When We Were Young! Toronto Outdoor Picture Show 2025 Lineup Revealed!!
As mid-May arrives, Toronto finally welcomes the vibrant energy of spring and summer. Every year, the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show brings free movie screenings to the city's parks during the warmer months, and this year marks its 15th anniversary. Under the theme "When We Were Young," echoing their inaugural year's focus on youth, they will host 20 free outdoor screenings, exploring the wonder of childhood and the bittersweet journey of growing up.
Here is this year's lineup, screening dates, times, and locations (all information subject to official website updates):
Opening Film: Romeo + Juliet, June 12th 9:00 PM at Fort York
This modern take on Romeo and Juliet is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) and Emmy winner Claire Danes (Homeland). DiCaprio won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival for this role, and Baz Luhrmann won the BAFTA for Best Direction.
Lovers Rock, June 13th 9:00 PM at Fort York
The director of Academy Award-winning film 12 Years A Slave, Steven McQueen, released the anthology series "Small Axe" in 2020, a collection of five films about the West Indian immigrants in London, England, from the 1960s to the 1980s. "Lovers Rock," which centers on two lovers at a party, is considered the best of the series and one of the best films of that year.
The Wizard of Oz, June 14th 9:00 PM at Fort York
Considered one of the best and most influential films in cinematic history, this classic story was recently reimagined through another character's perspective in the popular musical film Wicked.
Y tu mamá también, June 15th 9:00 PM at Fort York
An earlier work from Academy Award-winning director of Gravity and Roma, Alfonso Cuarón, this film also served as the breakthrough for Diego Luna (Andor) and Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle), following two teenage boys on a road trip with a woman in her twenties.
I Saw the TV Grow, June 16th 9:00 PM at Fort York
Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, and starring Justice Smith (POKÉMON Detective Pikachu) and Jack Haven (Atypical), this film is considered one of last year's best. It explores the connection between two high schoolers and their favorite TV show, as well as their exploration of reality and their own identities.
Clueless, June 17th 9:00 PM at Fort York
Loosely based on Jane Austen's novel Emma, this film starring Alicia Silverstone is considered one of the best teen movies of all time and has also gained a cult following.
Dazed and Confused, July 3rd 9:00 PM at Corktown Common
One of the early films from Golden Globe-winning director of Boyhood, Richard Linklater, this movie also features early performances from Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil series), Ben Affleck (Batman actor), and Parker Posey (The White Lotus Season 3). It follows a group of high school students on their last day of school.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople, July 6th 9:00 PM at Christie Pits Park
Written and directed by Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi, this was his last New Zealand film before his Hollywood breakthrough directing the Thor series. Starring Sam Neill (Jurassic Park series) and Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), the film tells the story of a boy named Ricky and his foster uncle on the run in the wilderness.
Moonlight, July 10th 9:00 PM at Corktown Common
Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, this film won Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards, with Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor. The film features three talented black actors portraying the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of an African-American boy named Chiron, who learns to face neglect and bullying with silence and resilience. As an adult, Chiron realizes that his inability to be honest about his love for a friend is far more painful than the hardships life has brought him.
The Royal Tenenbaums, July 13th 8:45 PM at Christie Pits Park
This is the third film directed by Wes Anderson, revolving around three gifted siblings who reconnect with their estranged father after years of separation. The main cast includes frequent collaborators Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson. Gene Hackman, who passed away a few months ago, won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for this film.
Speed Sisters, July 17th 9:00 PM at Corktown Common
This documentary directed by Amber Fares focuses on the first all-female Palestinian motor racing team and related social issues.
Before I Change My Mind, July 20th 8:45 PM at Christie Pits Park
This Canadian film directed by Trevor Anderson tells the story of a non-binary teenager who moves with their family to a small town in Alberta and tries to fit in while befriending the school bully.
Stand By Me, July 24th 8:45 PM at Corktown Common
Based on the novella "The Body" by master of horror Stephen King, this film follows four young boys on an adventure to find the body of a missing child.
Past Lives, July 27th 8:45 PM at Christie Pits Park
Written and directed by Celine Song, this semi-autobiographical story follows two childhood friends who reconnect after being separated for 24 years. Starring Greta Lee (Russian Doll) and Teo Yoo, the film won Best Film and Best Director at the Independent Spirit Awards last year and is considered one of the best films of 2023.
Challengers, July 31st 8:45 AM at Corktown Common
Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) and starring Emmy winner Zendaya (Euphoria), Emmy winner Josh O'Connor (The Crown), and Mike Faist (West Side Story), this film revolves around a female tennis superstar who, after a career-ending injury, becomes a coach and finds herself in a love triangle with two men, leading to a showdown at an ATP Challenger event thirteen years later. This was one of my favorite films of last year and is widely considered one of the best films of 2024.
Lady Bird, August 3rd 8:40 PM at Christie Pits Park
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, this film won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, with Saoirse Ronan winning Best Actress. The film focuses on the relationship between a high school girl and her mother.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, August 7th 8:30 PM at Corktown Common
This psychological thriller tells the story of an aging former child star who torments her paraplegic sister in their Hollywood mansion. Starring Academy Award winners Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, the off-screen feud between the two actresses during filming was legendary and was later chronicled in a book and the TV series Feud.
When Morning Comes, August 10th 8:30 PM at Christie Pits Park
This Canadian-Jamaican film written and directed by Kelly Fyffe-Marshall follows a young Jamaican boy who is sent to live with his grandmother in Canada after the death of his father.
Flow, August 17th 8:15 PM at Christie Pits Park
Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, this film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature a few months ago, becoming the first Latvian film to win an Oscar. The film has no dialogue and is set in a post-apocalyptic world with drastically rising water levels, following a cat as it interacts and coexists with other animals.
Closing Film: To Be Announced, August 24th at Christie Pits Park
The organizing committee has not yet announced the closing film. Donations of $15 or more on the event website will grant you an invitation to vote for the closing film.
If you are interested in upcoming movies to be released in Canada, please visit the Movie Release Schedule page on this website!
Photo and Source: Toronto Outdoor Picture Show