5 Not-to-Miss Theaters in Los Angeles
Film buffs should add these interesting and often historic venues to see on a visit to the movie-making capital of the world.
In this week’s Secrets of a Travel Journalist article, my son, who spent the summer working in LA and taking classes at UCLA’s film school, is stopping in as a guest writer to share some interesting theaters he visited during his time there.
As an aspiring filmmaker and film student, I had the opportunity to spend my summer in Los Angeles, working at a film production company and taking film classes. While I was there, I made it a personal goal to see as much of Los Angeles as I could, and exploring the many different theaters scattered throughout the city was a top priority. In this article, I’m sharing my experiences at five of the best theaters I visited during my time in the City of Angels.
Regency Village Theatre
This theater, formerly the Fox Village Westwood Theater, is located in the Westwood area of Los Angeles near UCLA’s campus, which makes it perfect for students. Built in 1930, the theater still retains its antique Mediterranean style and is marked by the iconic, white-spire “Fox” tower. It is an absolute must-see for film buffs!
According to Variety in 2024, more than two dozen filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg, JJ Abrams, Judd Apatow, Christopher Nolan and Bradley Cooper, collaborated to purchase the historic theater.
The theater's single showroom is massive, seating around 1,400 people on both the ground floor and the balcony seats combined. The theater interior features numerous colored lights, beautiful ceiling artwork and curtains that open to reveal the huge screen at showtime in classic Hollywood style. The Regency Village Theatre is an absolutely hidden gem and incredibly convenient for anyone who finds themselves near UCLA or in the Westwood area.
TCL Chinese Theatre
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The TCL Chinese Theater is the most well-known and recognizable theater in the city, and perhaps even the world, with its famous exterior, resembling a giant Chinese pagoda.
Once inside, depending on which of the theaters you’re attending, you will either be in a fairly simple-looking theater, or its more well-known, larger theater filled with interesting works of art and architecture.
While it is very touristy and is part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is even more so, it’s still an essential landmark to see in LA and is certainly worth making the trek.
Aero Theatre
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The Aero Theatre is a single-screen theater located in Santa Monica, an upscale beachfront town in LA. The single-showroom venue is a fairly large, high-quality facility with enhanced projection and sound equipment. With its projection and sound capabilities, the theater often has special screenings of classic movies presented on 70mm film.
However, one of the best features is its location. The Aero is just a short 30-minute walk from many popular destinations, such as Palisades Park, Cayton Children’s Museum, Santa Monica Beach and the iconic Santa Monica Pier. This makes The Aero the perfect spot to visit during a visit to Santa Monica to sit down, cool off and enjoy one of their many unique film options.
AMC Century City 15
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While AMC Theaters are usually nothing unique, AMC Century City 15 is the exception. Located inside the Century City Mall, this AMC is much larger than most and has an array of food options as well. Its theaters are extra-large and offer a clean and quality experience that you won’t find at many smaller AMCs.
Similar to The Aero, one of this theater’s greatest draws is the location. Century City, on the west side of Los Angeles has its own film history and ties to Hollywood as the headquarters of Twentieth Century Fox studios, as well as other production companies. Many movies have been filmed here, including “Die Hard” and “Planet of the Apes.” A visit to this extra special AMC is a great opportunity to not just explore Century City but see a movie in this extension of Hollywood.
Culver City Theater
Located in Culver City right next to The Culver Steps, an iconic plaza which is often host to public events, the Culver City Theater presents the perfect opportunity to see a movie before or after an event or a meal at one of the many popular restaurants nearby. This theater is also directly across from Culver Studios, anchored by Amazon Studios, which originally opened in 1918 and has hosted the production of movies like “Gone With the Wind” and “Citizen Kane.”
It features an impressive gold and blue lobby and has a number of showrooms to choose from, all of which provide plenty of seating and multiple viewing options. Its screens feature 4K Samsung Onyx LED Walls for viewing. The Culver City Theatre is perfect for a visit if you’re in the area and looking to relax while still staying in the center of all the action.
I hope you have the time to see one of these famous theaters on your next visit to Los Angeles. I highly recommend them all!