*Note: Many cities have cancelled, postponed, or modified their summer movies.
One of the great things about Orange County is the mild summer nights that are perfect for enjoying free outdoor movies in the park with friends and family. There are many parks and facilities throughout the Orange County area that offer free movie nights so there is bound to be one close to home. Check the list below to find your city, or one near you, and plan your next outdoor movie night.
Not sure what to expect? Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your movie night under the stars.
- Be sure to arrive early to pick your spot. You don’t want to have to walk around through crowds of people in the dark after the movie has started.
- Bring blankets and low lawn chairs (no taller than 32″ to avoid blocking the view of others).
- Bring layers of clothing – a long sleeved shirt and a light jacket. It can cool of quickly after the sun goes down. If you are attending a movie near the beach bring a heavier layer like a hooded sweatshirt to stay warm in the cool ocean breeze.
- Bring a picnic for dinner and snacks to enjoy during the movie. Most locations will have snack booths available to purchase snacks on site, and many now have food trucks for people to purchase food and drinks.
- Consider leaving the dog at home. While it’s fun to take your best furry friend out and about, not everyone loves dogs. And not every location will allow them. If you must bring the dog, check the location you will be attending before hand to ensure that pets are allowed and, please, always keep your dog on a leash.
- Invite your friends. Movie nights are a great opportunity to get together and enjoy the warm summer evenings with friends and family.
- Leave the alcohol at home. Most locations do not allow alcohol consumption during movie night, and glass containers are prohibited.
The following Summer Movies in the Park include freebies, additional activities, and special events:
- Aliso Viejo events include complimentary face painting from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Anaheim movie nights that are sponsored by Disney may include free popcorn and beverages, giveaways, a visit from Disney Ambassadors, trivia games, and hula hooping contests.
- Dana Point movie nights include free popcorn.
- Fountain Valley movie nights at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center include events beginning at 6:00 p.m. with food trucks, games, and a costume contest. A new bike is awarded to the winner of the costume contest.
- Garden Grove events include family activities beginning at 6:00 p.m.
- La Habra movie nights will include Bamboo Kids Club activities.
- Los Alamitos events kick off with a live music concert from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. immediately followed by a family movie and will include raffles, kids’ activities, and food and drinks available for purchase.
- The Newport Coast event at Crystal Cove is hosted by the Crystal Cove Conservancy on the sand outside the Historic District’s “Beaches” Film & Media Center and “Beaches” Cottage #13. Visitors will learn about Crystal Cove’s role in the film industry and enjoy a unique movie night.
- Tustin movie nights will feature pre-movie activities from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Free Outdoor Movies in Orange County
| Date | Day | Time | Movie | Location | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | Saturday | Dusk | Toy Story 4 | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 4 | Friday | 8 pm | Jumanji: The Next Level | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 11 | Friday | 8 pm | The Sandlot | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 11 | Friday | 7PM | The One And Only Ivan | Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel | Aliso Viejo |
| June 17 | Thursday | 8:30 PM | Jumanji (1995) | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| June 18 | Friday | 8:00 PM | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse | Ikea Parking Lot | Costa Mesa |
| June 18 | Friday | 8:00 PM | The Croods: A New Age | Vista Hermosa Sports Park | San Clemente |
| June 18 | Friday | 8:00 PM | The Neverending Story | Craig Regional Park | Fullerton/OC Parks |
| June 18 | Friday | 8:00 PM | The Croods - A New Age | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 18 | Friday | 8:15 PM | Frozen | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 19 | Saturday | Dusk | Trolls World Tour | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 25 | Friday | 8 PM | How To Train Your Dragon | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| June 25 | Friday | 8:15 PM | Big Hero 6 | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 25 | Friday | 8 pm | Abominable | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 26 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Mary Poppins Returns | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| June 26 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The War With Grandpa | OC Great Park/Terraced lawn | Irvine |
| TBA | Thursday | 8 pm | The Little Mermaid | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| July 1 | Thursday | 8:30 pm | Independence Day | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| TBA | Friday | 7:45 pm | Mulan | Ponderosa Park | Anaheim |
| July 2 | Friday | 8 pm | Independence Day (1996) | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | 7:45 pm | Hercules | Chapparal Park | Anaheim |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | The Sandlot | The Plunge | Brea |
| TBA | Monday | 8 pm | The Greatest Showman | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 9 | Friday | 8 PM | Dolittle (2020) | Yorba Regional Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| July 9 | Friday | 8 PM | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Vista Hermosa Sports Park | San Clemente |
| July 9 | Friday | Dusk Start | How To Train Your Dragon | Cedar Grove Park | Tustin |
| July 9 | Friday | Dusk Start | Tangled | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 9 | Friday | 8 pm | The Lion King | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| TBA | Friday | 6:30 pm | How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| July 10 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Trolls World Tour | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| TBA | Monday | 8 pm | Mean Girls | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 15 | Thursday | 8:30 pm | Hook | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| July 16 | Friday | 6 pm | The Sandlot | Yorba Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| July 16 | Friday | Dusk | Despicable Me | Camino Real Park | Tustin |
| July 16 | Friday | 8 PM | Trolls World Tour | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 17 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Rya and the Last Dragon | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 17 | Saturday | Dusk | The Croods: A New Age | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| TBA | Monday | 8 pm | Anastasia | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 23 | Friday | Dusk Start | Raya And The Last Dragon | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 23 | Friday | Dusk | Croods 2 | Veterans Sports Park | Tustin |
| July 23 | Friday | 6 pm | Toy Story 4 | Mason Regional Park | Irvine/OC Parks |
| July 23 | Friday | 8 pm | New Release TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 24 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Up! | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| TBA | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | Eucalyptus Park | Anaheim |
| July 29 | Thursday | 8:30 pm | Jurassic Park | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| July 30 | Friday | 8 pm | New Release TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 30 | Friday | 6pm | Willow | Mason Regional Park | Irvine/OC Parks |
| July 30 | Friday | Dusk Start | Shrek | Tustin Sports Park | Tustin |
| July 30 | Friday | Dusk Start | Sonic The Hedgehog | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Incredibles 2 | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| TBA | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back | Juarez Park | Anaheim |
| TBA | Friday | 6pm | Back To The Future | Mason Park | Irvine/OC Parks |
| TBA | Monday | 8 pm | Hook | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| August 3 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | Trolls World Tour | Fountain Valley Recreational Center | Fountain Valley |
| TBA | Tuesday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Portola Park | La Habra |
| August 6 | Friday | 8 pm | Detective Pikachu | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| August 6 | Friday | Dusk Start | Coco | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 6 | Friday | Dusk Start | Lego Batman | Tustin Hangar **Drive-In** Preregistration required | Tustin |
| TBA | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode VI Return Of The Jedi | Twila Reid Park | Anaheim |
| TBA | Friday | 6 pm | May Poppins Returns | Irvine Park | Orange/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | The Muppet Movie | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| TBA | Friday | 6pm | The Jungle Book | Irvine Park | Orange/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | The Greatest Showman | Courreges Park | Fountain Valley |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Peoples Choice Movie | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 13 | Friday | Dusk Start | Onward | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| August 14 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Croods: A New Age | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| TBA | Saturday | 8 pm | Big | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| August 20 | Friday | Dusk Start | 2021 Incredibles | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 21 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Angels In The Outfield | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| August 21 | Saturday | Dusk | Abominable | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| TBA | Saturday | Dusk | How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World | Travis Ranch Youth Park | Yorba Linda |
| TBA | Thursday | 8 pm | Captain Marvel | Festival Amphitheater | Garden Grove |
| August 27 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Croods: A New Age | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | How To Train Your Dragon 3 | El Cerrito School | La Habra |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Monsters University | Los Alamos Park | Fountain Valley |
| TBA | Friday | 6pm | The Lego Movie 2 | Laguna Niguel Park | Laguna Niguel/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Tangled | McDowell Park | Fountain Valley |
| TBA | Friday | 6pm | The Princess Bride | Laguna Niguel Park | Laguna Niguel/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | 6 pm | Lilo & Stitch | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | The Greatest Showman | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | Our Lady of Guadalupe | La Habra |
| TBA | Friday | 6 pm | The Endless Summer | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| TBA | Friday | Dusk Start | Aladdin (2019) | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 3 | Friday | Dusk Start | Lion King (Animated) | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| September 10 | Friday | Dusk Start | Trolls World Tour | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| September 18 | Saturday | Dusk | Onward | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| October 16 | Saturday | Dusk | Cars 3 | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| TBA | Saturday | 8 pm | 13 Going On 30 | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
Additional Paid or Visitor Only Outdoor Movies
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina offers movies on the beach every weekend from May 2021 through September. Movie nights are complimentary to RV Park and Marina guests who have paid to stay. Visit the website to see the movie schedule.
Pacific City Summer Movies feature popular movies the whole family will love. The event is free and hosted on the upper deck of the shopping center at the Surf Theater, but guests will have to pay for parking. Bring blankets and lawn chairs and arrive early to get a spot. All shows begin at 7:00 p.m.
Pacific City Movie Schedule:
2021 Movies TBA
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