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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | Friday | 8 pm | The Lego Batman Movie | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 8 | Friday | 8 pm | Beauty and the Beast | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 8 | Friday | 8 pm | Age of Ultron | Washington Middle School | La Habra |
| June 15 | Friday | 8 pm | Guardians of the Galaxy | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 15 | Friday | 7:30 pm | The Lorax | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| June 16 | Saturday | 8 pm | The Jungle Book | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| June 16 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Wiz | Centennial Park | Tustin |
| June 16 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Wiz | Centennial Park | Tustin |
| June 16 | Saturday | 8 pm | Ferdinand | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 20 | Wednesday | 8:30 pm | Justice League | Elks Lodge #1952 | Garden Grove |
| June 22 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Finding Nemo | Ponderosa Park | Anaheim |
| June 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Paddington 2 | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 22 | Friday | 7:30 pm | The Little Mermaid | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Stagecoach | OC Great Park/Palm Court | Irvine |
| June 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Peter Rabbit | Brio Park | La Habra |
| June 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | Buffalo Hills Park | Newport Beach |
| June 22 | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| June 23 | Saturday | 8 pm | The Lion King | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Brea/OC Parks |
| June 23 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Ferdinand | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| June 23 | Saturday | 8 pm | Back to the Future | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| June 23 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Lion King | Laurel Park | Los Alamitos |
| June 27 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Coco | Angels Playground | Cost Mesa |
| June 29 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Ratatouille | Modjeska Park | Anaheim |
| June 29 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Secret Life Of Pets | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| June 29 | Friday | Dusk Start | Brigadoon | OC Great Park/Palm Court | Irvine |
| June 29 | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| June 30 | Saturday | 8 pm | Guardians of the Galaxy | Craig Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| June 30 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The LEGO Ninjago Movie | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 6 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Inside Out | Willow Park | Anaheim |
| July 6 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Sandlot | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 6 | Friday | Dusk Start | Clambake | OC Great Park/Palm Court | Irvine |
| July 6 | Friday | 7:30 pm | The Lego Ninjago Movie | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| July 6 | Friday | 8 pm | Mary Poppins | San Gorgonio Park | San Clemente |
| July 6 | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 7 | Saturday | 8 pm | Honey, I Shrunk The Kids | Craig Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| July 7 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Peter Rabbit | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 9 | Monday | 8 pm | Back to the Future | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 12 | Thursday | Dusk Start | The Wiz | Centennial Park | Tustin |
| July 13 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Toy Story | Stoddard Park | Anaheim |
| July 13 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Boss Baby | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 13 | Friday | 8 pm | Trolls | Mason Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| July 13 | Friday | Dusk Start | Coco | Brio Park | La Habra |
| July 13 | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 14 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Greatest Showman | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July 14 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Coco | Orville R. Lewis Park | Los Alamitos |
| July 16 | Monday | 8 pm | The Princess Bride | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 19 | Thursday | 8 pm | Alice in Wonderland | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| July 19 | Thursday | Dusk | Life of Pi | Peppertree Park | Tustin |
| July 20 | Friday | Dusk Start | Coco | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| July 20 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Monsters, Inc | Eucalyptus Park | Anaheim |
| July 20 | Friday | Dusk Start | Coco | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 20 | Friday | 8 pm | Ghostbusters | Mason Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| July 20 | Friday | 7:30 pm | Cars 3 | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| July 20 | Friday | Dusk Start | Incredibles | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 20 | Friday | 8 pm | Coco | San Gorgonio Park | San Clemente |
| July 20 | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 21 | Saturday | 8 pm | Coco | Hurless Barton Park Amphitheater | Yorba Linda |
| July 23 | Monday | 8 pm | Moonrise Kingdom | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| July 25 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Balearic Park | Cost Mesa |
| July 26 | Thursday | Dusk | Ferdinand | Cedar Grove Park | Tustin |
| July 27 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Up | Juarez Park | Anaheim |
| July 27 | Friday | Dusk Start | Wonder | Arovista Park Amphitheatre | Brea |
| July 27 | Friday | 8 pm | Zootopia | Irvine Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| July 27 | Friday | Dusk Start | Big Hero 6 | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 28 | Saturday | Dusk Start | The Lego Ninjago Movie | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| July 30 | Monday | 8 pm | The Mask of Zorro | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| August 2 | Thursday | Dusk Start | Beauty and the Beast | Camino Real Park | Tustin |
| August 2 | Thursday | 8 pm | Beach Blanket Bingo | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| August 3 | Friday | Dusk Start | Moana | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| August 3 | Friday | 7:45 pm | Cars | Twila Reid Park | Anaheim |
| August 3 | Friday | 8 pm | The Karate Kid | Irvine Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| August 3 | Friday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 6 | Monday | 8 pm | Star Trek | Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa |
| August 7 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | The Incredibles | Fountain Valley Recreational Center | Fountain Valley |
| August 7 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | The Incredibles | Portola Park | La Habra |
| August 9 | Thursday | Dusk Start | Coco | Frontier Park | Tustin |
| August 10 | Friday | 8 pm | Coco | Pearson Park Amphitheater | Anaheim |
| August 10 | Friday | 8 pm | The Secret Life of Pets | Yorba Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| August 10 | Friday | 7:30 pm | Despicable Me 3 | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| August 10 | Friday | Dusk Start | Coco | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 16 | Thursday | 8 pm | Casablanca | Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast |
| August 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Secret Life of Pets | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| August 17 | Friday | 8 pm | The Lego Ninjago Movie | Pearson Park Amphitheater | Anaheim |
| August 17 | Friday | 8 pm | A League Of Their Own | Yorba Park | Anaheim/OC Parks |
| August 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Zootopia | Los Alamos Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Crossroads Community Church | La Habra |
| August 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Cars 3 | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 18 | Saturday | 8 pm | Back to the Future 2 | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| August 18 | Saturday | 8 pm | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Mustang Fields | Yorba Linda |
| August 22 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | Angels Playground | Cost Mesa |
| August 23 | Thursday | 8 pm | Despicable Me 3 | Atlantis Play Center | Garden Grove |
| August 24 | Friday | Dusk Start | Mulan | Harper Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 24 | Friday | 8 pm | Coco | Laguna Niguel Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| August 24 | Friday | 7:30 pm | The Lion King | Lake Forest Sports Park | Lake Forest |
| August 24 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 31 | Friday | Dusk Start | Trolls | Vista View Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 31 | Friday | 8 pm | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Laguna Niguel Park | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| September 7 | Friday | 8 pm | Moana | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| September 7 | Friday | Dusk Start | Moana | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 14 | Friday | 8 pm | Jaws | Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point/OC Parks |
| September 14 | Friday | Dusk Start | Top Gun | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 15 | Saturday | 8 pm | Despicable Me 3 | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| September 21 | Friday | Dusk Start | The Star | Our Lady of Guadalupe | La Habra |
| September 21 | Friday | Dusk Start | Best in Show | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| September 28 | Friday | Dusk Start | Beauty and the Beast | Eisenhower Park | Seal Beach |
| October 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Despicable Me 3 | El Cerrito School | La Habra |
Additional Paid or Visitor Only Outdoor Movies
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:
July 14, 2018 – Jaws
August 4, 2018 – Jaws
August 11, 2018 – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
September 1, 2018 – Coco
September 2, 2018 – Black Panther
October 20, 2018 – Sully
October 21, 2018 – Top Gun
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. Hotel Irvine will be showing Black Panther on August 31, 2018.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina offers movies on the beach every weekend from July 6th through September 29th. 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 surf-themed documentaries by Vans. The event is free and hosted on the upper deck of the shopping center, 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:
September 6, 2018 – Vans Get-In Classic vol. 1
September 13, 2018 – Vans Get-In Classic vol. 2
September 20, 2018 – Vans Get-In Classic vol. 3
September 27, 2018 – Vans the Ductumentary
