Who says watching a movie has to be a rainy day activity? Now that the weather is warming up in LA, it’s actually the best time to catch a flick. Get out your comfiest blanket, and check out our favorite spots to watch outdoor movies in Los Angeles. We promise you’ll find a favorite flick playing at an epic location in the city. Honestly, we’ve done so many of these each summer and they get better every year! Most places will host special movies and surprises on holidays too ( think 4th of July), so be sure to look at every schedule closely. Ok, get ready to make plans because here are the 5 best places to watch outdoor movies in LA for summer 2024!
1. Hotel Bel-Air
Location: 701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, California 90077
Kick off summer under the stars with this extraordinary cinematic experience at the luxury Hotel Bel-Air. There will be three nights of classic films under the open sky in the hotel’s garden. You can see Dirty Dancing on 6/11, Jurassic Park on 6/13, and Back to the Future on 6/14. Tickets include access to a snack bar with concession stand classics like popcorn, chocolate and candy, but that’s not the only thing we’re looking forward to. There will also be a themed menu and gourmet desserts from the hotel’s executive chefs. Signature cocktails will also be available for purchase (yum!). Grab your tickets before they’re gone.
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2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
No, you’re not seeing things. One of the best spots for outdoor movies in Los Angeles at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Cemeteries are usually a place of quiet and reflection, but Cinespia (the leader in outdoor movie screenings), presented by Amazon MGM Studios, turns it into one big party during its outdoor summer movie series. Upcoming screenings include: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Sept. 1st, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (& Tribute to Paul Reubens) Sept. 14th, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Shining, and Chicago. BONUS! Purple Rain the 40th Anniversary will be showing Saturday, Sept 21st but that’s happening at the Rose Bowl. While there to watch your favorite movie you can swing by the concessions stand where they have snacks and adult beverages. They typically always have photo opps too and sometimes on occasion -a DJ set before the movie. Feel free to come dressed on theme of the night’s showing ( no one will judge) and pack your own picnic basket filled with your personalized menu and even beer and wine. Tickets are $20 and up and they have options for parking too (on-site will cost ya $30). But be sure to check out their website for more deets! FYI: They’ll be closing out summer 2024 in a BIG scary way in October. Check out The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) on Oct. 5th or a special 15th anniversary screening of Coraline on Oct. 12th. They’ll also be hosting a special Halloween night screening of Suspiria (1977) at the iconic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on October 31st.
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3. Summer Poolside Cinema Series
Location: 101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santa Monica’s iconic Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is embracing the term ‘long summer nights’ by welcoming hotel guests and locals to enjoy the return of the property’s beloved Summer Poolside Cinema Series in partnership with Hulu. Every Sunday from June 2nd till September 1st, there will be diverse selection of films including family-friendly classics, rom-coms, action-packed flicks and more in an immersive, themed ambiance. Catch some of your favorite films like Pretty Woman on 6/16 or The Proposal on 8/4. Tickets include admission, free popcorn, and a $45 food & beverage credit. There will also be special surprise moments the summer series featuring giveaways, photo moments, and more. See the lineup and buy your tickets HERE.
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4. LA State Historic Park
Location: 1245 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Early in the summer, Cinespia also hosts their epic screenings surrounded by Downtown’s gorgeous skyline at LA State Historic Park. But during the key summer months – Street Food Cinema – takes over to host cult classic screenings like The Crow on 6/1 and Jurassic Park 7/20. We love this outdoor movie experience because their food truck lineup is amazing (check them out here) and you can bring your dog! Although, this location doesn’t have a big list of films right now for summer, but we will say to get tickets to their La La Land movie concert experience in September. We’re predicting it’s going to sell out fast. Details about that on their website.
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5. Will Rogers State Historic Park
Location: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road (Off Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades )
We also have to show Will Rogers State Historic Park some love! If you’re feeling less city views, and more nature for you outdoor movie in Los Angeles experience, this is right up your alley. Street Food Cinema is hosting 2 outdoor movies here and you can also bring your pup. They’ll be showing The Goonies on 6/29 and The Princess Diaries on 7/13. LA’s best food trucks will be there too and there will be a bar on site for pre-movie cocktails.
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6. Rooftop Cinema Club
Location: Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA, 888 S Olive St 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 9001
If you love hanging out at rooftop bars, you’ll definitely want to check out Rooftop Cinema Club. Here’s what we love about this spot to watch outdoor movies in Los Angeles…first off, it provides chairs and blankets (obvi when its cold out). headphones (so you can hear the movie), and has fun pre-movie trivia games to win prizes. Candy, popcorn, soda’s and even Juneshine available for purchase. Upcoming screenings include Mean Girls (2024), Bridesmaids, Superbad, and more. They also host special events like Singles Nights, Social Hours and Wine Wednesdays. We love visiting this place for our summer movies.
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7. The Autry Museum
Location: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Sort of saved the best for last lol. The lawn at The Autry Museum of the American West is such a beautiful and very open space to watch an outdoor movie in LA and there is FREE parking! Street Food Cinema is hosting tons of films at this location like Friends 30th Anniversary on 6/1 and 6/2 , 500 Days of Summer on 6/22, National Treasure on 7/6, and more classics. On site there is a bar, a list of yummy food trucks, you can bring your pet and there will be live music before the movie too.
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Looking for more summer activities? Here are our fave things to do in LA for June!
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