Movie Night on the Upper West Side

Arts in the summer may evoke outdoor concerts (like our free Summer Jazz Sensations concerts!) or Shakespeare in the Park, but there are also many ways to enjoy film in and around Lincoln Square this season. From new releases to classics, American Westerns to international dramas, there is a wide array of films and settings to choose from, thanks to the abundance of cultural institutions in NYC and Lincoln Square. 

No discussion of movies would be complete without acknowledging one of the neighborhood’s best-known theaters—AMC Lincoln Square 13 (1998 Broadway at W 68th Street). When the theater isn’t hosting movie premieres, it’s a regular movie theater, complete with popcorn and snack stand. This summer, visit to watch the newest movies like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (“the return to the iconic dystopian world [George Miller] created more than 30 years ago with the seminal ‘Mad Max’ films”), The Dead Don’t Hurt (a Civil War-era Western about star-crossed lovers), Ezra (a family drama about a stand-up comedian struggling with co-parenting his autistic son), or Young Woman and The Sea (the true life story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel).

For old classics, independent films, and international hits, visit Film at Lincoln Center (144 W 65th Street between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway). During the first half of the month, the center will host two film series—Open Roads: New Italian Cinema (May 30 through June 6) and Sophia Loren: La Signora di Napoli (June 7 through 13). Check their calendar for show times and movie details, and consider arriving early or staying late for an Italian meal at Café Paradiso, located inside Film at Lincoln Center. Later in the month, enjoy Angels and Puppets: The Stage on Screen with Annie Baker (June 14 through June 20) and Carnal Knowledge: The Films of Catherine Breillat (June 21 through June 27).

Film at Lincoln Center will also be hosting free outdoor movie screenings this June as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City. Audiences will enjoy high-quality format showings of Black Swan (the story of a young ballerina’s unraveling in NYC) on June 13, Before Sunrise (a love story set in Vienna) on June 20, Before Sunset (the sequel to Before Sunrise) on June 21, RRR (a Telugu-language film set in the 1920s that became a box office hit) on July 11, and Dick (a reimagining of the Watergate scandal) on July 25. In addition to ample seating, expect on-site concessions with popcorn and drinks. All movies will be shown at 9:00pm in Damrosch Park (located at Amsterdam Ave and W 62nd Street).

For kids, there are also opportunities to cool off and enjoy films this summer. Visit the New York Public Library’s Riverside branch (127 Amsterdam Ave at W 65th Street) for Movie Mondays. On June 10, Trolls Band Together will be shown, and on June 24, Wish will be shown. These showings will be limited to 20 children with a parent or guardian, and seats will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

In July, you can enjoy French films right outside of Lincoln Square thanks to Films on the Green, an annual lineup of free screenings of French films in New York City parks. In July, two of the screenings will be held on Pier 1 in Riverside Park (500 W 70th Street on the Hudson River). On July 19, watch Les Cinq Tulipes Rouges (Five Red Tulips), a 1949 crime drama to uncover the mystery behind five murders associated with the Tour de France. Then, on July 26, catch Le Boon d’Or (The Golden Ball), a 1994 comedy-drama about a 12-year-old boy in Guinea who dreams of playing soccer.

If you’re looking for even more spots to catch a film, check out New Plaza Cinema (35 W 67th Street at Columbus Ave), located right outside of the Lincoln Square BID. The non-profit cinema shows a range of recent and classic films. Movies are screened each weekend (see their calendar here), and the non-profit also hosts virtual talks and lectures.

With so many events and outings in the warmer months, it’s important to also find time to rest and recover. We hope you’re able to take advantage of these and other film screenings this summer in order to slow down while still enjoying the arts!

Photo Credit: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts