By Gus Saltonstall
The Uptown Film Center, which is working toward opening its permanent home in the former Metro Theater, is hosting free, outdoor movie screenings this summer and fall.
“Some of our favorite movie memories happen outdoors during the summer,” said Ira Deutchman, president of Uptown Film Center, in a news release. “There’s something special about watching a film beneath the evening sky, surrounded by neighbors, friends, and families. We wanted these screenings to be completely open to everyone and be a place where people can bring a blanket or lawn chair, relax, laugh, sing along, and experience the joy of moviegoing together.”
Here are the details and dates to know.
“Summer of Soul” on August 6 at 8 p.m.
- Location: Morningside Park
- Co-presenters: Friends of Morningside Park, the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District, and the West 111th Street Block Association.
“Mamma Mia!” on August 22 at 8 p.m.
- Location: Amsterdam Avenue between West 109th and 110th streets
- Co-presenters: Columbus/Amsterdam Business Improvement District and the West 111th Street Block Association.
“In The Heights” on September 18 at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Riverside Park north of the 96th Street Tennis Courts
- Co-presenters: The Riverside Park Conservancy and the New Friends of Metro Theater.
The outdoor series is supported in part by public funds from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, in partnership with the City Council and the office of New York City Councilperson Shaun Abreu.
In 2025, the nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center purchased the long-vacant Metro Theater at 2626 Broadway. That fall, the nonprofit announced the theater’s new name—The Uptown Film Center. The nonprofit is currently raising money to complete the renovation and reopen the theater, and has set 2028 as its target opening year.
Along with the fundraising, the Upper West Side Film Center is hosting different activities and events in the neighborhood, such as this summer film- screening series.
You can learn more about the free, outdoor movies — HERE.
Read More:
- UWS Metro Theater Gets a New Name: Goal to Reopen in 2028, New Details, Renderings
- Bare Beams and Steel: A Look Inside the Planned Renovation of the UWS’ Former Metro Theater
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Is there any work going on at the Metro? I walk by all the time and never see any. Even looked around the side to see if there was a back entrance that construction workers would use but didn’t see anything active. There are never any trucks or equipment parked nearby.
There is a lot of work going on in PREPARATION for the build-out. Currently we are in design development with our architectural firm and construction team as well as our consultants on sound, projection, lighting, the restaurant, etc. All of this takes TIME to be done correctly and safely. It also requires lots of approvals and permits from the city. Currently, we are waiting for all of the t’s to be crossed and I’s dotted so we can remove the graffiti on the landmarked facade (the work has been approved and the funds are there).
We are a 501c3, which means we are community-based nonprofit. We bought the building thanks to donations from community members, generous foundations, and the state, so we OWN the building outright– no mortgage.
It’s not a matter of if the center will get built, it’s how fast. That will depend on the natural flow of work, and also on how quickly we raise the funds in order to break ground–hopefully next year.
We encourage people to sign up for the Uptown’s monthly newsletter, or go to the website at Uptownfilm.org., to get reliable information and updates.
So exciting! Thank you for the update and work.
You made my day with this update! So excited for the Upper West Side Cinema Center to open. It will be a huge addition to the neighborhood.
I will be patiently waiting 🙂 !!
I can’t wait and THANK YOU for your hard work!
So wait… this film “series” is three films and is sponsored by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, in partnership with the City Council? What does this have to do with the “uptown film center”?
I wish them well, but this press release is getting a lot more attention than they are giving back – seems odd
The Uptown Film Center applied for and received these grants to help mount several film series throughout the year. These three are the free outdoor pop-ups. We have also been hosting screenings at partner venues, including the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Maysles Documentary Center, New York Historical and the Leonard Nemoy Thalia (Symphony Space). This is all going on while we continue to raise funds and work on the architectural plans to begin the build out the Center. There’s nothing odd about a nonprofit organization getting funding for programming… but we are grateful that the city recognizes the value of our mission and vision.
I still don’t think this this theater will re-open in my lifetime and I still hope that I’m wrong.
Parks and playgrounds are lovely places to watch a movie under the open sky but what the heck is it with the city that allows anyone to shut down a major vehicular artery like Amsterdam Avenue in order to sit in the middle of the street on a lawnchair and watch a movie. The CABID thinks they can shut down their entire “business district” much to the dismay of the business owners and the public who needs their busses and essential services.
The screening is happening in coordination with the Open Streets program, which Amsterdam at 109th/110th participated in. The Uptown partners with the Columbus-Amsterdam BID and West 111th Block Assn to make this screening happen. It is about community BUILDING, AND bringing traffic to the commercial establishments (I. E. RESTAURANTS). This doesn’t hurt businesses, it helps!
Beth –
Open Streets on an avenue results in bus detours.
That is a major issue.
Especially here as due to Columbia campus, buses are detoured to 120th.
Also emergency vehicles that need to get to hospital
Thanks Beth! Many people are saying it – Open Streets are good for business AND the public!
Beth —
Good luck with your effort. I am very familiar with the nonprofit world and the difficulties that are inherent in that sphere.
However, my larger question has to do with the future of cinema—specifically, movie theaters themselves. Of course, those of us of a certain age remain fully committed to seeing films in cinemas and fondly remember the magic of sitting in the dark with a large audience, marveling at what unfolds on the screen.
But, much like the operetta, it’s possible that this moment has passed. It is obviously a terrible loss, but the generations gradually taking over the world don’t seem to give a hoot. In fact, many twenty-somethings are constant two-screen viewers who need to have multiple things open at once to enjoy themselves. I am not saying this is a good thing—only that it is the reality.
Even in your response, you mention four other venues operating in the same space that are, for the most part, struggling. Your organization also seems to overlook what is arguably the strongest of the group: Films at Lincoln Center, which has extraordinary screenings and facilities and, outside of the New York Film Festival, almost always has tickets available.
As for the big-box cinema chains such as AMC, they too seem to be perpetually teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and are rarely, if ever, consistently profitable.
Again, I truly appreciate the dedication that your group has brought to this project and the restoration effort. But to me, it seems like a losing battle in the 21st century.
Finally, terms like “community building” (along with “raising awareness”) have been used as progressive justifications for so long that they’ve become clichés. We are in a new moment—here in the city, nationally, and even on the Upper West Side—where these standard bromides no longer hold up.
I’m sorry to say it, but I think we’re nearing the time for a different way of thinking.
The supposition that moviegoing is dying has been turned on its head. It’s true that the older generation may not be returning to theaters, but the yiu gerngenrrstion is driving a huge resurgence to arthouses as well as commercial theaters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/insider/summer-movies.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/art-house-indie-theaters-younger-moviegoers-growing-1236785696/
Thank you for reopening of the Metro theatre. After so many years of waiting finally… but it only happened due to the gentrification that is happening now in this neighborhood. Closed since 2005. What a shame it waited so long to open. The people that waited have long gone with their families and hope.
The only reason we were able to buy the Metro in April 2025 was because the landlord who owned it since 2005 died in Nov. 2024. Many tried to lease or buy it during the 20 yrs it was closed and gutted, but every deal fell through. That said, there actually was a lease in place when the owner died. But the heirs didn’t want to be landlords, so the property was put on the market. Yes, it’s very sad it sat empty for so long. But now that it’s owned by a nonprofit arts organization, we can move forward.
The plans look amazing for the Metro and it’s a very exciting project and will be great for the surrounding area. I’m curious though how much more money needs to be raised to be fully funded to build the theater and what is the annual operating budget required for operations.