LA’s favorite (and longest-running) retrospective movie series just dropped its first slate for 2026, and it’s kicking things off with a “spectacular, spectacular” trio that feels very on brand for a milestone season.
For the uninitiated (and yes, you’re forgiven if you’re new to town), Cinespia is the outdoor movie experience that takes over Hollywood Forever Cemetery. What started in 2002 with a screening of Strangers on a Train on the Fairbanks Lawn has grown into one of LA’s most beloved summer rituals. And now, with Amazon MGM Studios in the mix, it’s not just “watch a movie on a lawn,” it’s an all-night event.
The Night Starts Before the Movie
You’ll line up outside before gates open – and yes, that’s part of the fun. If you want first pick of the lawn, you’re there early. But it never feels like a slog. It feels like a pre-party.
Blankets come out. Wine gets poured. Snacks get demolished.
Friends, couples, full-on groups spread out on the astroturf and just… hang.
No phones. No distractions. Just pure, social LA summer energy.
The more the merrier.
Once You’re In…
You claim your spot (there are strategies here, but I’m not giving up my secrets), then make your rounds:
- The themed photo booth (always worth it)
- Food vendors + bar (or bring your own—wine, beer, full picnic, all welcome)
- A DJ spinning while iconic imagery cycles across the screen
And that screen? It’s massive, pristine, and set against the cemetery’s backdrop in a way that makes the movie feel like part of the landscape.
“Wait… we’re in a cemetery?”
Yes. And no. You’re not sitting on headstones—you’re on a huge, open lawn surrounded by palm trees and little lakes. It feels more like a surreal park than anything else.
And honestly? With legends like David Lynch, Mel Blanc, Joey Ramone, and Anton Yelchin nearby, it kind of feels like the perfect place to celebrate movies and the people who made them.
Then the Movie Begins
As the sun drops, the movie goes up. The sound is excellent, the picture is crisp, and sometimes you even get surprise appearances. Last year alone saw Elizabeth Berkley show up for Showgirls and Jami Gertz for The Lost Boys.
And if you’re there for July 4th weekend?
Stick around. The fireworks finale—right above you—is one of the best in the city. Close, loud, and unforgettable.
Why It Works
It’s not just the movie. It’s the build-up, the people, the setting, the feeling that you’ve stepped into a version of LA that only exists on nights like this. Cinespia is easily one of my favorite things about summer here—and if you haven’t been yet, that’s about to change.
May Lineup
- Saturday, May 23 — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (dir. Steven Spielberg)
- Sunday, May 24 — Moulin Rouge! (dir. Baz Luhrmann)
- Saturday, May 30 — Mulholland Drive (dir. David Lynch)
Grab your friends, pack a blanket, and make a night of it! Because once you go, you’ll get why everyone talks about it—and why they keep going back.
For more information and for tickets, visit www.cinespia.org.
