Outdoor movies and drive-in theaters enjoyed a boom this past year as families sought safe, entertainment venues and the trend continues! There has never been a more perfect time for outdoor and drive-in movies and we found new and jazzed-up options for the summer. So load the family in the car, pack the soda, popcorn and boxed candy and get ready for an unforgettable evening under the stars!
San Francisco
Thrive City Cinema Nights
The Warriors host cinema nights on San Francisco's only outdoor LED board every Saturday night this summer. With the screen measuring 74 feet wide by 42 feet tall and with nearly 2.2 million pixels, it will be a brilliant night under the sun and stars!
7/17 – Crazy Rich Asians – PG13
7/24 – Pixar Pick, Inside Out or Toy Story (Audience Social Vote)
7/31 – Grease – PG
8/7 – Black Panther – PG13
8/14 – Wedding Planner or Sister Act (Audience Social Vote)
8/21 – Yesterday – PG13
8/28 – Harry Potter – PG
East Bay
West Wind Solano Drive-In, Concord
This drive-in theater is known for its nightly double features but is currently showing doubles only on certain days, so check the website for details. With Tuesday Family Fun night and adult admission at $5.75, this drive-in is sure to become a family favorite—double features or not!
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Starlight Movies in the Park, Alameda
Pre-movie games and crafts start off the evening at the Alameda Multi-Purpose field with snacks available for purchase, benefitting the Alameda Youth Committee and Teen programs. Don’t forget to pre-register then all that is left to do is to have a gorgeous night under the starlight!
July 30th - Tom and Jerry
Sept 10th - Raya and the Last Dragon
1101 West Redline Ave, Alameda
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Picnic Flix Movie Series, Dublin
The city’s annual summer Picnic Flix Movie series boasts a number of well-loved family movies so be sure to catch one—or several!
July 2 Grease
July 9 Abominable
July 16 Moana
July 23 Secret Life of Pets 2
July 30 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Aug 6 Onward
Emerald Glen Park
4201 Central Pkwy, Dublin
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Movie Nights in Berkeley
Join friends, family and neighbors for free movie nights this summer and fall at the following local parks:
- August 6, 8:15pm: Smallfoot James Kenney Park, 1720 8th Street
- August 20, 8pm: Lady and the Tramp Ohlone Park Baseball Field (Hearst and Sacramento)
- September 10, 7:30pm: Soul Grove Park, 1730 Oregon
- September 24, 7:15pm: Madagascar 3 Glendale La Loma Park, 1310 La Loma Avenue
Movie Nights on the Roof, Lester Art Center
The garage top at Lesher Center for the Arts welcomes you for a movie night out! Enjoy family favorites with your friends, neighbors and family; check schedule for show times.
~ Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 8:00 PM
Disney's Moana(PG)
~ Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 8:00 PM
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13)
~ Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 8:00 PM
Disney's Tangled (PG)
~ Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 8:00 PM
Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)
~ Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 7:15 PM
Disney's Coco (PG)
~ Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 7:15 PM
Disney's Hocus Pocus (PG)
South Bay
Sunset Cinema at Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga
The gorgeous arts center welcomes families for two movie nights this summer. Pre-order a snack pack along with your tickets to be enjoyed on site!
July 25th Ghostbusters
July 30th Coco
15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga
Coyote Point Movie Nights
Gather friends and family, pack a picnic and join CuriOdyssey for a fun-filled summer evening during Coyote Point Movie Nights in July, August, September and October at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. Watch your favorite movies, experiment with fun CuriOdyssey science experiments, play creatively with San Mateo County Libraries and learn more about the San Mateo County Parks Foundation. Movies begin thirty minutes after sunset, the last Saturday of each month, activities will open one hour before the movie begins. Reserve tickets in advance.
7/31 Raya and the Last Dragon
8/28 The Croods 2: A New Age
9/25: Soul
10/30: Cruella
Starlight Cinemas
San Jose Downtown Association brings back their Starlight Cinemas with free, family-friendly movies in St. James Park. Pre-movie activities and food and drink for purchase are available one hour before showtime.
July 21 Up
July 28 The Perfect Game
Aug 4 Raya and the Last Dragon
Aug 11 Karate Kid
Capitol Drive-In, San Jose
Similar to its sister drive-in at the Concord location, Family Nights on Tuesdays brings the adult admission ticket down to $5.75, leaving you with more budget for snacks and sodas and more importantly, the title Hero of the Week. Recent family favorites include Peter Rabbit 2 and Boss Baby.
3630 Hillcap Ave, San Jose
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Sunset Cinema
Santa Clara county hosts free movie nights on select Friday nights this summer and early Fall.
Friday, July 16 8:30pm at Reed & Grant Sports Park, 750 Reed St.
Sandlot - RSVP on Eventbrite
Friday, August 13 at Central Park, 969 Kiely Blvd.
Abominable
Friday, September 17 at Live Oak Park, 641 Moreland Way
Luca
Friday, October 15 at Maywood Park, 3360 Cabrillo Ave.
Trolls World Tour
Mountain View Summer Movie Nights
Friday nights are movies nights in Mountain View at varying parks so check the schedule and pack the popcorn:
July 30: Whisman Park – Scoob!
August 6: Sylvan Park – Secret Life of Pets 2
August 13 Eagle Park - Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
August 20: Rengstorff Park – Sonic the Hedgehog
Double Feature Movie Nights on the Square
Redwood City is playing double featured movies on Thursday nights at the Courthouse Square. Bring a blanket and pick up take out from nearby restaurants for a perfect evening out.
Thursday, August 12: 6pm Brave, 8:30pm Minari
Thursday, August 19: 8pm
- Feeling Through (19 mins)
- Massive by Tony Gapastione (5 mins)
8:30pm Wonder Woman
Thursday, August 26: 6pm How to Train Your Dragon, 8:30 pm A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Thursday, Sept. 2: 8pm
- Napo (16 min)
- The Dublin House by Krystina Jackson (3 mins)
8:30pm Jumanji: The Next Level
Marin
Lark Drive-In Movies Under the Stars, Corte Madera
Warm nights mean cool movies at the Lark! Family classics such as Sixteen Candles, Return of the Jedi, A Hard Day’s Night, Back to the Future, and Jungle Book are showing this summer and the Lark can comfortably accommodate 100 cars meaning there's more than enough room for everyone.
The Village at Corte Madera
1961 Redwood Hwy
North parking lot across the street from Nordstrom
Movie Night at the Mart, Larkspur Landing
Friday nights this summer under the tent at the Mart means movie night! A Pixar short will play right before the featured film.
Friday, July 30 Lou*, Despicable Me
Friday, August 6 Presto*, Wall-E
Friday, August 13 Lifted*, Ratatouille
Friday, August 20 Bao*, The Incredibles
Friday, August 27 Piper*, Finding Nemo
Friday, September 3 For the Birds*, Monsters Inc.
Petaluma Drive In Movies
A $25/vehicle fee lets the whole family in for a movie under the stars at the fairgrounds!
Friday, Sep 17 The Goonies
Friday, Oct 22 Ghostbusters
Mill Valley Movies in the Park
Varying Mill Valley parks transform into an outdoor movie theater the following nights:
Friday, Sep 17 Cars
Friday, Oct 8 The Princess Diaries
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Cameo Cinema Drive-in, St. Helena
A new partnership with Charles Krug winery has upped the ante on drive-ins at this theater! Pre-movie charcuterie plates and wine are available for purchase to enjoy on the lawn before hopping in your car for the night’s feature. It's truly a win-win situation when both the kids and adults are happy!
2800 St. Helena Highway
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—Christine Lai
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