Date night is quickly approaching and it's time to break away from the same old movie theater. Southern California has some of the most iconic and state-of-the-art cinemas that will make your night cinematic. From the David Geffen Theater to the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX, here are 11 of the best places to watch a movie in SoCal. The David Geffen Theater is an excellent presentation space for major film events, public programs, live performances, movie premieres and other special occasions.
It has a capacity for 966 people and is fully equipped to project films in many formats, including nitrate, 35 mm, 70 mm and laser projection compatible with Dolby Vision. The cinema also has Dolby Atmos, a truly immersive audio experience. The stage of the Geffen Theater can accommodate a 60-member orchestra; its seats can be arranged to accommodate a sound booth; and the walkways can be equipped with theatrical lighting. Alamo Movie Parties are interactive experiences in the style of Rocky Horror that include fun accessories, themed drinks and more.
Signature cocktails include the Fistful of Bourbon Old Fashioned and the Italian 75, a riff of the classic French 75 with Drumshanbo Gunpowder gin, Italicus orange-infused Italicus, JAB Mixology, lavender, squeezed lemon juice and Guinigi Prosecco. Not many movie theaters offer tours with tickets. The TCL Chinese Theater IMAX is possibly the most famous movie theater in the world. It opened its doors as Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1927 with the premiere of Cecil B.
Since then, countless film premieres have been held at this monument, in addition to three Academy Awards ceremonies and numerous special events. The public can enjoy the latest blockbuster movie on the huge 97 x 47-foot screen, located in the largest IMAX auditorium in the world. The TCL Chinese IMAX and the TCL Chinese 6 also host the Turner Classic Film Festival, held annually in spring. In addition to its Chinese pagoda design, the theater's most distinctive feature is the famous Esplanade of the Stars, with nearly 200 handprints, toes and autographs of celebrities immortalized on the concrete.
Visitors can literally touch Hollywood history, from Marilyn Monroe to Tom Hanks, Betty Grable's legs, Jimmy Durante's nose and the magic wands of the heroic Harry Potter trio. Opened as a theater in 1926, El Capitan Theater has been Disney's Hollywood Boulevard movie home since 1991 when The Rocketeer premiered at this magnificent fully restored movie palace. With Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar under Disney's umbrella, El Capitan has hosted premieres spanning a wide range of genres and cinematic universes. In addition to first screenings of new releases and special events for fans, El Capitan also presents inclusive sensory screenings with open captions.
Some Christmas-themed movies and series are usually accompanied by pre-film theatrical shows and keepsakes. In 1922 Charles E. Toberman and Sid Grauman opened Egypt's Theater in Los Angeles just weeks before King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered. It was a prophetic design choice: soon after its opening, people went crazy over everything related to Egypt and several other Egyptian-themed theaters were soon opening across the country.
In partnership with Netflix, American Cinematheque is overseeing Egypt's latest seismic renovation and modernization which will return this movie theater to its original 1922 splendor. The Billy Wilder Theater houses public programs of UCLA Film Archive & at Hammer Museum in Westwood. It is one of few places in America that can display moving images from an entire century in their original formats from silent films requiring variable speed projection to cutting-edge digital cinema. IPIC Westwood has six screens opposite Hammer Museum on Wilshire Boulevard plus exclusive dining in dark experience with Premium Plus seats including full order service in leather-upholstered recliner seating two people with shared table.
Before or after movie stop by The Tuck Room for delicious pub food and craft cocktails.
