The Central Park Film Festival returns with a week of FREE screenings of family-friendly films with a connection to New York City. This year’s films include Saturday Night Fever, The Godfather and The Wiz.
Again this year, screenings also are in Marcus Garvey Park, as part of the Central Park Conservancy’s commitment to support other NYC parks.
The Central Park Film Festival 2017 is August 21st to 27th.
The first two films are on the Lawn at Marcus Garvey Park , enter at Fifth Ave. and 124th Street.
All other screenings are are on the Landscape in Central Park, between Sheep Meadow and the 72nd Street Cross Drive, mid-Park at 69th Street. Enter the Park at 72nd Street from either Fifth Ave. or Central Park West.
All movies are open captioned, and rain or shine, so let’s hope for shine.
Subscribe to the NYC on the Cheap daily email newsletter
Give us some love. Follow and like NYCOTC on Facebook
Follow the birdie. Follow and like NYCOTC on Twitter @nyccheap
Get the picture. Follow NYCOTC on Pinterest
Central Park Film Festival daily schedule:
August 21, 2017
Marcus Garvey Park
Annie – 2014 (PG) –
Ever since her parents left her as a baby, Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) has been leading a hard knock life with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan. Everything changes when hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) takes her in. Stacks believes he’s her guardian angel, but Annie’s self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it’s the other way around.
August 22, 2017
Marcus Garvey Park
The Wiz – 1978 (G) –
Ease on down the road in this re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz, Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog during a storm and ends up in the Land of Oz. Dorothy learns that the only way to get back home is to see the Wiz (Richard Pryor), and is joined on her journey by a Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), a Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), and a Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross)
August 23, 2017
Central Park
The Great Gatsby – 2013 (PG-13)
The Great Gatsby follows would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Macguire) as he comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, and bootleg kings. Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and is soon drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits, in this Hollywood version of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald story.
August 24, 2017
Central Park
Saturday Night Fever – 1977 (R)
Tony Manero (John Travolta), a nineteen-year-old from Brooklyn, lives at home and works at the local paint shop. He lives for the weekends at the disco, where he can show off his spectacular dance moves. When a big dance competition is announced, he wrangles the beautiful and talented Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) to be his partner. As the two train for the big night, they start to fall for each other, to the soundtrack of the Bee Gees.
August 25, 2017
Central Park
The Godfather – 1972 (R)
Seeing this film one more time, on a giant outdoor screen, is an offer you can’t refuse. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). When the don’s youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business.
August 26, 2017
Central Park
Spider-Man 3 – 2007 (PG-13)
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) finally has the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), but when a strange alien turns Spider-Man’s suit black, he enters the fight of his life against a lethal mix of villains: the deadly Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Venom (Topher Grace), and the New Goblin (James Franco).
What else you need to know:
Gates open at 6:30 pm, movies begin at 8:00 pm, and guest DJs keep the crowd company while they gather.
Films will screen rain or shine, so let’s hope for shine. All films are open captioned. Bring a picnic and a blanket. Be courteous to your neighbors – turn off mobile phones and keep chatter to a minimum.
To ensure that everyone can enjoy the films, the following items are not permitted, so leave them home:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Glass bottles
- Chairs
- Video cameras
- Tape recorders
All screenings begin at 8:00 pm, rain or shine, with gates open to the public at 6:30 pm. Bring a picnic and blanket, and be courteous to your neighbors on the grass, which includes keeping loud chatter and texting to a minimum.
The Central Park Film Festival is presented by Bloomberg with support from WABC-TV.
Full disclosure:
NYC on the Cheap editor and publisher Evelyn Kanter used to be the consumer reporter on WABC-TV Eyewitness News.
About Central Park Conservancy – The mission of Central Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980, is to restore, manage, and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of all. Central Park Conservancy raises 75% of the annual budget essential to keeping Central Park beautiful.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.