In a city built on movies, some of the best nights out still involve a big screen, a dark room and an actual film print. Los Angeles has held onto a brilliant collection of old movie palaces, neighbourhood cinemas and cult screening rooms where the programme can be as interesting as the building.
You might catch a Tarantino-curated double feature, a 35mm classic, a director introducing their own film or a Hollywood epic in a cinema that's been showing movies for close to a century. From ornate Golden Age theatres to tiny repertory screens, these are our favourite places to see a film properly in LA.
Old-school movie palaces and cult screens
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures – Central LA
The Academy’s vast film archive fills a three-level Stories of Cinema exhibition inside a restored 1939 landmark and Renzo Piano sphere.
Aero Theatre – Santa Monica
Restored 1940 single-screen cinema showing 35mm and 70mm restorations, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As and All-Night Horrorthon.
Brain Dead Studios – Fairfax District
35mm repertory screenings, Slammers café and location-exclusive Brain Dead drops come together inside a Fairfax fashion-and-cinema hub.
Egyptian Theatre – Central LA
Restored 1922 movie palace where Hollywood’s first premiere took place, now hosting Netflix screenings, filmmaker Q&As and 35mm/70mm classics.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Central LA
Outdoor Cinespia films and a major Día de los Muertos festival unfold among Hollywood legends’ graves at this historic cemetery.
Los Feliz – Los Feliz
American Cinematheque-programmed Cinema 1 brings 35mm repertory screenings, filmmaker Q&As and special events to a 1935 movie house.
New Beverly Cinema – Fairfax District
Quentin Tarantino’s celluloid-only cinema screens nightly themed double features from 35mm and 16mm prints, often from his collection.
TCL Chinese Theatre – Hollywood
Stand among nearly 200 celebrity handprints, footprints and playful imprints in the original Forecourt of the Stars at TCL Chinese Theatre.
Vista Theatre – Central LA
Quentin Tarantino’s restored 1923 single-screen movie palace shows every film on physical 35mm or 70mm prints.
