Ever wish you could find some dog-friendly movie theaters so you don’t have to leave Fido at home on family movie night?
Most indoor movie theaters don’t allow dogs inside their theaters, and really, can you blame them?
We love our dogs to pieces but the last thing we want is to have them start barking during the movie, right?
However, when it comes to drive-ins or outdoor movie screenings, many places are glad to welcome your dog.
Here are the best dog-friendly movie theaters in Chicago, Illinois; New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California.
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Dog-Friendly Movie Theaters, Drive-Ins & Outdoor Movie Screenings
Heads up:
Every one of these dog-friendly movie theaters requires you to keep your dog on a leash.
In fact, I’d say that’s pretty much a given for just about every place that allows dogs, with the exception of a few pet-friendly beaches and parks.
Also, while we’ve given admission prices when applicable (many of these outdoor screenings are free), keep in mind that they’re subject to change.
Your best bet is to check out the theater’s website for the latest fees and information before you head out with your dog.
Now, let’s check out these dog-friendly drive-ins and outdoor movie screenings!
Chicago, Illinois
1. Cascade Drive-In
The Cascade Drive-In is at 1100 East North Avenue in West Chicago.
- They are open 7 days a week and the admission price includes 2 movie screenings.
- Admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-11 and free for children under the age of 5 and pets.
- The movies that are currently showing are Adrift and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
- The movie schedule can be found on their website.
- The Cascade Drive-In also features a full-service food concession area.
2. Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Parks
Movies in the Parks began in 2000 and showcases over 200 movie screenings throughout the city’s 77 parks.
- These free movies range from classics, like the 1964 Mary Poppins, to retro favorites, like the 1985 Back to the Future, to recent family favorites, like the 2017 Paddington 2.
- The movie schedule can be found on their website.
- Dogs are allowed in the parks, as long as you follow a few rules and regulations, which can also be found on their website.
3. McHenry Outdoor Theater
The McHenry Outdoor Theater is at 1510 Chapel Hill Road in McHenry.
- The admission price includes 2 movie screenings, which currently are Life of the Party and Ocean’s 8.
- Admission prices are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 11 and under.
- The McHenry Outdoor Theater features a full concession stand that includes favorites, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and ice cream.
- Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
4. Navy Pier’s Water Flicks
Water Flicks is held at the Navy Pier, located at 600 East Grand Avenue in Chicago.
- The free movies are shows at the Navy Pier’s Polk Bros Park every Monday night, from June 18, 2018 through August 20, 2018.
- This year’s theme is “Movies with Music” and includes classics, like the 1964 Viva Las Vegas to currents, like the 2016 Sing.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
New York City, New York
5. Central Park Conservancy Film Festival
The Central Park Conservancy Film Festival is held at Central Park, in Manhattan, at Frisbee Hill.
- The Central Park Conservancy, along with the Museum of the City of New York and the Museum of the Moving Image, present this year’s 16th Annual Film Festival, from August 14-17, 2018.
- This year’s free movies, which start each night at 8pm are- the 1979 Hair, the 1994 Crooklyn, the 1964 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and the 1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
- Dogs are allowed in the parks, as long as you follow a few rules and regulations, which can be found on their website.
6. Movie Night on Randall’s Island
Movie Night, held on Randall’s Island, takes place on either Athletic Field #42 at Sunken Meadow Fields or Athletic Field #81 at East River Fields.
- This year, there will be 8 free movie screenings, from May 25, 2018 through September 9, 2018 and includes family-friendly movies, like the 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the 2017 The Lego Batman Movie.
- The movie schedule can be found on their website.
7. Red Hook Flicks at Valentino Pier
Red Hook Flicks, held at the Valentino Pier on the Brooklyn waterfront, runs every Tuesday night, from July 10, 2018 through August 28, 2018.
- The free movies come in an array of genres, like the 2017 computer-animated fantasy- Coco, the 2015 sports drama- Creed and the 2007 musical comedy- Hairspray.
- Dogs are welcome as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash.
- The movie schedule can be found on their website.
- There is also a helpful FAQ page on their website.
8. Socrates Sculpture Park’s Outdoor Cinema International Film Festival
The Outdoor Cinema International Film Festival is held at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens.
- The free movie festival, now in its 20th year, is held every Wednesday night, from July 11, 2018 through August 29, 2018.
- Each of the movies shown are foreign films, in their original language, with English subtitles.
- So, you may be asking yourself why bother showing foreign films? It’s because Queens is one of the most diverse places in the world!
- In fact, did you know that there are currently 138 languages spoken in Queens? Only 43.84% of the population in Queens speaks English as a primary language.
- That means that over half of the population- 56.16%- speak a primary language other than English.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
9. SummerScreen at McCarren Park
SummerScreen is held at McCarren Park in Brooklyn.
- This free film series, now in its 13th year, is held every Wednesday night, from July 11, 2018 through August 29, 2018.
- This year’s movies include the 2000 Love & Basketball and the 2009 Fantastic Mr. Fox.
- The movie schedule can be found on their website.
Los Angeles, California
10. Eat See Hear Outdoor Screenings
The Eat See Hear Outdoor Movie Screenings are held at various venues across Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles State Historic Park and the Pasadena’s City Hall Centennial Square.
- The 2018 movie series runs from June 16, 2018 through September 15, 2018.
- This year’s movies include the 1974 Blazing Saddles and the 2004 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Movie tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-12.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
- Also, they have some dog friendly information on their website.
11. Moonlight Movies on the Beach at Alfredo’s Beach Club
The Moonlight Movies are held at Alfredo’s Beach Club in Long Beach and is presented by the Port of Long Beach.
- The free movies run from June 19, 2018 through August 21, 2018.
- This year’s movies include the 1989 The Little Mermaid and the 2018 Black Panther.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
12. Valley Cultural Center’s Movies on the Green
Movies on the Green is held at the Valley Cultural Center’s Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills.
- The free movies (although there is a $10 parking fee) are held every Saturday night, from July 21, 2018 through August 18, 2018.
- This year’s movies range from the 1978 Grease to the 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
- The movie schedule and other information can be found on their website.
Don’t live in or near one of these major cities?
Check with your own local park or drive-in movie theater to see if they allow dogs. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that they do!
Also, while the majority of indoor theaters do NOT allow dogs, service dogs are the exception.
By law, they have to be permitted. Just remember that an emotional support animal is not the same thing as a service dog and doesn’t have the same legal rights.
Hopefully you have enjoyed this list and have found a great place to catch a movie with your dog!
I mean, there’s no guarantee that your four-legged friend will watch more than 5 minutes of the movie, but you’ll still be spending quality time together.
And, after all, this is what counts, right?