Outdoor Movies in North Vancouver

Hosted by the Polygon Gallery, Deckchair Cinema is a series of outdoor movies on the big screen at Cates Deck in North Vancouver.

Deckchair Cinema movies take place on Thursday evenings from June 29th until August 31st in 2023. Admission is by donation. There are also free movies with Sunset Cinema on Wednesdays in August at the Shipyards. See below for details about both of these two series of events.

SUNSET CINEMA IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

In addition to Deckchair Cinema and North Vancouver’s Sunset Cinema movies, free films also usually take place in downtown Vancouver throughout the summer.

There are free movies on Wednesdays outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th in 2023.

To learn more about the series outside Queen Elizabeth Theatre, see our article about Sunset Cinema in Vancouver.

Deckchair Cinema Outdoor Movies in North Vancouver

Outdoor Movie Showings are popular in the summer as people bring their blankets and popcorn to see films on giant screens in parks and other venues.

A new summer series started up in North Vancouver in 2022. The Polygon Gallery hosted a weekly movie night on Thursday evenings between June and August. The series returns in 2023 and begins with a screening on June 29th. Deckchair Cinema takes place on Cates Deck which is on the water just in front the gallery. The movie nights start with music and local artisan vendors before the screenings themselves at around sunset.

There are snacks and drinks available for purchase from different local breweries. Cates Deck is one of the public spots where you can Drink Alcohol in North Vancouver. You definitely can bring your own blankets and chairs to see the movie, however, and that’s recommended!

(Note: Your donation also gets you into the Polygon Gallery which is open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays. There is a good chance you’ll get some free popcorn too.)

Admission Details

Admission to Deckchair Cinema is by donation so you can give whatever you want. The recommended amount is $10 per person. There are no tickets reserved in advance so it’s first-come, first-serve for available space. The venue isn’t very big, so be sure to arrive early to get a spot.

2023 Deckchair Cinema Schedule

The Deckchair Cinema schedule for 2023 is below. The events happen on Thursdays between June 29th and August 31st.

Shows in June & July

June 29th (9:30 pm): Fantastic Planet – an animated science fiction film by René Laloux from 1973. The movie takes place on a different planet and makes an interesting statement against violence and conformity.
July 6th, (9:30 pm): Interstella 5555 – an anime visualization of Daft Punk’s Discovery album by Leiji Matsumoto from 2003. The film follows a group of extraterrestrial musicians who are rock stars on Earth.
July 13th (9:15 pm): What We Do In The Shadows – a comedy documentary about Vampire housemates struggling with everyday life. The film was released in 2014 and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. (Note: Tonight also includes a live performance before the film.)
July 20th (9:15 pm): Whale Rider – a family drama film directed by Niki Caro from 2002. The movie is about a young girl trying to fulfill the role of chief in a New Zealand Maori tribe.
July 27th (9:00 pm): Big Trouble In Little China – directed by John Carpenter, this action fantasy movie follows a truck driver who tries to help rescue a kidnapped girl before she makes someone else immortal.

Shows in August

August 3rd (9:00 pm): Xanadu – a musical about a Greek muse who visits Earth and opens a disco roller rink. The film is from 1980 and was directed by Robert Greenwald. It inspired a Broadway musical of the same name.
August 10th (8:45 pm): Lovers Rock – this 2020 romance film directed by Steve McQueen follows a young woman who sneaks out to a house party. The event feels like a safe haven compared to what’s happening outside.
August 17th (8:45 pm): Moonstruck – after accepting a marriage proposal, the bride-to-be falls for her boyfriend’s brother. This romantic comedy is from 1987 and was directed by Norman Jewison. It stars Cher and Nicolas Cage.
August 24th (8:30 pm): No Bears – director Jafar Panahi plays a rebellious filmmaker who gets involved in a dramatic scandal. The 2022 film takes place in Turkey.
August 31st (8:30 pm): Bullitt – an action thriller from 1968, directed by Peter Yates, featuring one of the best car chase scenes in cinematic history. A senator tries to take down a mob boss with his own brother, who’s being watched by Frank Bullitt.

Sunset Cinema at the Shipyards

Sunset Cinema is a different series of outdoor movies in North Vancouver. The screenings are free to attend and take place on Wednesday nights at Shipyard Commons. Below is the schedule for 2023.

2nd of August – Jumanji (1995)
9th of August – Mama Mia 2: Here We Go Again
16th of August – Encanto
23rd of August – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

To learn more about these events, see the City of North Vancouver‘s website. And for a list of other similar events in different parts of the Lower Mainland, see our article about Free Outdoor Movies.