Get your picnic blankets ready! Paramount+ Movie Nights at Bryant Park are back, and they’re bringing all the summer magic with them. Starting June 9, New Yorkers from every borough can once again gather under the stars for one of the city’s best traditions: outdoor movies in the middle of Midtown. And it’s completely free!
You can bring the kids or meet up with friends at Bryant Park Movie Nights, a much-needed, simple, and budget-friendly way to enjoy a film outdoors. Since no tickets or reservations are required, you can just show up, find a spot, and settle in for a classic NYC summer experience.
Plan Your Evening
On Monday nights, from June 9 through August 11, Bryant Park turns into an open-air movie theater right in the middle of Midtown. The lawn opens at 5 pm, giving you a few hours to claim a good spot. Then you can sit down with a blanket, relax, and grab something to eat before the movie starts at 8 pm.
You don’t need to pack a full picnic unless you want to, since vendors from the Hester Street Fair will be there with various food and snack options. Drinks, including beer, wine, and summer spritzes, are also available from Stout NYC.
This Summer’s Lineup
This summer’s film schedule has a variety of options, from ‘80s teen nostalgia to epic sci-fi along with Oscar-winning dramas:
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- Pretty in Pink | June 9
- The Wood | June 16
- Kinky Boots | June 23
- Stand by Me | June 30
- Good Will Hunting | July 7
- Interstellar | July 14
- Ghost | July 21
- Pulp Fiction | July 28
- Blades of Glory | August 4
- The Godfather | August 11
A Few Pro Tips Before You Go
There are a few things to know that’ll make the night even better. First off, get there early. The lawn officially opens at 5 pm, but people start lining up well before that to claim a good spot. It fills up fast, especially on beautiful nights, so arriving on the earlier side will give you more space to stretch out and relax.
Bring a picnic blanket or a low-to-the-ground lawn chair for comfort. (Just a heads-up—tall chairs aren’t allowed since they block the view for everyone behind you.) You can bring your own snacks, but if you’d rather travel light, there’s plenty of amazing food right in the park from the vendors from Hester Street Fair. You can grab everything from a quick bite to a sweet treat, but some home snacks might be better for picky eaters, and you know your child best.
It’s also a good idea to label your stuff, including jackets, bags and water bottles, especially if you’re going with kids or a group. With so many people on the lawn, things can get mixed up or left behind pretty easily. And finally, consider tossing a little bug spray in your bag. Most nights are fine, but if it’s humid and especially during the late summer nights, you’ll be glad you have it.
If you’ve never been to a Bryant Park movie night, it’s the perfect time to start a new summer tradition. If you’ve been before, you know that once the screen lights up and the skyline starts to glow, you’ll wonder why you don’t do this every Monday. “Each summer, we see strangers become neighbors on the lawn,” says Dan Biederman, president of Bryant Park Corporation. “Movie Nights remind us how powerful simple moments, like watching a great film outdoors, can be in bringing people together.”
Visit bryantpark.org for full details.
This story first appeared on our sister publication newyorkfamily.com.
