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 10 | Friday | Dusk | The Incredibles 2 | El Cerrito School | La Habra |
| May 18 | Saturday | Dusk | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 7 | Friday | 8 pm | Mary Poppins Returns | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 14 | Friday | 8 pm | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 14 | Friday | Dusk | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | Oeste Park | La Habra |
| June 14 | Friday | 8 pm | Zootopia | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| June 15 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Trolls | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| June 15 | Saturday | Dusk | Smallfoot | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 19 | Wednesday | 8:30 pm | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Elks Lodge #1952 | Garden Grove |
| June 21 | Friday | Dusk Start | Ralph Break The Internet | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| June 21 | Friday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 21 | Friday | 8:00 pm | Christopher Robin | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 21 | Friday | Dusk Start | Meet Me In St. Louis | OC Great Park/Terraced lawn | Irvine |
| June 21 | Friday | 8 pm | Grease | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| June 22 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Lego Movie 2 | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| June 27 | Thursday | 8 pm | The Little Mermaid | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| June 28 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Mulan | Ponderosa Park | Anaheim |
| June 28 | Friday | 8 pm | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 28 | Friday | Dusk Start | Lego Movie 2 | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 28 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Neverending Story | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| June 28 | Friday | 8 pm | Thor | Craig Park | Fullerton/OC Parks |
| June 29 | Saturday | Dusk Start | A Dog's Way Home | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| June 29 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Sunburst Field @ Joint Forces Training Base | Los Alamitos |
| July 5 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Hercules | Chapparal Park | Anaheim |
| July 5 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Sandlot | The Plunge | Brea |
| July 5 | Friday | 8 pm | No Movie Scheduled At This Time | San Gorgonio Park | San Clemente |
| July 5 | Friday | 6 pm | Jurassic Park | Craig Park | Fullerton/OC Parks |
| July 8 | Monday | 8 pm | The Greatest Showman | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 11 | Thursday | Dusk Start | Dumbo | Victory Park | Tustin |
| July 12 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Wreck It Ralph | Willow Park | Anaheim |
| July 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Little Giants | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 12 | Friday | 6:30 pm | How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| July 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Incredibles 2 | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 12 | Friday | 6 pm | Paddington 2 | Yorba Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| July 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Grinch | Brio Park | La Habra |
| July 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 12 | Friday | 8 pm | Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 13 | Saturday | Dusk Start | How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 13 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Orville R. Lewis Park | Los Alamitos |
| July 15 | Monday | 8 pm | Mean Girls | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 18 | Thursday | Dusk | Romeo & Juliet | Peppertree Park | Tustin |
| July 19 | Friday | Dusk Start | Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 19 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| July 19 | Friday | 7:45 pm | The Emperor's New Groove | Stoddard Park | Anaheim |
| July 19 | Friday | Dusk Start | How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 19 | Friday | 6 pm | The Goonies | Yorba Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| July 19 | Friday | Dusk Start | Boss Baby | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 19 | Friday | 8 pm | No Movie Scheduled At This Time | San Gorgonio Park | San Clemente |
| July 19 | Friday | 8 pm | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 20 | Saturday | Dusk | The Lego Movie The Second Part | Hurless Barton Park Amphitheater | Yorba Linda |
| July 22 | Monday | 8 pm | Anastasia | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 25 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Balearic Park | Cost Mesa |
| July 25 | Thursday | 8 pm | Dr. Strangelove | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| July 25 | Thursday | Dusk | Lego Movie 2 | Cedar Grove Park | Tustin |
| July 26 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | Eucalyptus Park | Anaheim |
| July 26 | Friday | Dusk Start | Mary Poppins Returns | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 26 | Friday | 8 pm | Lego Movie 2 | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 26 | Friday | 6pm | Incredibles 2 | Mason Park | Irvine/OC Parks |
| July 26 | Friday | Dusk Start | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | Kraemer Park | Placentia |
| July 27 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Incredibles 2 | Los Alamitos School District Office Field | Los Alamitos |
| July 29 | Monday | 8 pm | Dream Girls | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| August 1 | Thursday | Dusk Start | Wonder | Camino Real Park | Tustin |
| August 2 | Friday | Dusk Start | Incredibles 2 | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| August 2 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back | Juarez Park | Anaheim |
| August 2 | Friday | 6pm | Back To The Future | Mason Park | Irvine/OC Parks |
| August 2 | Friday | Dusk Start | Lego Movie 2 | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 5 | Monday | 8 pm | Hook | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| August 6 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | Hercules | Fountain Valley Recreational Center | Fountain Valley |
| August 6 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | Ralph Breaks The Internet | Portola Park | La Habra |
| August 8 | Thursday | 8 pm | Sabrina | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| August 8 | Thursday | Dusk Start | Black Panther | Frontier Park | Tustin |
| August 9 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Star Wars: Episode VI Return Of The Jedi | Twila Reid Park | Anaheim |
| August 9 | Friday | 6 pm | May Poppins Returns | Irvine Park | Orange/OC Parks |
| August 9 | Friday | Dusk Start | Incredibles 2 | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 16 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Muppet Movie | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| August 16 | Friday | 6pm | The Jungle Book | Irvine Park | Orange/OC Parks |
| August 16 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Greatest Showman | Courreges Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 16 | Friday | Dusk Start | Peoples Choice Movie | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 17 | Saturday | 8 pm | Big | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| August 17 | Saturday | Dusk | How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World | Travis Ranch Youth Park | Yorba Linda |
| August 22 | Thursday | 8 pm | Captain Marvel | Festival Amphitheater | Garden Grove |
| August 23 | Friday | Dusk Start | How To Train Your Dragon 3 | El Cerrito School | La Habra |
| August 23 | Friday | Dusk Start | Monsters University | Los Alamos Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 23 | Friday | 6pm | The Lego Movie 2 | Laguna Niguel Park | Laguna Niguel/OC Parks |
| August 23 | Friday | Dusk Start | No Movie Scheduled At This Time | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 30 | Friday | Dusk Start | Tangled | McDowell Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 30 | Friday | 6pm | The Princess Bride | Laguna Niguel Park | Laguna Niguel/OC Parks |
| September 6 | Friday | 6 pm | Lilo & Stitch | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| September 6 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 13 | Friday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | Our Lady of Guadalupe | La Habra |
| September 13 | Friday | 6 pm | The Endless Summer | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| September 13 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 20 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 21 | Saturday | 8 pm | 13 Going On 30 | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| September 21 | Saturday | Dusk | Wonder Park | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| September 27 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
Additional Paid or Visitor Only Outdoor Movies
Hotel Irvine Movies In The Backyard is an outdoor movie event for guests to enjoy. Admission is $10 per person. Ages 3 and under are free. The lifestyle hotel event offers open seating so bring you blankets, pillows, and lawn chairs and grab a spot on the lawn. BBQ-style dinners are available to purchase with hot-off-the-grill favorites, sandwiches, and traditional movie snacks. Guests may also order a featured cocktail or wine from the outdoor bar.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina offers movies on the beach every weekend from July 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:
July 10 – Pitch Perfect
July 17 – The Little Mermaid
July 24 – Jaws
August 7 – The Lego Movie
August 14 – Mean Girls
August 21 – Back To The Future
August 28 – Big Hero 6
BeachFront Cinema is an outdoor summer movie series that is held at Huntington State Beach near Newland and PCH. No coolers or outside food or drinks are allowed, including no outside alcohol. Bring blankets and beach chairs that are no taller than 32″. Ocean breezes cool things down quickly when the sun goes down, so dress warm. BeachFront Cinemas also include live bands, contests and games, food vendors and a beach bar, and one of the largest inflatable outdoor movie screens in California. Admission is free for children 3 and under. Ticket prices are $9.99 – $19.99. Parking is available at Huntington State Beach for a day use fee.
BeachFront Cinema Schedule:
2019 Schedule TBA