Welcome to the NW Columbus Macaroni Kid Summer Movies Guide. This is where you'll find free, cheap, movies as well as fun outdoor movie events in and around Columbus. These movies are a great way to beat the heat this summer or even better for rainy days to keep the kids from going stir-crazy.
Please note: Many of the movie series are free to attend but you may have to buy refreshments at some venues. For the outdoor movies, please note that summer weather is unpredictable, as is technology, so it is always good to call ahead/check online and ensure that the movie is playing (on that venue's website as we don't get notified of cancellations).
Summer Movie Camp at AMC Dublin Village
Summer Movie Camp Is Back
If you are looking for something to do with the kids once the school year ends and summer break kicks off, AMC Theatres has you covered. Between June and August 2026, AMC Summer Movie Camp, this fan-favorite program will bring back some of the best animated movies of the past few years. Just $3+tax every Monday and Wednesday from 6/22-8/12. A portion of the proceeds will support the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.
Available at these AMC Theatre's throughout Columbus: AMC Dublin Village, AMC Columbus 10, AMC Easton Town Center 30, AMC Grove City 14
2026 Free Summer Movies at The Strand Delaware
Enjoy a free movie and help the community! Every Tuesday at 10am and 2:30pm. All shows are free with a provided donation.
View the list below for details!
SUMMER LINEUP:
June 2nd - Dog Man
June 9th - How to Train Your Dragon
June 16th - KPop Demon Hunters
June 23th - Shrek
July 7th - A Minecraft Movie
July 14th - Smurfs
July 21st - The Bad Guys 2
July 28th - The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
2026 Phoenix Lennox 24 Free Summer Movie Series
Shows start at 10am, doors open at 9am every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Special kiddie meal available
SUMMER LINEUP:
June 2-4: The Bad Guys | Sing
June 9-11: The Bad Guys 2 | Sing 2
June 16-18: Trolls | The Secret Lives of Pets
June 23-25: Trolls Band Together | The Secret Lives of Pets 2
June 30- July 2: Trolls World Tour | Hop
July 7-9: The Wild Robot | Migration
July 14-16: The Croods | Dr. Suess' The Lorax
July 21-23: The Boss Baby | Abominable
July 28-30: Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie | Over the Hedge
August 4-6: Dog Man | Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken
2026 Kids Dream Summer Movie Series at Marcus Crosswoods Cinemas
Catch a family-friendly movie for just $3 Sunday - Thursday @ 11 am, from June 7 - August 13.
Marcus also offers $3 popcorn and drink specials. And don't miss your free ticket!
Don't miss your chance to purchase a Kids Dream Passport, which entitles the passport holder to see each film at any theatre hosting the series for just $12!
KIDS MOVIE MAGIC LINEUP:
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie – June 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11
Charlie the Wonderdog – June 14-18
Buffalo Kids – June 21-25
Dog Man – June 28-July 2
Paddington – July 5-9
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – July 12-16
The Pout-Pout Fish – July 19-23
Curious George – July 26-30
Sesame Street: Follow That Bird – Aug. 2-6
The Muppet Movie – Aug. 9-13
Summer Movie Clubhouse (Cinemark Polaris 18 & Xtreme)
Summer Movie Clubhouse at Cinemark is nearly here—get your tickets now! Bring the kids and enjoy exciting big-screen entertainment for just $1.75* per ticket for each movie. Save even more on your visit with $1 OFF deals on kids’ snack packs and any size popcorn & drink combos during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes. Participating theatres will host Summer Movie Clubhouse on select days, June 1 through August 6. Be sure to check your local theatre for more Summer Movie Clubhouse fun!
SUMMER LINEUP:
June 1 - 4: Paddington
June 8th - 11th: Sonic The Hedgehog
June 18th - 18th: KPop Demon Hunters
June 22nd - 25th: Shrek Forever After
June 29th - July 2nd: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
July 6th - 9th: A Minecraft Movie
July 13th - 16th: Dog Man
July 20th - 23rd: How to Train Your Dragon
July 27th - 30th: The Bad Guys 2
August 3rd - 6th: Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie
FRIDAY NIGHT ADVENTURE NIGHT MOVIES
Adventure Nights at the Zoo is hosted exclusively in the Adventure Cove region; other Zoo areas close at 6 p.m. Adventure Nights is the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay’s debut after-hours series in the Adventure Cove region, with music playing, movies rolling, rides lit up,
Adventure Nights features a lineup of free family-friendly movies each Friday, including:
SUMMER LINEUP:
June 26 – The Goonies
July 3 – National Treasure
July 10 – Muppet Treasure Island
July 17 – Jungle Cruise
July 24 – How to Train Your Dragon
South Drive-In Theatre
Open 7 Nights A Week!
Gate Opens Fri-Sun 7:45p/Mon-Thurs 8:15p | Screen 1 91.9 Fm
Ticket Prices Are Per Person (Includes a 5% Columbus City Entertainment/Excise Tax)
$12.50 - Per Person for Ages 12+ Every Day
$6.50 - Children Ages 5 – 11 Every Day
Free - Kids 4 & Under are Free
From Book to Film: 16 Years of Free, Family Films
Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend
From Book to Film returns for its 16th year with fifteen beloved family films. Admission is free with your library card!
This annual celebration of storytelling on screen brings literary favorites to life with a lineup for all-ages—including many presented in stunning 4K restorations. This program is made possible thanks to the generosity of Larry and Donna James and the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Additional Outdoor Movie Events!
Cinema Saturdays 2026 Part of the Dublin Summer Fun Series
Cinema Saturdays - you're encouraged to bring blankets and pick up dinner in Downtown Dublin to enjoy a movie in Riverside Crossing Park on select Saturdays throughout the summer. Showings will begin at 6 p.m. (rated G/PG), immediately followed by a movie for older teens and adults (rated up to PG-13).
June 27: Inside Out 2 | Black Panther
July 25: A Christmas Story | Ready Player One
Aug. 29: Finding Dory | Draft Day
Sept. 26: Zootopia 2 | Superman 2025
Oct. 31: Coco | Wicked: For Good (PG/G Rated)
Upper Arlington Movies in the Park
Enjoy the magic of movies under the stars with our Movies in the Park series. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and favorite snacks for a relaxing outdoor movie experience perfect for all ages.
All screenings are free and begin at dusk. Please note, if a movie is canceled due to inclement weather, it will not be rescheduled. Cancellation updates will be shared promptly on the Parks & Recreation Department’s social media accounts.
Friday, June 12 | 7 pm: Ready Player One (PG-13)
Sunny 95 Park
4395 Carriage Hill Lane
*Appropriate for Ages 13+
Friday, July 10 | 7 pm, Movie Night & Family Campout* - 8-Bit Christmas (PG)
Sunny 95 Park
4395 Carriage Hill Lane
*Pre-registration is required for the Family Campout. To learn more and complete your registration, please our online activity registration site.
Friday, August 7 | 7 pm: Little Giants (PG)
Thompson Park
4250 Woodbridge Road
Columbus Commons
2026
FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS
Round up the whole family and head to the Commons for a free movie surrounded by the stars and the city skyline. This event is free and open to the public and lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Free popcorn while supplies last.
Friday, June 5 |ALADDIN
Friday, June 26 | ZOOTOPIA 2
Friday, July 10 | UP
Friday, August 21 | ELEMENTAL
Friday, September 18 | SHREK
Movies at the Dam
Head to Alum Creek for some dam fun movie nights! Prepare to enjoy the enchantment of the silver screen in a unique outdoor atmosphere. Bring your loved ones, friends, and a warm blanket for an unforgettable FREE movie night series!
Snacks are available for purchase through our good friends at SACCA. Please note that movie start times vary throughout the summer due to the changes to the sunset time.
Awaiting details for 2026
Free Family Flick Nights
2026 at Hinson Amphitheater
This summer, the Foundation will screen three FREE family movies on The Mershad Digital Experience. This state-of-the-art, 20’x 36’ LED video wall provides audiences with next-level technology in a super-sized format. Gates open at 6:30pm and the movies start at 7:30pm. Admission is free and there are no tickets required. Food trucks with summer treats will be on hand for guests to enjoy or pack your own picnic. Chairs and blankets encouraged. * Alcohol is prohibited on Family Flick Nights
June 16: The Princess and the Frog
July 14: Ratatouille
August 11: The Lion King
Movie Nights At Topiary Park
Found this update when looking for these movies this summer 2026...
After 25 years of service to the downtown community, Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts have closed their doors and ceased operations. SID cleaning, safety and homeless outreach services transitioned to Safer Downtown, a new subsidiary of Downtown Columbus, Inc. effective November 1, 2025.
Thank you for your partnership and support of Downtown!
Easton Movies - awaiting 2026 updates
Every Friday evening in June, catch a fan-favorite movie for the whole family. Showtime is at 7:00PM but guests are encouraged to arrive beginning at 6:00PM to enjoy themed treats and additional entertainment prior to the movie.
Movie Lineup:
Friday, June 6: Wicked, Part 1
Friday, June 13: The Lego Movie
Friday, June 20: Encanto
Friday, June 27: Moana 2
Screen on the Green in Goodale Park!
Screen on the Green will be back this summer and better than ever! Plan to pack your chair and blanket and join the Short North Civic Association on the softball field in Goodale Park for movies under the stars, projected on a giant inflatable screen with cinema-quality sound. Admission is FREE for all. Parking is available on adjacent streets and the Convention Center garage is easy walking distance.
2026 Movie scheduled will be announced soon – check back and follow on Facebook »
Note: I did not include the dates and titles for these movies as some of them are rated R and not kid-friendly. I included left the link here as this could be a date night idea.
Movies Under The Stars 2026.
Tickets will be available for pre-purchase.
**Please note - these are NOT all family-friendly films.
NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Columbus, Ohio. We gather all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about events, festivals, fairs, classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, giveaways, and more. We proudly serve families in Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, West Clintonville, West Worthington, Grandview, Upper Arlington, and Plain City! NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar. Do YOU know of any summer movies we missed? Email heathers@macaronikid.com to get them included. Have an event you'd like submitted to our calendar for consideration? Submit an event here. Like what you see here and want to get all the fun delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter for the 411 on local family fun! #CbusMacKid
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Updated May 26, 2026
