Outdoor Movie Screen Rental Directory - United States

September is a month when many outdoor movie events are coming to an end. Not so over in Davis, CA where movies at Central Park are just starting up again. The movies are all family-friendly and there are themed arts-and-crafts for the kids to enjoy before the films start. The activities (which also include DJs and raffle contests) start at 6:00 p.m. every other Saturday and the films start just over an hour after that. The most recent film to be shown was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The next two that are planned are The Sandlot and Shrek. Plan to buy food from local vendors to support the free films.

Cinema Under the Stars in San Diego is not your average outdoor movie event. Whereas most outdoor movie events are free (or by donation) and happen once per week at their most frequent, Cinema Under the Stars is an ongoing event that costs the full price of a movie ticket. It’s a lot like a regular movie theater with a snack bar and seating (no picnicking on the grass at this place) and you can even buy your movie tickets in advance. It’s not cheap ($12.50 per ticket) but for the price you get to see the film while seated in ergonomic chairs and you also get to participate in a trivia contest, see a light and special effects show and enjoy an intro and discussion for the film. Films are shown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a new film showing each week. Upcoming films this season include The Usual Suspects, Wedding Crashers and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

In the Los Angeles area, you have to be creative to be of interest in the ever-changing movie world. Cinespia brings that creativity to the area by hosting outdoor movie events in an odd location: an actual cemetery. Where is there a better place to watch a frightening movie than in a cemetery? The most recent film showing, which wrapped up the 2007 season with a scream, was The Exorcist. Fans of fright films brought pillows and picnics to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where an inflatable movie screen was set up to show the flick. It was free with a $10 donation suggestion and the film was preceded by sounds from local DJs. The cemetery is the resting place for the bodies of many dead celebrities so guests could engage in some tourist activity on the spot. Outdoor movies, celebrities and music; that’s Southern California for you.

Many outdoor movie screenings are designed for adults. They play older classic movies, romantic films and movies with adult themes so that it’s best to leave the children at home. But outdoor movies are great for the whole family if the film is right. This summer’s Sundown Cinema in Campbell, CA (just minutes from San Jose) was a terrific showcase event for family films outdoors. Although there were a couple of movies on the weekly schedule that weren’t great for the young ones (such as the Hitchcock horror flick Rear Window), most were kid-oriented and included Toy Story, Spy Kids and The Muppet Movie. The films just wrapped up for the summer but should be back next year for the whole family to enjoy.

The city of San Jose, CA saw success with its 2007 outdoor movie series. The series started off in June as a single event called Cinema San Pedro which offered free movies in San Pedro Square each Wednesday. By August, there was a second outdoor movie event on Fridays in St. James Park. Films that were enjoyed this year were from all different eras and included The Wizard of Oz, Risky Business, Blue Hawaii and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In addition to the main features, there were shorts screened before the films. The event is free; “Eat at your Seat” dinners were available for purchase from local restaurants and concessions were available on site. San Jose residents and visitors can look forward to more free movies in downtown San Jose next summer.

Oakland is a city which has several outdoor movie events to its name. One that’s both interesting and educational is Sunset Cinema. It’s put together through the efforts of The Oakland Museum of California, the Oakland Film Office and KQED radio station. The movies are shown outdoors on the grounds of the museum in their garden area so the setting couldn’t be more ideal. Not only is the movie free but you are also invited to enjoy complimentary beverages and dessert and even a free glass of wine if you’re old enough to partake. The next film showing in this outdoor movie event is Piece By Piece – a terrific film describing the Bay Area’s graffiti art movement. It starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday October 5th, 2007 and will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.

When people think of the Bay Area, they think of it as San Francisco and the cities that surround it. But those who live in Oakland know that it is a city which stands apart from San Francisco with a history and culture all its own. Oakland is celebrated once monthly from June through November with the Annual Old Oakland Outdoor Cinema series. The city closes down 9th Street at Washington on the third Saturday of each month, erects a giant inflatable outdoor movie screen and provides chairs and a free movie. Before and after the event, visitors can enjoy Oakland nightlife at the surrounding Old Oakland restaurants and bars. This is just one of the ways that Oakland offers a rich life to its residents and visitors.
The September movie (which happens tomorrow) is The Day The Earth Stood Still. If you miss that one, go next month to see Babe. 

Movies in Dolores Park is a San Francisco outdoor movie event that happens every other Thursday night. Inflatable movie screens are rented by the park and erected to showcase movies that are in some way local or relevant to San Francisco. These outdoor movie events are free and located in a dog-friendly park where all ages are welcome. The movies start around eight or eight-thirty (nightfall) but are preceded by live performances by local musicians so there’s no harm in getting there early. You can bring your own picnic dinner, buy tamales from a local vendor who never fails to make the event or simply come to enjoy the movies.

San Francisco Walk-In Movies are a popular event in the city. San Francisco simply doesn’t have the space for a traditional drive-in, so the city supports leaving the cars at home but creating an outdoor movie setting that is similar to the old drive-in theater. Films are shown on an outdoor movie screen and seating is out on a San Francisco lawn. The movies are free, hot popcorn is available by donation and everyone is encouraged to bring their own food. Groups of friends often do a potluck type picnic at the Walk-In Movies. Films vary but include special events such as a screening of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas on Halloween Night.

Film Night in the Park is just one of many film events in San Francisco but these outdoor cinema events stand out because of how enjoyable they are. Films are shown 1-2 times per month starting in May and running through October, with outdoor movie screens set up at urban parks all throughout the city. Dolores Park, Washington Square Park and Union Square are all major settings of this outdoor movie series. It’s a popular event with locals. Over 4,000 movie goers have been known to attend a single screening of these movies in the park. All of the movies are popular, well-known classic movies. In 2007, movies that appeared at Film Night in the Park have included The Graduate, Sixteen Candles and Annie Hall. All of the films are free. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets as the San Francisco summer nights can get pretty chilly.