Everywhere You Can Watch Outdoor Movies in LA Right Now
From rooftop cinemas to screenings on the lake, plus drive-ins, and more.
Just because summer is drawing to a close doesn’t mean that our social lives have to go into hibernation. One of our favorite LA pastimes is outdoor movie screenings that happen everywhere from parks to rooftops—with some even gracing our favorite rooftop bars—to movies on the water and at swanky hotels. Food trucks, live music, boats, and photo booths—not to mention the star-speckled sky above—elevate these al fresco screenings above your ordinary movie-going experience. We’ve compiled this list of every single spot in every corner of the city to watch movies outdoors this fall, including family-friendly flicks and cinematic classics—there’s something for everyone.
Rose Bowl/Pasadena
Select dates through August 26
Head to the Rose Bowl parking lot each week in August for a nostalgic cinema experience. Hosted by the same organization behind the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, some evenings offer double showings that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car. Grab concessions from local spots and enjoy blockbusters and classics such as Saturday Night Fever (August 20), Fame (August 25), and Little Shop of Horrors and Dreamgirls (August 26).
Cost: $30 per vehicle
JW Marriott at LA Live/Downtown
Sundays through August 29
Head to the rooftop deck on the fourth floor of JW Marriott at LA Live for screenings of Maleficent (August 22) and Legally Blonde (August 29). Dinner includes one appetizer and one entree per guest and of course, unlimited popcorn and complimentary soft drinks. Dress warm and bring blankets as heaters are not provided, although a full bar is available (not included in the ticketed price). For those who want to make a staycation out of it, overnight packages at the hotel are also available.
Cost: $45
Glendale
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through August 29
Entertaining the kids just got a lot easier with Electric Dusk’s Drive-in, which hosts screenings three times a week in the old Sears parking lot. Sing-along to The Little Mermaid (August 22), join The Goonies for an adventure (August 29). Adult-skewed screenings include a double-feature of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Dazed and Confused (August 28). Bring snacks, drinks, and blankets to enjoy the films from the comfort of your own car.
Cost: $8
Santa Monica
Fridays through September 3
Head to the iconic barn-style Brentwood Country Mart for a kid-friendly dinner and a movie every Friday. Grab dinner at attached restaurants like Reddi Chick BBQ, Barney’s Burgers, Frida Taqueria, and Farmshop, and enjoy sweets that include Edelweiss Chocolates’ movie night gold snack boxes and frozen treats from Sweet Rose Creamery before the show starts. Pixar shorts will roll before showings like Finding Nemo (August 27) and Monsters Inc (September 3).
Cost: Free to watch the movie.
Hollywood Roosevelt
Mondays through September 4
Book ahead and snag a spot at the Hollywood Roosevelt's Tropicana Pool & Cafe for a movie under the stars. Ticket options include a loveseat for two, poolside single and double beds for up to four people, and a VIP L-shaped couch for up to five viewers. Catch classic films like Road House (August 23) and Dazed and Confused (August 30), while enjoying complimentary popcorn. Towels, blankets, and heaters are available upon request on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cost: $16-44 + fees.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Weekends through September 5
Presented by Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios, check out this annual outdoor movie series at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Watch classics like Boogie Nights (September 4), and The Breakfast Club (September 5) screened on a mortuary wall with guests spread out on picnic blankets across a grassy field, with themed photo booths and a DJ spinning live music before and after the screening. Outside food and drink are permitted, so pack a picnic, but there are also food and drink vendors available if you get a craving for something else.
Cost: $20-30
Marina Del Rey
Fridays and Saturdays through September 5
Drive up to the boat launch ramp on Fiji Way in Marina Del Rey for an old-school screening from the comfort of your own car. The LA County Department of Beaches & Harbors presents these movie nights with two showings every Friday and Saturday. Catch films new and old, like Stand By Me (August 28) and A Quiet Place (September 5). Bring your own food and drinks, or order to-go from nearby restaurants for an impromptu dinner and a show.
Cost: $20 per vehicle
Downtown, El Segundo, and Santa Monica
Nightly through September 6
Catch cult-classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark (August 22), La La Land (August 26), and more at Rooftop Cinema Club’s Downtown location on the fourth floor rooftop of LEVEL. For those in the South Bay, movies are screened atop a parking structure under the stars in El Segundo, including Pulp Fiction (August 22), Forrest Gump (August 23), Get Out (September 1), and more. Reserve a love seat for two or a single adjustable lounge seat—there's also a student discount for 10% off tickets and a full bar on site. Located on the Westside? The movie club also hosts a drive-in at the Santa Monica Airport with food trucks, designated tailgating areas, and new lawn box seating, for enjoying films like Love Jones (August 26), Queen and Slim (September 2), and A Nightmare On Elm Street (September 4).
Cost: $25-55
Wende Museum/Culver City
Fridays through September 10
For a more historical outdoor screening series, head to the Wende Museum for a showing of films from the 1980s that examined the conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States. The “Seeing Red: Cold War Blockbusters of the 1980s” series explores the heightened anxiety and fear of the last decade of the Cold War through films such as War Games (August 20), The Hunt for Red October (August 27) and Top Secret! (September 10). Complimentary freshly popped popcorn will be on offer, along with speakers prior to each of the free outdoor showings.
Cost: Free
Castaic Lake
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays through September 19
Located just 30 minutes from Downtown LA in Santa Clarita Valley, you can rent a mini boat on Castaic Lake for an outdoor screening unlike any other. Expect food and drink (hello, boat-side concessions!), music, and even a pre-show, before the film rolls on the floating big screen. Cozy up on the beach with a picnic, reserve a mini electric boat, or bring your own boat after enjoying a day on the lake for this one-of-a-kind summer-into-fall series. Movies include some water-themed showings such as Jaws (August 29), Titanic (September 5), Pirates of the Caribbean (September 9), Blue Crush (September 10), and more.
Cost: $20-89
Hollywood
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays through September 19
Check out this three-week pop-up with nine showings under the stars. Head to the historic Hollywood venue’s rooftop to watch movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (September 17) and Pulp Fiction (September 19). Doors and the bar open at 6 pm.
Cost: $30
Various Locations
Saturdays through September 25
Street Food Cinema is known for taking over outdoor venues across the city — from Men in Black in Pasadena and Big at Pacific Palisades (both on August 21) to Back to the Future (September 11) at LA Historic State Park—every Saturday through the end of September. Expect food trucks, live music, and dog-friendly seating with a premier reserved ticket. Some locations offer on-site bars as well.
Cost: $18-23 for adults; $6-11 for children ages 5-12.
Hollywood
Nightly through September 28
Snag a seat under string lights while reclining in striped chairs on astroturf in Hollywood. Order gourmet popcorn before watching little-known art house films like Annette, The Green Knight, Pig, The Big Boss, First Blood, Whirlybird and more, nightly. Movies are also screened nightly indoors (with capacity limited to 25%) on the lobby level of Cinelounge Sunset. Be sure to purchase tickets in advance.
Cost: $20
E.P. & L.P./West Hollywood
Nightly through September 30
This rooftop theatre series is attached to the recently revamped New American restaurant E.P. & L.P., and includes a convenient option to add a three-course, pre-theatre dinner to complete your movie date night. They screen a wide array of classics and newly released Hollywood blockbusters, with tickets still available for screenings of Almost Famous (August 22), Blade Runner 2049 (September 3), Clueless (September 13), and more.
Cost: $28-49 + fees.
Various Locations
Fridays and Saturdays through October 30
The San Fernando Valley's visitors' guide, My Valley Pass, hosts this series of outdoor screening across various Southern California locations, featuring movies that were filmed at or relate to local landmarks that coincide with the films. Screenings include The Founder (September 18) at the first original McDonald's Museum in San Bernardino, and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (October 1) at the Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser Plant) in Van Nuys.
Cost: $20-40