Although movie theaters are more reverent, the expanse of the outdoors allows for a more participatory cinema experience. You can cheer for the hero and party with friends – without having to put up with incessant shooshing from the guy behind you.
Bay View’s Film on the Hill
Humboldt Park Bandshell
➼ This series is a great family destination. Stock up with vittles from the food trucks and enjoy the nearby duck pond before showtime.
PROS: Food trucks, family-friendly programming
CON: Bandshell seating
Fish Fry & A Flick
Outside of Discovery World
➼ Quite possibly the most popular outdoor movie destination in the area, this series offers adults the chance to get together under the moonlight for beer, fish, curds and a flick while nestled between those triple jewels of the Milwaukee lakefront, Discovery World and the MAM’s Calatrava.
PROS: Fish fry, variety of adult-skewing films
CON: Volatile lakefront weather, less-than-stellar seating arrangements
Miller Park
Next to Klement’s Sausage Haus
➼ Get a classic drive-in experience while tailgating to your heart’s content, then take in a family-friendly double feature in the shade of the ballpark.
PROS: Sausage Haus, tailgating
CON: Racing Sausages don’t sing “Let’s all go to the lobby”
Milwaukee Bike-In Movie Series
Underneath Holton Street Viaduct Marsupial Bridge
➼ Don’t let the name fool you. No bicycles are necessary to attend this series every third Friday through October. Its unique venue and eclectic programming make this a charming choice.
PROS: Unique location, diverse schedule
CON: Limited concrete bench seating
Paul’s Alley Cinema
Located in alleyway south of 170 S. Second St.
➼ Operating since 1998, Paul Dorobialski’s alley cinema is a hidden gem. Paul’s selections span the 1930s through the early 2000s on a screen tucked away in a Third Ward alley on temperate Friday nights. Catch The Blues Brothers the first week of Summerfest or Yankee Doodle Dandy on July Fourth weekend.
PROS: Eclectic classics, cozy feel, unique locale
CON: Bring a seat cushion
Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre
W6423 Highway 18, Jefferson
➼ This is exactly the drive-in experience your nostalgia craves, all the way down to the concession stand jingle. Before the movies, kids can enjoy the playground or take a turn on the Zoltar fortune-telling machine, straight from the movie Big.
PROS: Double features, high-quality digital projection and sound, robust concession selection
CON: One hour from the city, cannot bring own food or beverages
