed 2, and Clueless for free every Thursday starting July 11. Movies start at 8 p.m.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts

The Mann Center hosts movie nights with a twist: Each movie is accompanied live by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Pretty neat, especially since the movies have such classic soundtracks, like Star Wars and Harry Potter. Tickets start at $25.

A post shared by the Mann (@manncenter) on

Betsy Ross House

While you're out enjoying First Fridays in Old City, you might as well catch a free movie at the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House, from July 5 through October 4. Admission is $5, but that includes a tour of the house and you can BYOB and picnic, too.

A post shared by #MyPhillyPhoto (@myphillyphoto) on

Clark Park

Movies at this West Philly park don't start until August 9, but there's a good lineup, including Crazy Rich Asians and Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Brink a blanket and some food.

Dilworth Park

Every Friday night from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. from July 19 to August 23, Dilworth Park will host "Pictures in the Park," a screening of a movie on Dilworth’s patch of grass. This year there’s a theme, too: Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes, hosted by the Franklin Institute. Movies will include Solo: a Star Wars Story and Captain Mavel. You'll be able to drink a cocktail, wine, or beer, but you'll have to bring your own chair or towel.

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Laurel Hill Cemetery holds a popular pop-up movie event one Friday each month through September 13. They show movies like Coco and Beetlejuice with tickets starting at $12 a person.