By Vanessa Payes
The refreshing breeze, palm trees and warm summer sunsets of Los Angeles provide an ideal setting for outdoor movies.
Every year, resident movie fans gather on beaches, roof tops and the lush green grass of the city’s beautiful parks to watch their favorite flicks.
This eclectic assortment of outdoor movie events includes some of Hollywood’s most iconic and enduring films and amazing gourmet food trucks.
Check out some of the great outdoor summertime screenings happening in Los Angeles.
LONG BEACH : MOONLIGHT MOVIES ON THE BEACH
If you plan on going to the beach this summer, and you are equally stoked about all that free time you’re gonna spend at the movies, then you’ll love Alfredo’s Beach Club Moonlight Movies on The Beach. Luxuriate on the warm sand and watch classics like The Goonies, The Wizard of OZ, Sixteen Candles, Disney’s Frozen and more. These dreamy sunset screenings, under a glowing tangerine sky, amidst the gorgeous silhouette of California palm trees, are free. There are plenty of snacks and concessions but you’re always welcome to bring your own goodies. Movie schedule online.
Courtesy of Summer Fest via AS Productions
NORTHRIDGE: CSUN SUMMER MOVIE FEST
California State University Northridge Summer Movie Fest is fun for the whole family. The Associated Students put on a great movie fest each year and there are always amazing gourmet food trucks, popcorn and other yummy nom noms for movie goers to indulge in. The screenings include raffles for cool give aways and are usually packed. This year’s outdoor flicks include School Of Rock, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Sandlot, Shrek and Super Bad. CSUN Summer Movie Fest kicks off on June 6th. Visit the site for more information.
Courtesy of Street Food Cinema
LOS ANGELES: STREET FOOD CINEMA
Starting May 24th, Street Food Cinema will be screening film faves at Brookside Park in Pasadena, Exposition Park in Los Angeles and Glendale Central Park. Their 2014 movie schedule is off the hook. Catch memorable cult faves like Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, Dazed and Confused, Back to the Future and Beetlejuice. These outdoor screenings will include live bands and stellar snack options like “The Market” where you can get artisanal goodies and a fierce line up of Los Angeles’ most popular food trucks. Chomp down on Baby’s Bad Ass Burgers, savory Korean tacos from Bool, the infamous melts of The Grilled Cheese Truck and Dogtown Dogs’ funky loaded hot dogs. Check out the schedule online.
Courtesy of Cinespia
HOLLYWOOD: CINESPIA
For over 14 years, Cinespia has been screening movies at the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This is truly one of the coolest outdoor movie events in Los Angeles and a staple for outdoor movie fans. The cemetery is the not only resting place of some of Hollywood’s greatest movie stars and music legends, but its also an incredibly special movie viewing experience. Sit on the Fairbanks lawn and watch some of your favorite films projected against the wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum. The long stroll from the cemetery gate to the Fairbanks Lawn, in the soft summer breeze, is also great opportunity to check out this precious part of Hollywood history. Bring your lawn chairs, champagne, popcorn and Twizzlers for live music and a magical movie night in this Hollywood gem. Movie schedule soon to be released. Check website for more details.
(Photo by David McAnew//Getty Images)
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES: ELECTRIC DUSK DRIVE-IN
The Electric Dusk Drive-In is a unique and retro outdoor movie experience in an urban setting. You can either plant your lawn chairs and blankets on the astro turf lawn or chill in your parked car on a rooftop surrounded by skyscrapers. This quirky pop-up screening is open year round and starts their flicks with trivia contests. Electric Dusk Drive-In promises unforgettable movie nights with classics like Sunset Boulevard, Wayne’s World, and Coming To America. Visit the website and check out the rest of the movies scheduled.
Courtesy of Los Angeles River Corp
LOS ANGELES: LA RIVER BIKE-IN MOVIE
The LA River Bike-In Movie Theater offers up free-family-friendly movie screenings
near the river. The community based event encourages attendees to walk or ride their bikes to the screenings in effort to strengthen the connection between people and their communities as they explore the Los Angles River. The movie screenings include local food vendors and creative placemaking activities. This progressive re-imagining of the outdoor movie experience is a part of the creative and transformative movement to revitalize Los Angeles’ public spaces and bring communities throughout Los Angeles together via a restored Los Angeles river. They’re off to a great start with a screening of Karate Kid on April 26th at 7:30pm. Visit the website for movie schedules and other community events.
Courtesy of Eat See Hear
SANTA MONICA: EAT SEE HEAR
Celebrate cinema this summer with EAT SEE HEAR. Their movie schedule is nothing short of a cinematic treasure trove. This year’s spectacular screenings include Rushmore, Purple Rain, The Princess Bride, The Big Lebowski and Jaws. These and other fabulous flicks are shown on a 52 foot wide-screen with high definition visuals and audio. Pets are welcome to join in on the outdoor movie and every screening opens with live music performances by local bands. The films, and food trucks, at EAT SEE HEAR are a perfect and unparalleled pairing. This year’s grubs include The Gastro Bus, Border Grill, Cool Haus, Rounds Burgers and Tornado Potato. Check out the rest of the summer schedule online.
WOODLAND HILLS: MOVIES ON THE GREEN
Get whisked away into the whimsical world of family favorites like Monsters University, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Despicable Me 2 on the lush landscape of Lou Bredlow Pavllion in Warner park. Screened on 30 foot screen with surround sound, these outdoor movies are a top notch viewing experience for kids and parents alike. Visit the Valley Cultural Center’s website for summer movie and concert info.
LOS ANGELES: ALCOVE DINNER AND A MOVIE
Grab a couple of craft cocktails and chill out on the patio at the Alcove while you watch wacky, off-the-wall comedies like Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion and The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Screenings are free and reservations are not necessary. Roll into the Alcove with your crazy co-workers on the 3rd Monday of every month starting May19th for happy hour specials and a cooky picture show. Details online.
LOS ANGELES: DODGER STADIUM MOVIE SERIES
If you love movies and baseball, you’ll dig the way that Dodger Stadium brilliantly merged these two beloved American pastimes. This season will include post game screenings of classic baseball films like Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own and The Natural at the Stadium. Visit the site for tickets and movie dates.
For even more on the outdoor movie scene in Los Angeles, go to Best Drive-In Movie Theaters In Southern California and Best Outdoor Movies In the Inland Empire at CBSLA.com!