Going out in LA
A local's filterable guide to the best movie theaters in LA, from the TCL Chinese IMAX to 35mm at the New Beverly and real drive-ins. Sort by vibe, format, and budget, with an honest verdict on each. Updated for 2026.
LA is where movies are made, so it’s no surprise it’s the best city in the country to actually watch one. The catch is that “best” depends entirely on the night: a 70mm restoration at the Academy Museum, a 35mm double feature at the New Beverly, a recliner-and-dinner night, and a retro drive-in are four completely different evenings. So instead of a ranked top five, here’s a filterable finder, sort by vibe, format, and budget, and get a straight verdict on each room.
Best for A blockbuster on a giant screen
The handprints out front, one of the world's largest IMAX auditoriums inside. Touristy, sure, but a true blockbuster genuinely plays better here. Expect premium prices.
Best for A Disney movie as an event, with kids
Disney's own restored palace, with a Wurlitzer organ played before the show and the occasional stage flourish. The most fun way to see a Disney release, especially with kids.
Best for Classics and premieres in a historic room
Netflix's $70M restoration, programmed by the American Cinematheque on weekends. Big-screen epics, 70mm, and Q&As in a 1922 landmark, a cinephile's iconic pick.
Best for First-run films on actual film
Tarantino's single-screen Los Feliz gem screens only on film, never digital, with a 70mm projector and a tiny VHS micro-cinema upstairs. Pure film-lover heaven.
Best for A cheap 35mm double feature
Tarantino-owned, all 35mm, double features for about the price of one regular ticket elsewhere. No digital, no endless trailers. The repertory soul of LA.
Best for Westside repertory and filmmaker talks
The American Cinematheque's Westside home since 1940. Themed retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, and a real neighborhood-cinema feel.
Best for Indie premieres and midnight Rocky Horror
Landmark's longtime arthouse, indie and foreign first-runs plus the city's enduring Saturday-midnight Rocky Horror. Scrappy and beloved.
Best for Eastside repertory with a beer
The video-store legend reborn in a restored 1929 theater, with 35mm/16mm, a microcinema, a beer-and-wine bar, and some of the best popcorn in town.
Best for Rare formats and restorations
The film museum's flagship shows formats almost nobody else can, nitrate, 70mm, restorations, plus filmmaker talks. Pair it with the museum for a full day.
Best for Dinner and a movie, zero chatter
A full menu and drinks delivered to your seat, a strict no-talking, no-texting policy, and sharp programming. The best dine-in night downtown.
Best for Premium-format blockbusters
AMC's flagship at CityWalk, big premium screens (IMAX and Dolby Cinema), plush recliners, reserved seats. Park once and make a CityWalk evening of it.
Best for Spectacle in every format under one roof
The downtown premium-format mecca, IMAX, 4DX (moving seats), ScreenX (wraparound), and Dolby. Overkill for a quiet drama, perfect for a tentpole.
Best for An easy mainstream night with dinner nearby
A reliable, comfortable multiplex with Dolby Cinema and recliners, attached to the Grove for dinner and shopping. Central, easy, no surprises.
Best for A full dinner-and-recliner night
Reserved recliners, a real kitchen and bar, food brought to your seat. A grown-up, comfortable night in Glendale without the Hollywood crowds.
Best for A retro date night in your car
LA's longest-running drive-in, retro vibe, double features, food trucks. Tune your radio, bring blankets. Best on a clear night.
Best for A cheap, real drive-in double feature
A genuine old-school multi-screen drive-in east of LA, double features for one low per-person price. No frills, the real thing.
No theaters match that filter.
Every theater above is open and verified as of 2026. A quick note on a famous absence: the ArcLight Hollywood and the Cinerama Dome remain closed and boarded up. Ownership cleared an alcohol permit in May 2026, a step toward reopening, but there’s still no firm date, so the beloved Dome isn’t on the list until it’s actually screening films again.
Planning more than a movie? See the best live music venues in LA, check what’s on in LA theatre, and browse all our LA venue guides. One caveat: showtimes, formats, and prices change, so confirm on the theater’s official site before you go.
What’s the best movie theater in Los Angeles? It depends on the night. For a blockbuster, the TCL Chinese IMAX in Hollywood is hard to beat. For film buffs, the New Beverly (all 35mm) and the Vista (film only, with 70mm) are the cinephile favorites. For rare formats, the Academy Museum shows nitrate and 70mm. For comfort, Alamo Drafthouse downtown leads on dine-in.
Which LA theaters show movies on actual film (35mm or 70mm)? The New Beverly (35mm double features), the Vista (film only, 70mm), the Egyptian (70mm and 35mm), the Aero, Vidiots (35mm and 16mm), and the Academy Museum (nitrate, 70mm, 35mm) all regularly project on film rather than digital.
Is the Cinerama Dome / ArcLight Hollywood open again? Not yet. Both have been closed since 2020 and remain boarded up. Ownership got an alcohol permit approved in May 2026, a step toward reopening, but no firm reopening date has been announced.
Where can I see a movie in a recliner with food in LA? Alamo Drafthouse downtown (food and drinks to your seat, strict no-talking policy), Look Dine-In Cinemas in Glendale, and AMC locations with Dolby Cinema recliners like AMC The Grove are the easiest dine-in or recliner options.
Are there still drive-in theaters in LA? Yes. Electric Dusk Drive-In in Glendale is LA’s longest-running, and the Vineland Drive-In in City of Industry is a classic multi-screen drive-in with cheap double features. Both broadcast audio over FM radio.
