It’s a summer for burgeoning tightwads—gas prices are above $4 a gallon, airlines are now chargine $25 per bag, and—more important—a single blockbuster movie ticket complete with deep-freeze air conditioning now clocks in at $11.75…plus $1.50 for service charges.
But cinema lovers can give their strained wallets a break this season by taking in one of the many free (or nearly free) outdoor films playing in parks and on rooftops all over the city almost every night of the week. Be forewarned, though: The scene is BYOPB (that’s Bring Your Own Picnic Blanket, for newbies), and many die-hards camp out in the primo spots well before sunset.
HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Perhaps one of the most popular of the outdoor venues, this green space in the middle of Midtown can cause stampeding for a moviegoing spot with good screen sight lines. This year’s lineup, which screens on Mondays, is heavy on the classics with black-and-white comedies like “Arsenic and Old Lace” (July 21) and action adventure such as Sean Connery’s first outing as Bond, “Dr. No” (June 16). (Mondays, June 16–Aug. 18)
Summer Screen at McCarren Park Pool
In it’s third—and unfortunately, last—year as an outdoor entertainment venue, the McCarren Park Pool will be screening contemporary favorites on Tuesdays, many with a musical theme. Madonna made lace gloves and one earring cool in her caper “Desperately Seeking Susan” (July 22), and Jonathan Rhys Meyers experiments with glittery glam rock in “Velvet Goldmine” (Aug. 19). (Tuesdays, July 8-Aug. 26)
Summer on the Hudson
This year, the upcoming election takes center stage as the theme for the Wednesday-night screening series on the Upper West Side’s Pier I at 70th Street. Kicking off on July 9 will be Jimmy Stewart’s rousing classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” and you can cheer on Reese Witherspoon’s conniving Tracey Flick in “Election” on July 23. (Wednesdays, July 9–Aug. 20)
Hudson River Flicks For Grown-ups
Not to be confused with Summer on the Hudson, the blockbuster-leaning films screened along the Hudson River at Pier 54 are a popular Wednesday-night draw on the West Side—and we do mean popular, so arrive early. This year's slate features some of the best music films of the past 30 years, from "Almost Famous" to "Purple Rain" to the unstoppable "Saturday Night Fever." (Wednesdays, July 9–Aug. 20)
Movies with a View at Brooklyn Bridge Park
If you like your free cinema to have a scare factor, the Thursday-night lineup at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn Heights should keep you jumpy. While munching on on-site food from Thai restaurant Rice, you can tremble at alien zombie infestations in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (July 17), cower from diabolical veggie-snatching bunnies in “Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (July 24) and fear out-of-work writers in remote mountain inns in “The Shining” (Aug. 28). (Thursdays, July 10–Aug. 28)
Rooftop Films
While the short- and feature-length movies screened by the Rooftop Films on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays aren’t free, the $9 ticket does get you live pre-show music curated by indie Brooklyn record store Sound Fix and admission to an open-bar after party nearby. With all of that entertainment included, it’ll feel practically free. Part of the proceeds from tickets also help provide grants to local independent filmmakers whose work you’ll be seeing on screen. (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; visit rooftopfilms.bside.com for the latest schedule)
Outdoor Cinema at Socrates Sculpture Park
Even though the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens is currently closed for a massive renovation, the Socrates Sculpture Park, with its gorgeous riverside views of the Upper East Side, will still be hosting its 10th annual international film festival. The best part of this venue’s offerings are always the accompanying food options and pre-show music performances. It’s an opportunity to sample some of the best local ethnic cuisine while also being entertained under the summer stars. (Wednesdays, July 7–Aug. 27)
Central Park Film Festival
Having trouble remembering if outdoor movies are at Bryant Park on Mondays or Thursdays? The Central Park Film Festival takes another approach to outdoor fests by showing flicks for five consecutive days. Each film—natch—features the city, including classics like "Working Girl," "Moonstruck" and "The French Connection." (Aug. 19–23)
Hudson River Park RiverFlicks for Kids
Children's films are nothing if not adventurous, and the Hudson River Park's "RiverFlicks For Kids" summer series offers some of the most adventuresome films ever made, including the fifth annual showing of the original "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Also on tap are '80s classics, including "E.T." and "The Goonies." All films are on Fridays, and start around dusk, at 8:30 p.m. (July 11–Aug. 22)
Additional reporting by Martin L. Johnson; photo by Julienne Schaer
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