The Complete D.C. Outdoor Movie Guide

Check out our list of outdoor movie series around the DMV this summer season.

Spring is finally here and summer is coming up fast! With this comes warmer weather, longer days, and a bunch of opportunities for outdoor activities – what about an outdoor movie night?

We’ve rounded up several locations around DC that are open to the public and showing classics, blockbusters, and kid-friendly movies all summer long. Make your own movie moment while watching one. Let the montage begin. Note: All movies are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated.

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf on 8/11/2022. Movie: Spiderman: No Way Home. Photos by Patrick Revord, The Wharf DC.

The Wharf’s Sunset Cinema on Transit Pier

Movies will be played all summer long on Thursday evenings starting at 7 p.m. Simply bring your chair and blanket to get a spot at the Transit Pier. Enjoy the sunset and grab a snack at one of the many food spots at The Wharf.

• Thursday, May 29: Wicked (Sing-A-Long)
• Thursday, June 5: To Wong Foo. Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
• Thursday, June 12: Happy Gilmore (1996)
• Thursday, June 19: Coach Carter
• Thursday, June 26: Captain America (2011)
• Thursday, July 3: Dreamgirls
• Thursday, July 10: Twisters (2024)
• Thursday, July 17: Money Ball
• Thursday, July 24: Casablanca
• Thursday, July 31: Shrek
• Thursday, August 7: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
• Thursday, August 14: Pitch Perfect
• Thursday, August 21: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Thursday, August 28: La La Land

Location: 970 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 // Learn More

Photo Credit: National Harbor Maryland website

Movies on the Potomac @ National Harbor

Enjoy a free movie night with the Potomac River as a backdrop. Starting in May, the National Harbor opens up its pier for a delightful mix of classics, action movies, rom-coms and blockbusters every Thursday and Sunday until September.

May

• Thursday, May 1: Fool’s Gold (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, May 4: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, May 8: Wicked (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, May 11: The Wild Robot (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, May 15: Men in Black (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, May 18: Moana 2 (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, May 22: Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, May 25: Big Hero 6 (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, May 29: Akeelah & the Bee (7pm-9pm)

June

• Sunday, June 1: Elemental (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, June 5: Movie TBD (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, June 8: Mufasa (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, June 12: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, June 15: Three Men and a Baby (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, June 19: Black Panther (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, June 22: Sonic 3 (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, June 26: Pelé: Birth of a Legend (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, June 29: Paddington in Peru (6pm-8pm)

July

• Thursday, July 3: Forrest Gump (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, July 6: Kicking and Screaming (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, July 10: Fly me to the Moon (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, July 13: Dog Man (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, July 17: Bob Marley: One Love (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, July 20: Piece by Piece (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, July 24: Nacho Libre (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, July 27: Wicked Sing-Along (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, July 31: Captain America: Brave New World (7pm-9pm)

August

• Sunday, August 3: Snow White (2025) (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, August 7: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, August 10: If (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, August 14: Instant Family (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, August 17: Harold and the Purple Crayon (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, August 21: Pitch Perfect (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, August 24: TBD (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, August 28: King Richard (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, August 31: Cinderella (2021) (6pm-8pm)

September

• Thursday, September 4: Lion (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, September 7: A Minecraft Movie (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, September 11: Police Academy 2 (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, September 14: The Garfield Movie (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, September 18: Selena (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, September 21: TBD (6pm-8pm)
• Thursday, September 25: TBD (7pm-9pm)
• Sunday, September 28: Dora Lost City of Gold (6pm-8pm)

Location: 150 National Plaza National Harbor, Maryland 20745 // Learn More

Photo Credit: NoMa BID website

NoMa’s outdoor ciNoMatic Movie Series (“Under the Rainbow” at Alethia Tanner Park)

Join NoMa’s neighborhood for their weekly movie series, starting at Sunset (7 p.m.) from May to June at Alethia Tanner Park. Movies take place on Wednesdays. Simply bring your group, grab a snack from a local DC food truck, relax and enjoy the show.

• Wednesday, May 7: Wicked
• Wednesday, May 14: Mamma Mia!
• Wednesday, May 21: Barbie
• Wednesday, May 28: Coco
• Wednesday, June 4: Inside Out
• Wednesday, June 11: The Greatest Showman

Location: Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way Northeast Washington, DC 20002 // Learn More

Photo Credit: Congressional Cemetery website

Congressional Cemetery: Cinematry: Mausoleums & Monsters

The Congressional Cemetery invites you to “2025 Cinematry: Mausoleums & Monsters”, starting on Friday, May 23rd, with four iconic blockbusters. Reserve a spot, bring your blanket and snacks, and simply enjoy the movie night starting at 7pm (the recommended donation is $10 per Person).

• Friday, May 23: Jaws (Rain date: May 30)
• Friday, June 13: Monsters Inc (Rain date: June 20)
• Friday, August 29: The Mummy (Rain date: September 3)
• Friday, September 12: Ghostbusters (Rain date: September 19)

Location: 1801 E St SE, Washington, DC 20003 // Learn More

Want first access to select shows and movies around the city? Join the District Fray community to access free and discounted tickets. Become a member and support local journalism today.

District Fray staff