Summer in NYC means movies move outdoors to screenings under the stars; pack a blanket – and perhaps a picnic – and catch a classic or cult favorite in a park near you.

Citywide
Films on the Green Festival
The French International Alliance Francais (FIAF) is a co-sponsor for French classics like Jules and Jim and modern international offerings like Persepolis in Tompkins and Washington Square Parks and Riverside Park.
June 1-September 6

Rooftop Films
This innovative series screening provocative under-the-radar entries in every category from shorts and docs to drama pops up in some interesting locations throughout NYC, often preceded by live music. Tickets are sold but there are a handful of free shows throughout each year’s series.

Central Park West
Central Park Conservancy Film Festival
This dog-days favorite is a decade old and going strong. This year’s treasures include the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and more.
Aug 21–25 at 8pm, gates open at 6:30pm
Sheep Meadow; enter at Central Park West and 66th Street

Midtown West
HBO-Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
This Monday night tradition is entering its 20th summer of screening classics like On the Waterfront, The Wizard of Oz and The Maltese Falcon. If you’d rather leave the picnic basket at home, you can check out haute sandwich stand ‘wichcraft, which is offering picnic pickups on Film Festival nights.
June 18-August 20
Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Intrepid Free Summer Friday Movie Series
Pull up a lawn chair and join Intrepid in celebrating everyone’s favorite movie heroes in Star Trek, Jurassic Park and similar.
May 25–August 17; Fridays at dusk, gates at 7:30pm
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Pier 86 at Twelfth Avenue and 46th Street

Chelsea
River Flicks for Grown-Ups
With Fridays set aside for kids’ flicks, grown-ups get their own night for 2011 blockbusters (this year’s theme) like Super 8, Bridesmaids and Crazy, Stupid Love. Also: Free popcorn!
July 11-August 22. Movies start at dusk, around 8:30pm.
Pier 63 lawn, between West 22nd and West 23rd Streets

Downtown Brooklyn
Syfy Movies with a View at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Bring the crew to Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn for a collection of crowd-pleasers like Wet Hot American Summer and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial plus shorts curated by BAMcinématek, DJs early in the evening and an unbeatable view of Manhattan and the harbor.
July 5–August 30; Thursdays at dusk, gates open at 6pm
Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Williamsburg
Summerscreen
Cool cult flicks like Dirty Dancing, Raising Arizona and Princess Bride bring hipsters and others to lovely McCarren Park for a midweek movie break.
Jul 11–Aug 15; Wednesdays at dusk
McCarren Park at the corner of Bedford Avenue and North 12th street