Bryant Park Free Outdoor Movies Aug. 23 to Sept. 28

Reminder that Bryant Park Movie Nights are back for the umpteenth season with another series of FREE outdoor screenings of films with connections to New York City.

Once again, the screenings are on a gi-normous new 40-foot high-definition LED screen just off Sixth Avenue.

Unlike pre-Pandemic years, when the free outdoor movies were Monday nights in June, July and August, this year screenings are Monday and Tuesday nights, starting Monday, August 23, through Tuesday, Sept. 28.

As always, the films are connected to New York City, including Moonstruck, Love and Basketball, and The Muppets Take Manhattan.

This year’s schedule features a first-of-its-kind Broadway to Film series with three movies that have productions returning to Broadway this fall - MOULIN ROUGE!, The Phantom of the Opera, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Bonus: these events will include special surprise guest appearances which will be announced closer to the screening dates.

Here’s the film schedule:

In 2019, Bryant Park Movie Nights included

• Big, starring Tom Hanks and the late, great, Penny Marshall
• Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy
• Goodfellas, with Bronx native Joe Pesci

In 2018, Bryant Park Movie Nights included

• The Wiz,  which showed us all how to ease  on down the road
• When Harry Met Sally, with that iconic scene in Katz’s Delicatessen
  

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See also

Katz’s  & Other Great NYC Delis

Bring a blanket and a picnic, or purchase food and beverages from Bryant Park vendors. 

Films are shown starting at sunset, around 8pm, but since this is a pretty popular event, you’ll need to get there much earlier to snag a space on the Bryant Park Lawn or the surrounding terrace, where there is seating.

What you Need to Know for Bryant Park Movie Nights

No chairs, no tables, no plastic tarps and no dogs are permitted on the Lawn.

Entry points for the Lawn Area open at 4pm. The Lawn opens at 5pm, for blankets and picnicking.  Films start at sunset, around 8pm

If you prefer to sit in the park’s Allee’s or on the Upper Terrace to watch the film, then just grab a chair and take your spot.

If you prefer to sit on the Lawn or the gravel surrounding the Lawn, read on.

• You can only access the Lawn Area from the Sixth Avenue side of the park, near the movie screen.
• There are entry points on the north and south sides of the Fountain. Each entrance is the same.
• If you are carrying a bag, backpack, briefcase, package, etc. and wish to sit in the Lawn Area, your items will be inspected at the security tables located at the entry points.
• Lines may form for those with bags and packages.
• If you do not have any bags (or if you are only carrying a blanket), you may access the Lawn Area at either entry point without waiting in the line for those with bags or packages. 
• Should you leave the Lawn Area, all packages, bags, etc. will be inspected again upon re-entry. If a line has formed for the entry points, you will be required to wait in line.