News flash: TVs are so last season. Grab some popcorn + a picnic blanket because for summer, we’re taking the big screen outside.
Summer Nights Film Series | Fridays + Saturdays, June-August | Newfields | $12+ | Bring a chair or blanket and your own picnic (minus the alcohol, which you can buy on site) to catch everything from black + white classics to modern blockbusters. Pro tip: if you don’t want to bring your own chair, you can rent one for $8.
Tibbs Drive-In was a filming location for “Walter,” which was produced by three IU Bloomington grads.
Photo by @violetshort
Tibbs Drive-In Theatre | Thursday-Monday, May-November | Tibbs Drive-In | $12+ | The whole family (even the pups) will love visiting this retro drive-in for current Hollywood releases + the occasional classic. Pro tip: the concessions building offers freshly made food, including standards like nachos + popcorn alongside plant-based hot meals.
Movies at Midtown | Tuesdays + Thursdays, June-September | Midtown Plaza, Carmel | Free | Grab dinner from a surrounding restaurant and relax on the green for family-friendly movies from Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks. Pro tip: if you get there early enough, you might be able to snag one of the comfy couches for seating.
Movies in the Plaza | Last Wednesday of the month, May-August | Grand Junction Plaza, Westfield | Free | There’s plenty of space here for your family to set up camp and enjoy a family-friendly film; offerings for 2025 include “Moana 2" and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Catch a movie under the stars on the State Museum’s lawn.
Photo by @visitindy + @whiteriverstprk
Outdoor Movie Night | Dates vary | Indiana State Museum lawn | $5 | Enjoy a movie like “The Goonies” or “Cars” with a jawdropping view of the city skyline in the background. Plan ahead: in case of rain, showings will be moved inside to the Indiana State Museum Great Hall.
Flix & Floats | Dates vary | Forest Park Aquatic Center | $5 | When the weather’s too hot and the bugs are too plentiful to enjoy a movie on the lawn, try watching one from the pool instead.