Mayor de Blasio Expands Free 'Movies Under the Stars' Outdoor Film Series to More Parks Throughout the Five Boroughs

Doubling last year’s total, 300 films will be screened during 2016 season Over 60 percent of events to take place in parks previously not included in program

Photo courtesy of Malcolm Pinkney, NYC Parks.

NEW YORK—For the first time ever, the City’s outdoor film screening series Movies Under the Stars will bring 300 films to parks in all five boroughs, including many parks that have never hosted movie nights before. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver announced the major expansion today, which will double the number of free film screenings to New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs.

Throughout the summer months, parks in the five boroughs will host screenings of classic films like Casablanca, Moonstruck, and The Blues Brothers, as well as new favorites, like Star Wars – The Force Awakens, Inside Out, and Brooklyn. The announcement comes as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is scheduled to screen at East Williamsburg’s Cooper Park, a park receiving programming for the first time, on Thursday, May 5.

“‘Movies Under the Stars’ gives New Yorkers in every borough the opportunity to engage with film in a collective and meaningful way,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our Administration is committed to increasing access to family-friendly cultural opportunities, and this partnership is a perfect example of this work. I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of this fun and free summer program.” 

“There’s nothing quite like the experience of watching a film outdoors, and we’re so glad to once again be increasing support for the ‘Movies Under the Stars’ program for the 2016 season,” said Mayor’s Office of Media Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. “The entertainment industry is a vital component of our City’s economy, and we’re proud to be attracting more filming activity than ever before. This initiative is an opportunity for us to thank city residents for hosting filming in their communities, and to provide New Yorkers with increased access to culturally diverse, thought provoking programming.”

“We are happy to once again present outdoor movies to New Yorkers across the five boroughs and we want them to enjoy this experience to the fullest,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Each year we try to add more films and include more locations so that everyone has an opportunity to come out and catch a movie in a park. This year, ‘Movies Under the Stars’ will show a total of 300 films. We encourage friends, families, residents and neighbors of every community, to take advantage of this moment.”

Returning for a second year as part of this initiative is TV Under the Stars, which allows New Yorkers to share in the excitement of network TV’s fall premiere season. Parks around the city will host screenings of brand new shows before they officially air, and events will include special guests and other exciting activities. More details about TV Under the Stars will be available closer to the start of premiere season in September.

The expansion of Movies Under the Stars is the result of a MOME and Parks Department partnership in which the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment is supporting additional screenings and resources. The motivation behind growing the Movies under the Stars program is to bring all New Yorkers closer to the arts; to expand access to cinema to underserved areas in the city; and to thank New Yorkers for supporting filming in their neighborhoods.

More than 60 percent of the 2016 Movies Under the Stars events will take place in parks throughout New York City that have never received programming before. New parks hosting films for the first time in 2016 include:

• Edward Byrne Park and Harvey Park in Queens; 
• Cooper Park, Linden Park, McGolrick Park, Kelly Park, and John Paul Jones Park in Brooklyn; 
• West Bronx Ball Field, Sachkerah Playground, Van Cortlandt Park, Middletown Park, Crotona Park and Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx; 
• Carl Schurz Park, East River Park Bandshell, Vincent F. Albano Jr. Playground and Howard Bennett Playground in Manhattan; and 
• Bloomingdale Park and Wolfe’s Pond Park in Staten Island.

Movies Under the Stars is the annual summer movie series presented by The City of New York. Through this program, New Yorkers are encouraged to pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park. Movies are hosted in all five boroughs and begin at dusk.

Visit nyc.gov/MoviesUnderTheStars for the most up-to-date schedule of screenings and locations.