Although drive-in movie theaters have dwindled in numbers since the 50s and 60s, with 4,000 locations nationwide shrinking to merely hundreds, local theaters and film societies are embracing the drive-in vision. Outdoor film screenings create the special, communal experience of appreciating the art of filmmaking in the summer heat. These experiences bring together friends, family, and the whole community to watch a variety of genres and appreciate all sorts of films. To spend a night outside with a good movie to watch, here’s our roundup of outdoor movie screenings and drive-in theaters.
Outdoor Movie Series
Free Outdoor Screenings at Midtown Linear Park | Kingston
Presented by the Kingston Film Foundation, Midtown Linear Park will host once-monthly free screenings that began June 1 with Gina Prince-Blythewood’s iconic 2000 sports romance Love & Basketball. Next up is Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey on Sunday, July 20 at 8pm. The series will end with Terry Gilliam’s 1981 Time Bandits on August 17, also at 8pm. These all-ages screenings will offer food vendors and beer to guests. Kingston Film Foundation is a nonprofit that will host several other screenings throughout the summer at local venues like Rough Draft and Rosendale Theater, all of which can be found on their website.
Movie Nights on Bannerman Island | Beacon
Definitely the most epic backdrop for a movie screening you’ll probably ever get, these film events take guests on a boat ride to Bannerman Island, where they’ll receive a tour or lecture about the historic island and its epic, crumbling castle before being seated for show. The tickets to these ages 12-and-up screenings are $45. A concession stand featuring movie theater classics will also be on the island. Upcoming movies include Romeo + Juliet (June 6), Hook (June 20), Coco (July 5), Raiders of the Lost Ark (July 11), Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (August 8), Now Voyager (August 22), and The Bride of Frankenstein (October 3).
Movies Under the Walkway | Poughkeepsie
A yearly Poughkeepsie tradition, the Movies Under the Walkway series will host free screenings for all ages in Upper Landing Park in Poughkeepsie, located on 83 North Water Street, with sprawling views of the Hudson River and the Walkway. The family-friendly movies scheduled this year are Moana 2 (June 28), Paddington in Peru (July 12), Despicable Me 4 (July 26), and A Minecraft Movie (2025). The park opens at 7pm and the movies begin at 8:30pm with no rain dates scheduled. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
Hudson Valley Drive-Ins
Overlook Drive-In | Poughkeepsie
Boasting the largest screen in the tristate area, the Overlook Drive-In theater in Poughkeepsie has a slate of new films to watch outdoors every weekend. The theater is currently offering screenings of Thunderbolts and Lilo & Stitch. They also offer discounted double-viewing tickets, where you’d watch both movies back-to-back. Coming soon is How to Train Your Dragon (2025) and The Phoenician Scheme on June 13th.
Warwick Drive-In | Warwick
This three-screen drive-in has been a staple of upstate New York since the 1950s. It shows six films a night, with each screening costing $13 for adults and $9 for kids ages 4-11. Now playing is Karate Kid: Legends, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Ballerina, Thunderbolts, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Dangerous Animals. Coming soon is Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Saw X, The Creator, and The Kill Room.
Four Brothers Drive-In | Amenia
The Four Bros. Drive-In features an on-site hotel, minigolf course, a restaurant, a playground, and live music on weekends. The drive-in even hosts weddings, the only drive-in in the area doing so. Four Bros. is famous for a reason, taking the drive-in experience to the next level and complementing their two-film screenings with an entire party for guests to take part in. Starting June 6, Ballerina and Karate Kid: Legends are playing at the theater. How to Train Your Dragon (2025) will be screening starting June 13, Elio on June 20, and F1: The Movie on July 3.
Hi-Way Drive-In | Coxsackie
Coxsackie’s drive-in theater offers a much wider programming selection than others in the area, including horror and action movies in addition to children’s movies and classics. It was built in 1950 and bought by employees once its original owners retired, and the spirit of the classic drive-in feel remains. Its food menu includes hot dogs, fried pickles, mac and cheese bites, and nachos. The drive-in is open from Friday to Sunday. The drive-in’s current movie lineup includes: The Materialists, The Phoenician Scheme, Ballerina, Karate Kid: Legends, Lilo & Stitch, Thunderbolts, Friendship, and How to Train Your Dragon (2025).
