The Guide to Outdoor Movies in Los Angeles

With two locations, Rooftop Cinema Club offers a premier outdoor cinema experience with panoramic views, spectacular sunsets and state-of-the-art wireless headphones. Upcoming screenings on the rooftop terrace at LEVEL in Downtown L.A. include "Notting Hill" (Aug. 22), "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (Aug. 23), "Captain Marvel" (Aug. 24), "A Star is Born" (Aug. 25), "Mean Girls" (Aug. 27), "The Notebook" (Aug. 28), "La La Land" (Aug. 29), "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Aug. 30), "Selena" (Aug. 31), and "Tommy" (Sept. 1). 

Highlights at Rooftop Cinema Club's Hollywood home, NeueHouse include "500 Days of Summer" (Aug. 20), "A Star is Born" (Aug. 21, Sept. 1 & 25), "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Aug. 23, Sept. 23), "Love Jones" (Aug. 24), "Roman Holiday" (Aug. 25), "Pretty Woman" (Aug. 26, Sept. 28), "Dirty Dancing" (Aug. 27, Sept. 29), "10 Things I Hate About You" (Aug. 28), "Romeo and Juliet" (Aug. 29), "Grease Sing-Along" (Aug. 30), "La La Land" (Aug. 31, Sept. 30), "Mean Girls" (Sept. 2), "Captain Marvel" (Sept. 5), "Brief Encounter" (Sept. 6), "Rear Window" (Sept. 7), "Funny Face" (Sept. 8), "Pulp Fiction" (Sept. 9), "Steam Room Stories: The Movie" (Sept. 13), "Booksmart" (Sept. 15), "Love & Basketball" (Sept. 15), "Aladdin" (Sept. 16), "The Princess Bride" (Sept. 17), "The Great Gatsby" (Sept. 18), "Big" (Sept. 19), "La Bamba" (Sept. 22), "The Notebook" (Sept. 22), "Clueless" (Sept. 27), "Point Break" (Sept. 27), "Grease Sing-Along" (Sept. 28), and "The Outsiders" (Sept. 29).

With more than 60 events at 15 locations from Pasadena to Pacific Palisades, Street Food Cinema (SFC) is known as the largest outdoor movie series in Los Angeles. Featuring a wide range of films, gourmet food trucks and live music, the 10th anniversary season kicked off on April 27 with "500 Days of Summer" at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Other screenings at the park include "Fight Club" 20th Anniversary (Sept. 14), "The Matrix" 20th Anniversary (Sept. 28), and "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (Oct. 19). Another popular destination is Griffith Park, which will host "The Little Mermaid" on September 14.

SFC is collaborating with Heritage Square Museum for a special Halloween Movie Night on Sunday, October 20 featuring Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, Psycho (1960). Advance tickets are $22 and on sale at Street Food Cinema. Limited tickets will be available at the door for $29. Explore the Perry Mansion, Hale House, Knudsen House and Colonial Drugstore before the movie begins! Building tours are included with the admission price.

Taking place on Saturday nights at rotating venues from Downtown L.A. to Santa Monica, Eat|See|Hear boasts the largest outdoor screen on the West Coast and state-of-the-art audio. Every screening features a curated line-up of food trucks and an opening performance by an up-and-coming band. The 2019 season kicked off on May 4 with "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" at the North Hollywood Recreation Center. Screenings also take place at the Autry Museum of the American West, such as "The Shining" on August 31.

Los Feliz favorite, Big Bar presents a new version of its popular summer outdoor movies series. Hosted by LA cocktail writer Daniel Djang (aka Thirsty in LA), Thirsty Classics features an evening of iconic movies paired with themed cocktails and bar bites. The series kicked off in June with "Casablanca" followed by "Some Like It Hot" in July. Next up is "Chinatown" on August 29. Tickets are on sale at Eventbrite - admission includes three coursed cocktails and popcorn, with food specials available for purchase.

Movie nights are some of the most popular events at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. Continuing a beloved Bowl tradition, John Williams: Maestro of the Movies (Aug. 30 - Sept. 1) features the legendary composer conducting many of his greatest moments of cinematic music magic. A selection of clips will be featured on the big screen.

The Bowl's popular movie screenings feature live accompaniment by the LA Phil, including "An American in Paris" (Sept. 12), the ever-popular "Sound of Music" Sing-A-Long (Sept. 21), and Black Movie Soundtrack III (Sept. 25).

Launched in 2002, Cinespia cemetery screenings hosts on-site classic films across L.A. Cinespia shows films from the 1930s through the 1990s, mostly in open-air settings at historic locations. Its most popular series runs weekly between May and August on Saturday (and occasionally Sunday) nights at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The al fresco Cemetery Screenings take place on the Fairbanks Lawn, named for the adjacent crypt housing both Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Jr. Guests picnic under the stars and watch films digitally projected against the wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum, which houses the crypt of Rudolph Valentino among many others.

The 2019 season kicked off on May 11 with "Beetlejuice." The 9th Annual Slumber Party (Aug. 17) features an all-night marathon of '90s teen-queen classics "Never Been Kissed," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Jawbreaker." Upcoming highlights include "Psycho" (Aug. 24), "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (Aug. 31), "When Harry Met Sally" (Sept. 1), "Blade Runner" (Sept. 7), "All About Eve" (Sept. 14), and "Moulin Rouge" + Fireworks (Sept. 21).

Located on the rooftop adjacent to the patio at E.P. & L.P., the Melrose Rooftop Theatre (MRT) offers an unforgettable outdoor cinema experience with the Hollywood Hills as the stunning backdrop, specialty cocktails, custom concession stand, and VIP seating for up to 100 guests. Upcoming screenings include "Pretty in Pink" (Aug. 15), "La La Land" (Aug. 18), "John Wick" (Aug. 19), "Straight Outta Compton" (Aug. 21), "Jerry Maguire" (Aug. 22), "The Devil Wears Prada" (Aug. 25), "Die Hard" (Aug. 26), "The Sandlot" (Aug. 27), "Deadpool" (Aug. 28), "Gladiator" (Aug. 29), "Mr & Mrs Smith" (Sept. 1), "Bring It On" (Sept. 2), "La La Land" (Sept. 3), "Superbad (Sept. 4), "50 First Dates" (Sept. 8), "Step Brothers" (Sept. 9), "Mrs. Doubtfire" (Sept. 10), "Us" (Sept. 11), "Forrest Gump" (Sept. 12), "The Sound of Music" (Sept. 22), "Avengers: Endgame" (Sept. 23), "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" (Sept. 24), "Boyz n the Hood" (Sept. 25), "Moulin Rouge" (Sept. 26), "The Notebook" (Sept. 29), and "Psycho" Sept. 30).

From Sept. 15-19, Melrose Rooftop Theatre presents Art Women Week - a celebration of women through movies, guest speakers and art. Screenings include "First Wives Club," "Chocolat," "Frida," "The Devil Wears Prada" and "A Star is Born."

The MRT experience features a state-of-the-art Da Lite 16’ x 19’ screen and wireless headsets provided to guests. Tickets are on sale at www.melroserooftoptheatre.com. Pricing for the all-VIP seating is $27.50 per person. The "Dinner and a Movie" package ($65) includes a three-course modern Asian meal at E.P. by Executive Chef Louis Tikaram, followed by reserved seating on the rooftop theatre. Screenings will begin at sundown, with most films running from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Bring the entire family for “Movie Under The Guns,” screening monthly on board the famed Battleship IOWA in San Pedro. The unique movie series is free and held outdoors on the ship's fantail. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately, bring blankets and outdoor chairs. Concessions will be available, no coolers or outside food and beverages allowed. All movies will start at dusk. Subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions. Donations are not required but greatly appreciated.

This summer, the Queen Mary invites the public to enjoy the Movie Night Summer Series - free monthly screenings of celebrated films at one of SoCal's most unique outdoor movie locations. Spread out your blanket on the grassy lawn adjacent to the ship and watch a Tim Burton Double Feature: "Beetlejuice" + "Edward Scissorhands" (August 22).

Event opens at 6:00 pm and the movie will begin at sundown. Food options from themed food trucks will be available on-site, as will beverages and a full bar. The screenings are free to attend and open to all ages. On-site parking at the Queen Mary is available for $10 per vehicle. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed. No outside food or beverages permitted, with the exception of unopened water bottles.