Los Angeles, CA

Grauman's Chinese Theater
DESCRIPTION: This world-renowned, one-of-a-kind landmark opened by showman Sid Grauman in 1927, has undergone many renovations to exterior and interior details; 90-feet at its tallest point, this remarkable venue features two gigantic coral red columns topped by wrought iron masks and a bronze roof that seems to glow at night; sitting between the columns is a 30-foot high dragon carved from stone and there are two original giant stone Heaven Dogs brought from China in the courtyard; the distracting ticket booth in the front courtyard was removed to add more room for celebrity hand and footprints, creating a more dramatic entrance for star-studded movie premieres; Will Smith, Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg and Eddie Murphy hand and footprints are in the courtyard; whenever they present an epic film on one of the nation’s largest screens with its thunderous surround sound system, the Chinese Theater is an unforgettable cinematic experience well worth the premium price
ADMISSION: $12
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 6925 Hollywood Blvd  MAP
PARKING: paid parking on premises; first 3 hours free with validation
TRANSIT: Hollywood-Highland Metro Station on the Red Line
PHONE: 323-464-8111
WEBSITE: link

El Capitan Theater
DESCRIPTION: Best place for children’s movies and Digital Cinema; built in 1926, this grand theater and its building next door was restored down to the last stencil and cornice into a fabulous movie palace; Disney uses the venue for its premieres every two months or so; live performances by Disney characters who match the theme of the movie playing are quite creative and a blast the kids will love
ADMISSION: $11 movie only; $16-$20 per person for movie + Disney live performance
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 6838 Hollywood Blvd  MAP
PARKING: paid parking behind the venue
TRANSIT: Hollywood-Highland Metro Station on the Red Line
PHONE: 323-467-7674
WEBSITE: link

Egyptian Theater
DESCRIPTION: Features Egyptian architecture and hieroglyphics, and arguably the best audio-visual presentation of films in Hollywood; Sid Grauman opened this venue shortly after the discovery of King Tut’s Tomb in 1922; today several American Cinematique events draw Hollywood big wigs, film engineers, movie historians and celebrities for their career retrospectives, so the modern auditorium has special acoustic treatment that delivers sonic nuance and the Kodak Certified film projectors, screen material and highest resolution film make images pop off the screen; if you want to see and hear a movie with all the technical conditions intended by the director, nothing available to the general public beats the Egyptian
ADMISSION: special events only
DAYS & HOURS: special events only
ADDRESS: 6712 Hollywood Blvd  MAP
PARKING: paid parking behind the venue
TRANSIT: Hollywood-Highland Metro Station on the Red Line
PHONE: 323-466-3456
WEBSITE: link

ArcLight Hollywood at Cinerama Dome
DESCRIPTION: Best place to appreciate film as art; this circular cinema under a dome was originally built to accommodate a 160-degree panorama that immersed audiences in the story; since IMAX theaters now provide even larger immersive experiences, the ArcLight Group wisely reduced screen width, making it ideal for today’s CinemaScope movies, even as they lovingly restored each detail in the dimpled eggshell exterior; at cost of $1 higher per movie than other cinemas, a knowledgeable staff member introduces the film with a backstory; you won’t hear cell phones, see distracting product commercials or hear inappropriate conversation during the movie; the complex includes a hip café with drinks, gift shop, artsy crowd, more movie screens and a 24 Hour Fitness Center next door
ADMISSION: $12
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 6360 Sunset Blvd  MAP
PARKING: paid parking on premises
TRANSIT: Hollywood-Vine Metro Station on the Red Line
PHONE: 323-464-4226
WEBSITE: link

AMC Loews Universal CityWalk
DESCRIPTION: Best place to mix a movie with tourist nightlife; a modern cineplex with an IMAX Theater in the heart of the CityWalk Entertainment complex; Universal Studios premieres movies here, so there’s often a starfest; movie buffs should note that the main theater is well tuned for optics and it features some of the most prodigious bass of any theater in Southern California – that makes it an excellent for action movies
ADMISSION: $11
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 100 Universal City Plaza  MAP
PARKING: $12 general parking with $4 discount for movie validation
TRANSIT: Universal City Metro Station on the Red Line, with a free park shuttle transporting you uphill to the entrance
PHONE: 818-508-0588
WEBSITE: link

Mann Village Theatre
DESCRIPTION: The best place to experience a collegiate audience interaction with a movie; informally called the “Fox Theater“, due to its original signature Fox neon sign at the top of a Spanish Deco tower; this landmark 1931 theater is fully restored and a frequent venue for Hollywood movie premieres; the movie studios particularly like its location next to film-hungry UCLA students in Westwood; seats 1,400.
ADMISSION: $12
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 961 Broxton Ave  MAP
PARKING: paid parking on nearby
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 310-248-6266
WEBSITE: link

Rave Motion Pictures Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw
DESCRIPTION: Best place to experience Black audience interaction with a movie; Magic Johnson Theatre chain started here in 1996; in 2010, Magic sold his interest in the movie chain to Rave Theaters who renovated and reopened it in 2011; the upscale 15-screen cineplex features major films, but is revered for its Black Film Festival during Black History Month; comfortable stadium seating and digital sound systems make this a pleasant choice for movie-going

ADMISSION: $12
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 3650 West MLK Blvd at Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza  MAP
PARKING: free parking on premises
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 323-290-5900
WEBSITE:

Culver City, CA

The Bridge Cinema De Lux with IMAX
DESCRIPTION: Most elegant cinema close to LAX Airport; experience first rate service by the staff in one of LA’s newest cinemas with stadium seating; parking is validated and inexpensive; plenty of cafes and you can take in a water fountain show before your movie; located in Howard Hughes Center
ADMISSION: $12
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 6081 Center Drive  MAP
PARKING: paid parking on premises
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 310-568-3375
WEBSITE: link