The Martian Outdoor Movie Night 2026 in Dubai

The Martian outdoor movie night puts Ridley Scott’s survival hit on the big screen at JLT Park in Dubai on Saturday 5 December 2026. Part of JLT’s free Cinema Under the Stars series, the film starts at 7:30pm on the lawn in Cluster Q, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, so you can watch an astronaut fight to survive on Mars from a blanket under an open December sky.

No ticket is needed for the lawn: simply turn up, spread out and settle in.

Why The Martian works under the stars

The Martian (2015) is based on Andy Weir’s novel, which he first published himself online before it became a bestseller. Matt Damon plays botanist and astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead and left behind on Mars after a storm forces his crew to evacuate. Alone on the planet, he has to use his wits, his science skills and a great deal of humour to survive while NASA and his crewmates race to bring him home. Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig and Michael Peña lead the supporting cast.

The film was a major critical and box office success. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the musical or comedy category, Damon won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and it earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. On a big screen in the open air, its wide red Martian landscapes and its disco soundtrack, a running joke in the film, feel made for a night outside.

There is a regional connection too. Drew Goddard adapted the novel for the screen, and many of the Martian exteriors were filmed in Wadi Rum in southern Jordan, whose red sand and rock towers stood in for the surface of Mars. Audiences in the Gulf may recognise the landscape. The film went on to take more than 630 million US dollars worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of Ridley Scott’s career.

At around two hours and 20 minutes and rated PG-13 in the US, this is one of the more grown-up choices of the season. It suits older children, teenagers and adults best: clever, funny and surprisingly uplifting rather than frightening.

Cinema Under the Stars at JLT

Cinema Under the Stars is a long-running community favourite in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, organised by JLT, the DMCC community, and it has returned each winter for several seasons. This season it runs every Saturday at JLT Park until 30 January 2027, with a different film each week, and screenings have English and Arabic subtitles. Past seasons have mixed family favourites such as The Greatest Showman, Wonka and Wall-E with action and adventure titles.

The screen goes up on the lawn between Splendour Fields and the children’s playground. You can spread out on a blanket or bring your own chair, and you are welcome to bring food and drinks for a picnic as long as you clean up afterwards. For extra comfort, beanbags near the front can be booked and come with a large popcorn. Spaces are limited, so check the JLT website before you go. Pets are not allowed at the screenings.

Getting to JLT Park, Cluster Q

JLT Park sits in Cluster Q, Jumeirah Lakes Towers. It is about a five-minute walk from Sobha Realty Metro Station on the Red Line, using Exit 1 and walking through Cluster R. Paid parking is available in Clusters Q and R and at JLT Park, though it can fill up on Saturday evenings. There is level access from the promenade and accessible toilets in Cluster Q.

Plenty of restaurants and cafes line the JLT lakes, so it is easy to have dinner before the film or dessert afterwards. Aim to be on the lawn by around 7pm to pick a good spot before the opening credits. Because this is an outdoor screening, check the JLT website or social media on the day in case the weather changes plans.

Who The Martian outdoor movie night in Dubai suits

This screening suits film fans, groups of friends, couples and families with older children who enjoy a clever survival story with plenty of laughs. Science fans will enjoy the problem-solving that drives the plot, from growing potatoes on Mars to improvising a way home. Because it is free and the lawn is open to everyone, it is also an easy plan if you live or work in JLT and want a relaxed Saturday without booking anything.

More Saturday films at JLT Park

Cinema Under the Stars continues every Saturday after The Martian. Next up is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on 12 December, followed by Detective Pikachu on 19 December, A Christmas Carol on 26 December and Elio on 2 January. For more ideas this month, see our guides to things to do in December and things to do in Dubai.