Moonlit Movie Nights in Rome
Nothing says summer in the Eternal City like a movie under the stars (preferably with a gelato in hand). This month, piazzas, and lush villas transform into open-air cinemas, showing everything from classic flicks, to kid-friendly favorites.
Read on for our top picks of outdoor flicks in the city.
Cinema in Piazza 2024
From June 1st to July 14th, Rome’s piazzas are once again being transformed into a movie theater, as the free outside movie festival, “Il Cinema in Piazza,” has returned to Rome for its 10th year. Just like last year, it will be hosted in three locations: Piazza San Cosimato (June 1 – July 14), Monte Ciocci (June 8 – July 14), Casale della Cervelletta (June 6 – July 14). The tenth edition of the festival offers a very rich program; special attention devoted to screenings in the original language (with Italian subtitles) honors the culture of the films by maintaining their authenticity, while simultaneously catering to the diverse tourists and residents living in Rome.
Till July 14, 2024
Piazza San Cosimato); Monte Ciocci; Casale della Cervelletta in Tor Sapienza
Films shown at 9.15pm
Free entry – no reservation required
Casa del Cinema
The summer programming returns to Casa del Cinema, curated by the Fondazione Cinema per Roma. Every day, starting at 9:30 PM, the Teatro Ettore Scola, the large open-air arena located in the Villa Borghese Park, will host a free screening. All films are in their original language with subtitles.
From June 10th to June 30th, the program will feature Titanus 120, a series of seven masterpieces from the catalog of the famous production company, celebrating its 120th anniversary. The series Far from Here is a cinematic journey from France to Kenya to Hawaii, featuring cult directors like Alexander Payne, Ang Lee, Bernardo Bertolucci, Sydney Pollack, Jim Jarmusch, and David Lean. The outdoor programming at Casa del Cinema will continue in July and August.
From 10 June until 8 September 2024
Largo Marcello Mastroianni,1 (Villa Borghese)
Films shown nightly, from 9.30pm
Free entry
Sotto le Stelle dell’Austria
The twelfth edition of “Under the Stars of Austria,” a festival dedicated to the best of contemporary Austrian cinema, awaits you in the beautiful garden of the Austrian Cultural Forum. Six screenings over three weeks to present you with the latest in Austrian cinema, along with talks with directors. Reservations mandatory via email.
The Programme:
- June 18, 8:30 PM, Rickerl (2023) by Adrian Goiginger;
- June 19, 9:00 PM, Andrea Gets a Divorce (2024) by Josef Hader;
- June 25, 8:30 PM, Sleeping with a Tiger (2024) by Anja Salomonowitz;
- June 26, 9:00 PM, Persona Non Grata (2024) by Antonin Svoboda;
- July 2, 8:30 PM, What a Feeling (2024) by Kat Rohrer;
- July 3, 9:00 PM, Club Zero (2023) by Jessica Hausner.
From June 18 to July 3, 2024
Forum Austriaco di Cultura – Via B. Buozzi 113
8.30, 9pm
Free entry, mandatory reservation via email at prenotazione.forumaustriaco@gmail.com
Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio
At Piazza Vittorio in Esquilino, the 24th edition of “Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio” (Cinema Nights at Piazza Vittorio) returns. From June 15 to September 15, enjoy a wide range of films. Tickets for Italian and European films are just €3.50 each, while international film screenings are €6. This year, take advantage of the Vivi Spettacolo subscription: for only €40, you get 10 entries valid for screenings of Italian, European, and international films. During the festival, the matches of Italy participating in the European football championships will also be screened.
from 15 June to 15 September 2024
Piazza Vittorio
9.30pm
€3,50-6,00
Monteverde Il Cinema sotto le Stelle
The open-air cinema in Monteverde, organized by CineVillage, will enliven the evenings of the Roman citizens throughout the summer with screenings of recently released successful films. Additionally, there will be encounters with cinema personalities, presentations, live performances, all complemented by a food area where one can enjoy pleasant evenings with friends or family.
The new feature this year is the headphone cinema, which will allow viewers to immerse themselves in the magic of cinema without creating noise pollution. Just like at Piazza Vittorio, the matches of Italy participating in the European football championships will also be screened here.
from June 15 to September 8, 2024
Largo Alessandrina Ravizza
9.30pm
€3,50-5,00
Cinemaville: Cinema at the MAXXI
This summer, head to the MAXXI Museum for free screenings. The lineup includes:
- Wednesday, July 10: Io Sono L’amore by Luca Guadagnino
- Tuesday, July 16: Contempt by Jean-Luc Godard
- Friday, July 19: Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki
- Wednesday, July 24: The Big Lebowski by Joel and Ethan Coen
Don’t miss these cinematic gems!
10, 16, 19, 24 July 2024
Piazza del MAXXI, Via Guido Reni, 4a
9pm
free entrance
maxxi.art/estate-al-maxxi-2024/
Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere
From July 12 to 16, 2024, Nouvelle Vague will be at Villa Borghese. Look for Paris in Rome: cinema, photos, guests, great classics, new talents, and live streaming events with the Ville Lumière. The program will be announced soon, rendezvous at the Casa del Cinema!
12-16 July 2024
Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese
9pm/9.30pm
free entrance
Roma Cinema Arena – Parco degli Acquedotti
From July 4 to 25, 2024, Roma Cinema Arena returns, the great open-air cinema at the Parco degli Acquedotti in Rome. 22 titles are scheduled to be presented by directors, actors, critics, and artists. The festival will open with the screening of Il Postino, thirty years after its theatrical release, preceded by a talk with Maria Grazia Cucinotta, while at the closing event, artist Chiara Rapaccini will introduce Speriamo che sia femmina by Mario Monicelli. Among the announced guests are Marco Bellocchio, Caterina d’Amico, Marco Tullio Giordana, the Manetti Bros., and Pietro Marcello.
4-25 July 2024
Via Lemonia (corner Via Appio Claudio)
9.15pm
Free entrance
Quo Vadis?
Appointment with cinema dedicated to the history of Rome with QUO VADIS?, the initiative that sees two Italian cultural institutions of excellence united for the third time: the CSC – National Film Archive, among the largest international film archives, and the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum. From July 8th to 17th, films dedicated to the Eternal City as seen through the eyes of master filmmakers, from the post-war period to the present day, will be screened at the Temple of Venus and Rome (entrance from Piazza del Colosseo).
Here’s the schedule:
Monday, July 8
L’impero della natura by Luca Gentili and Marco Lancise (2023, 100’)
Tuesday, July 9
Gladiator by Ridley Scott (2000, 155’)
Wednesday, July 10
Bellissima by Luchino Visconti (1951, 116’)
Thursday, July 11
Roman Holiday by William Wyler (1953, 118’)
Friday, July 12
Fortunata by Sergio Castellitto (2017, 103’)
Saturday, July 13
C’eravamo tanto amati by Ettore Scola (1974, 124’)
Sunday, July 14
Totò cerca casa by Mario Monicelli and Steno (1949, 79’)
Monday, July 15
Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot by Gabriele Mainetti (2015, 118’)
Tuesday, July 16
L’odore della notte by Claudio Caligari (1998, 96’)
Wednesday, July 17
La grande bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino (2013, 141’)
8-17 July 2024
Tempio di Venere e Roma, Piazza del Colosseo
9.30pm
Free entrance, booking recommended on eventbrite.it
Effetto notte
Effetto Notte returns, with 8 days dedicated to Italian cinema of the past, present, and future, accompanied by a rich program of concerts and guided tours of the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme Archaeological Complex. The 2024 edition is dedicated to the genius of three masters, three faces of the dark side of Italian cinema: Mario Bava, Dario Argento, and Pupi Avati, with films all recently restored.
Here is the program:
Saturday, July 20
Suspiria by Dario Argento
Sunday, July 21
Terrore dallo spazio by Mario Bava
Monday, July 22
Profondo Argento by Giancarlo Rolandi and Steve Della Casa.
Followed by the restoration by Cinecittà of Profondo rosso.
Tuesday, July 23
Operazione paura by Mario Bava
Wednesday, July 24
La casa dalle finestre che ridono by Pupi Avati
Thursday, July 25
Opera by Dario Argento
Friday, July 26
I tre volti della paura by Mario Bava
July 20-27
Area Archeologica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Piazza di S. Croce in Gerusalemme
Every day at 9pm
Free entry
Villa Medici Film Festival
The Villa Medici Film Festival is back, from 11 to 15 September 2024, and it will be divided into three sections: The International Competition, the parallel program Focus, featuring non-competitive films by artists, masterclasses, and exceptional encounters, and the Piazzale screenings, which gather the audience for outdoor screenings of new films, including premieres and restored classics. Programme will be published in the coming weeks.
From 11 to 15 September, 2024
Viale della Trinità dei Monti, 1
9pm
Arene di Roma
Many locations throughout Rome:
ARENA TIZIANO
From June to September 30th, 2024
Via Guido Reni, 2
9.30pm
Entry fee €3 – 4
www.facebook.com/Cinema-Tiziano-sito-ufficiale-159721814065333/
ARENA GARBATELLA
Till September 8th, 2024
Piazza Benedetto Brin
9.20pm
Entry fee €3,5 – 6
ARENA VILLA LAZZARONI
1 July – 15 September 2024
Via Appia Nuova, 522
9.30pm
Entry fee €3,5 – 5
cinevillageroma.it/cinema-arena-villa-lazzaroni/
ARENA MANCINI
15 July – 15 August 2024
Viale Pinturicchio (Flaminio)
9pm
free entrance
Hi guys – last night we bought tickets for the Floating Theatre, partly on the strength of the text on this site which reads “The festival will light up the Roman summer with a rich programming of guests, previews, thematic days, screenings of great classics and debuts, films of any genre from all over the world with Italian subtites.” Upon our arrival the movie was dubbed – no subtitles were available. We ended up leaving. Can I recommend you update the page please? Lots of effort for a family to travel out to EUR for no reward. Thanks. Ilse.