Now Playing & Coming Soon

Our Starring Natalie Wood series kicks off with the iconic 1955 Nicholas Ray landmark drama Rebel Without A Cause, in which she co-stars as Judy, going toe-to-toe with big fellow big screen icon James Dean. She earned herself an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the role--the first of her career. After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark is supposed to have a clean slate, although being the new kid in town brings its own problems. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato, and falls for local girl Judy. However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz. When Buzz violently confronts Jim and challenges him to a drag race, the new kid's real troubles begin. This Summer, we are celebrating the unforgettable star power of Natalie Wood with a quartet of films that showcase the unique blend of charisma and emotional intensity that made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen icons. This series is co-presented by the amazing folks over at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton as part of their exhibit More Than Love: The Life & Art of Natalie Wood!

We are presenting a free screening of Sophie Calle & Greg Shephard's documentary/art experiment Double Blind (No Sex Last Night)! Armed with camcorders, French artist Sophie Calle and American photographer Greg Shephard head West across the United States in his Cadillac convertible to produce and document a narrative of their journey and relationship. Independently, they create a kind of cinematic diary where two completely different emotional realities begin to emerge... A fascinating intersection between autobiographical filmmaking and conceptual art, Calle was already internationally known for work that specialized in blurred surveillance, and this film extended those themes into deeply, deeply uncomfortable territory. "Sophie Calle: Overshare" is the French artist's first Orange County exhibition put on by our friends at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. Make sure to catch it before it closes on May 24th!

Hidden by darkness. Guarded by witches. Discovered by a boy. Stolen by a king. Whoever owns it will rule the world. Or destroy it! We've added an encore of Disney's rarely-screened gem The Black Cauldron! Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers.

We're celebrating 30 years since the release of Killer Condom with a one-off late night screening of the unseen original director's cut in a new 4K restoration! In one of the seediest parts of Midtown Manhattan, the male patrons of the aptly-named Hotel Quickie keep getting their genitals bitten off by some mysterious unseen force. Assigned to the case by his superiors, the gay Sicilian-born cop Luigi Mackeroni is skeptical of the rumors that a carnivorous condom is on the loose...or at least until he himself is maimed by one of the man-eating prophylactics during an encounter with a young rent boy at the hotel. As the Big Apple is besieged by an entire army of ravenous rubbers, Mackeroni must find a way to put an end to the escalating emasculation epidemic! Based on the best-selling adult comic by Germany's Ralf König and featuring special effects by notorious splatter master Jörg Buttgereit and creative consulting from the legendary H. R. Giger, Martin Walz's Killer Condom is a delirious queer horror comedy!

The Frida Zinema presents: A Fundraiser for the People of Cuba! Update: The Frida Zinema is proud to partner with Corazón for Cuba in this fundraiser event! Earlier this year, the United States’ embargo on Cuba, which has been in place since 1960, tightened further to a “maximum pressure” approach through the blockage of oil going into the country. This has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in which nation-wide blackouts have prevented urgent access to medical care and has left families in the dark, causing food and other means of sustenance to spoil. As daily life is completely disrupted and urgent aid is needed every day, The Frida Zinema aims to offer material solidarity through a fundraisering event. Join us on Sunday, May 31st at 1:00PM for a screening of various Revolution-era documentaries that highlight one of Revolutionary Cuba’s great achievements; its staunch advocacy for Internationalist support among the Third World. Before the screening we will be selling and auctioning off various Cuban-related items for further fundraising. Note: all proceeds from this event, including all ticket sales and profits from any items sold will be donated to organizations that can get medical, energy, or food aid into Cuba! (Specific organizations to be announced at a later date) This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Frida Cinema member discounts and comp passes do not apply.

The new cringe-com film Situations is making its way to The Frida Cinema, thanks to our friends at Circle Collective. And make sure to stick around after the screening for a special Q&A with director/star Greg Vrotsos and producer Daniel Hartigan! Three months after a breakup, photographer Nick plunges back into L.A.’s dating scene, where party culture clashes with the search for real connection. Despite flaky friends, his ex’s obsessive spreadsheet, and slim odds, Nick’s still chasing love. Vrotsos (Orange Is The New Black, Boston Strangler), who drew inspiration from some of his own experiences, calls Situations his “love letter to Los Angeles” that pulls back the curtain on dating and relationships in a raw and relatable way.

Season 2, Episode 1 - “May the Giant Be with You”
Original Air Date: September 30, 1990

In the aftermath of the previous night’s chaos, Cooper receives a visit from an enigmatic giant who offers him three cryptic clues. Around town, Audrey’s fate remains uncertain, the Palmers continue to unravel, and the investigation shifts as new information emerges from unexpected places.

Season 2, Episode 2 - “Coma”
Original Air Date: October 6, 1990

The sheriff’s department follows up on the giant’s clues. Donna and James pursue their own suspicions, Audrey returns to a changed home life, and the people around the Palmer house struggle to move through grief that still feels raw and unresolved.

We're trading in trench coats for tuxedos with the charming romantic classic Sabrina, coming back for some final encores at The Frida Cinema!  Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn) has long pined for the carefree playboy David Larrabee (William Holden), but after a transformative trip to Paris, she returns as a poised and captivating young woman who suddenly turns heads, including David’s. Concerned that his brother’s romantic entanglement could jeopardize a major business deal, the stern and work-obsessed Linus Larrabee (Humphrey Bogart) steps in to distract Sabrina...only to find himself unexpectedly falling for her. Directed by Billy Wilder with his signature mix of wit and romantic tension, Sabrina earned multiple Academy Awards nominations and won for Best Costume Design, thanks in part to its iconic Parisian-inspired wardrobe. The film remains a high point of classic Hollywood romance, elevated by Hepburn’s radiant performance and the unlikely but compelling pairing of Bogart and Holden. Make sure to get to the screening early, as our Marketing Director Bekah will be doing a very informative and entertaining presentation on the film before it starts!

It's not like they didn't warn us. Our first Volunteer of the Month pick for June comes courtesy of Jasmine, who has picked legendary filmmaker M Night Shyamalan's 2002 nerve-shredding Sci Fi thriller Signs!  Set on an isolated Pennsylvania farm, the film follows former minister Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) as he and his family begin discovering enormous crop circles appearing in their fields. As strange lights, unsettling broadcasts, and inexplicable encounters begin mounting across the globe, Graham, his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), and his children are forced to confront the terrifying possibility that something is watching them from the darkness beyond the cornfields. Mixing an alien invasion spectacle movie with an intimate story about grief, Signs is as masterfully tense as it is emotional. There's nothing quite like seeing an M Night movie on the big screen.

Every mom wants to be wanted, but not for murder! Our John Waters retrospective is reaching its bittersweet conclusion with us screening his 1994 suburban nightmare-comedy Serial Mom! Beverly Sutphin seems like the perfect housewife: devoted mother, loving spouse, and model member of her community. But behind her cheerful demeanor lies a deadly secret...she has a habit of murdering anyone who offends her sense of decency, from rude neighbors to ill-mannered strangers, all while maintaining her pristine suburban image. Serial Mom proves once again that in Waters’ world, good taste is meant to be destroyed, and Kathleen Turner's iconic performance as Beverly finds both of him having a lot of fun being bad. Please join us to give this series the send-off it deserves!

Trainspotting is turning 30 years old, and we're celebrating with some anniversary screenings of a brand new 4K restoration via our friends at Sony Picture Classics! Smart, funny, sickly and sometimes just plain unconscious, Mark Renton is a hero for our times. Set in an underbelly of Edinburg the city fathers never dreamed of, Trainspotting is the story of Mark and his so-called friends...a bunch of losers, liars, psychos, thieves and junkies. Hilarious but harrowing, the film charts the disintegration of their friendship as they proceed, seemingly inevitably, towards self-destruction. Mark alone has the insight and opportunity to escape his fate...but then again, does he really want to 'choose life'? Restoration notes: Supervised and approved by director Danny Boyle, this 4K digital restoration was undertaken by the Criterion Collection from a scan of the 35mm original negative. The 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the original six-track magnetic masters by Ted Hall at Pacific Ocean Post in Santa Monica, California, in 1997.

You've been asking for it, so we're doing it! The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act is coming to The Frida Cinema! The viral internet sensation is reaching its long-awaited conclusion in a feature-length theatrical release! This “Last Act” combines episode 8 with the all new, hour long episode 9! With Caine gone and the circus dark, the cast are left with only the mistakes and traumas of their pasts to keep them company. As the prospect of eternity closes in around them, they discover the truth about the Digital Circus and its history. Will they come to terms with what they uncover, or will they make...the other choice? Also, presumably at some point someone says something funny, because this ending can’t be THAT depressing, can it? Watch the finale of the viral internet phenomenon the best way possible: on the big screen!

A group of college students attend a watch party for their friend's newest independent film. The night takes a dark turn when a masked killer starts brutally killing the partygoers one at a time. With each death time resets and we see the events of the night through the eyes of the next attendee. Amateur student filmmaker, Sean Davis, invites five friends over for the premiere of his overlong short film he made entirely on his own. Not only is Sean's movie awful, but things just keep getting worse as the screening party attendees are stalked by a ruthless killer in a mask. Over a single night, the mystery unfolds through the eyes of Wes, Mark, Kris, Anna, Peter, and Sean, changing between their distorted individual perspectives. With each perspective, more answers are revealed as characters generally live longer and see more than the last. Time resets over and over, seeing the party through all their perspectives. Plans go wrong, romance blossoms unexpectedly, the body count rises, and the Killer’s identity and motives are revealed. The subversive final perspective hilariously pays off everything set up in the previous ones. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

Polite society has never been so...Savage. In 18th-century England, Savage House follows Sir Chauncey Savage (Richard E. Grant), a gloriously unscrupulous social climber propped up by debt and bravado. When invited to host the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chauncey and his razor-sharp wife, Lady Savage (Claire Foy), launch a bid to impress. As preparations spiral into duels, decadence and bloodshed, their performance careens out of control—a darkly comic satire of class, spectacle, and the art of appearing important.

From Ildikó Enyedi, the director of Academy Award-nominated On Body and Soul, comes Silent Friend, an epic, awe-inspiring exploration of the natural world. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Tony Leung, Léa Seydoux, and Venice Prize-winning newcomer Luna Wedler, Enyedi crafts a funny, tender meditation on the essential question of what it means to be human. At the heart of an old German university grows a majestic ginkgo tree, its lifespan measured in centuries. As the years pass, the distinguished plant bears witness to the private lives of those who seek shade under its boundless branches. In 2020, a visiting neuroscientist conducts a series of experiments into the possibilities of botanical consciousness. In 1972, a young student is profoundly changed by studying the behavior of a simple geranium. And in 1908, the university’s first female student’s photographic inquiries reveal sacred patterns of the universe hidden within the humblest of plants. Three lonely souls, three outsiders. Over time, each is transformed by the quiet, enduring and mysterious power of nature.  This film will be presented in In German, English, and Cantonese with English subtitles.

Muzeo is back at The Frida Cinema to bring you a free screening of Never Catch Pigeons: And Eleven More Hard Lessons from Mr. Paul Van Doren! And make sure to stick around after the screening, as there will be a Q&A with special guests Steve & Cheryl Van Doren, moderated by Catherine Acosta, Vans Global Brand Archivist & Historian!  Find out how a hardscrabble shoemaker from New England defied expectations and invented the ultimate Southern California lifestyle brand: Vans. Paul Van Doren never skateboarded, surfed, snowboarded, or flipped a BMX bike, but his simple, rubber-soled sneaker from 1966 has been at the heart of the global action-sports movement for half a century. This is the candid, comedic, and occasionally tragic portrait of Paul and his company, some of the world-renowned athletes he inspired, and the hard lessons he's learned along the way, including why you must NEVER CATCH PIGEONS!

We're setting sail for our next film of Bogie Fest, venturing into one his most intense and morally grey performances: The Caine Mutiny! Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk, this gripping naval drama unfolds aboard a U.S. Navy minesweeper during World War II, where tensions simmer just beneath the surface. Humphrey Bogart delivers a fascinating, against-type performance as Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg, the tightly wound and increasingly unstable captain of the USS Caine. As the crew, including Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson), and the cynical communications officer Tom Keefer (Fred MacMurray), begins to question Queeg’s judgment, a crisis at sea leads to a fateful decision that sparks a court-martial and a battle over sanity. Best remembered for its riveting courtroom climax and Bogart’s unforgettable “strawberries” monologue, The Caine Mutiny earned multiple Academy Awards nominations, including Best Actor for Bogart. His portrayal of Queeg is one of the boldest of his career, trading cool confidence for psychological fragility.

See It On 16mm is back to present a mystery triple feature of 1981 Slasher films only at The Frida Cinema on 6/6/26! This is your opportunity to see rare 16mm prints of Slasher staples and also visit some off the radar Slashers, all from 1981 to celebrate their 45th anniversary! All films will remain a secret until they unspool off the reels and onto the screen. Your guess is as good as ours! Doors open at 5PM and the first film starts around 6PM! It's gonna be a bloody good time! Tickets to this special event are $20. One ticket gets you access to all three movies. There will be a 15 minute intermission between each film. Member discounts and comp passes do not apply. 

From the eternal sea he rises. Creating armies on either shore. Turning man against his brother. Until man exists no more. On 6/7/26, Play It By Fear is presenting a very special $6.66 screening of the 2006 remake of The Omen! When American diplomat Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber) secretly adopts an orphaned newborn after a tragedy in the delivery room, he and his wife Katherine (Julia Stiles) attempt to build a normal life around their young son Damien. But as a series of increasingly horrifying events begin unfolding around the child, Robert is pulled into a terrifying conspiracy involving the possible arrival of the Antichrist himself. Directed by John Moore, The Omen updates the dread-soaked atmosphere of the original for a new generation while retaining its mounting sense of inevitable doom.

Witness action cinema pushed to its absolute physical limits with Police Story + Police Story, a double featuring Jackie Chan, the filmmaker-performer who redefined what a movie star would risk for the camera. A smash hit that made him a worldwide icon of daredevil action spectacle, the director/star/one-man stunt machine plays Ka-Kui, a Hong Kong police inspector who goes rogue to bring down a drug kingpin and protect the case’s star witness (Chinese cinema legend Brigitte Lin) from retribution. Packed wall-to-wall with charmingly goofball slapstick and astoundingly acrobatic fight choreography, including an epic shopping-mall melee of flying fists and shattered glass, Police Story set a new standard for rock-’em-sock-’em mayhem. Then, after a quick ten minute intermission, Jackie is back! Having been demoted to a lowly traffic cop for his, ahem, unorthodox policing methods, Chan’s go-it-alone officer Ka-Kui quits the force in protest. But it isn’t long before he’s back in action, racing the clock to stop a band of serial bombers and win back his much-put-upon girlfriend May (the phenomenal Maggie Cheung, reprising her star-making role). Boasting epic explosions, an awesomely 1980s electro soundtrack, and a showstopping finale that turns an abandoned warehouse into a life-size pinball machine of cascading oil drums, collapsing scaffolds, and shooting fireworks, Police Story 2 confirmed Chan’s status as a performer of unparalleled grace and daring. There will be a ten minute intermission between each film. One ticket gets you access to both movies! Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series explores the time from the mid-’80s through the early ’90s, where Hong Kong filmmakers rewrote the grammar of action cinema forever. Directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam, and Lau Kar-Leung fused balletic gunplay, risky stunts, martial arts virtuosity, and raw emotional intensity into a new cinematic language that would be oft-imitated but never replicated. (sorry, The Matrix, we love you too!) Join us every month in 2026 as we explore this golden age where style and emotion collided to change movies forever.

Season 2, Episode 3 - “The Man Behind Glass”
Original Air Date: October 13, 1990

New suspects, new locations, and a strange clue hidden in plain sight send Cooper and Truman in a fresh direction, while Donna and James test the boundaries of how far they are willing to go in search of answers. Audrey continues navigating the influence of her father Benjamin Horne and the world surrounding the Great Northern, and Lucy, Andy, and Deputy Dick Tremaine bring a more awkward kind of tension to the station.

Season 2, Episode 4 - “Laura’s Secret Diary”
Original Air Date: October 20, 1990

Local recluse Harold Smith becomes central to Donna and Maddy’s search for the missing diary that may explain some of Laura’s secret life. Cooper and Truman continue pursuing clues that point toward both human suspects, and something less easily defined.

Season 2, Episode 5 - “The Orchid’s Curse”
Original Air Date: October 27, 1990

Cooper’s investigation begins stretching beyond Twin Peaks as he uncovers connections that may link Laura’s death to similar crimes elsewhere. Donna and Maddy’s attempt to get close to Harold places them in delicate territory, while Audrey continues using her access and intelligence to uncover information that others miss.

Let's ride! The Frida Cinema is proud to present the brand new 4K restoration of Lana & Lily Wachowski's pop masterpiece Speed Racer! Speed Racer is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities. Come experience the visually electric, emotionally turbocharged thrill ride that was way ahead of its time. Whether you're a longtime fan or a curious first-timer, there's no better way to see it than on the big screen with a cheering crowd of fellow film lovers.

Join us for a special one-off screening of the new indie addiction drama Withdrawal. And stick around after the screening as we present an in-person Q&A with Director Aaron Strand and Cinematographer Emily Marquet, moderated by Francesca Rivera! Also, prior to the film they will be debuting a brand new teaser trailer for an upcoming film called Finding Jose, directed by local OC filmmaker Lisset Mendoza! Artistic lovers Viv and Jay are trapped in a vicious cycle of codependent heroin addiction. When Viv's wealthy parents hire an interventionist to take her to rehab, the couple decides to go it alone with nothing but a suboxone prescription and each other. All they have to do is survive one harrowing night of withdrawal. As the hours tick by, physical, mental, and emotional torments send them searching through fractured memories, trying to figure out where it all went wrong.  Raw, unflinching, and shockingly funny, Withdrawal was shot primarily on miniDV in Athens, Georgia. Winner of 12 awards on the festival circuit including Best Feature/Best Director at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and Best Actress at the Kanazawa Film Festival. Film Threat calls it "the best film about addiction since Requiem for a Dream." 

Power, space, time and a visitor. We're presenting a 4K restoration of the European Cut of Nicolas Roeg and David Bowie's hypnotic masterwork The Man Who Fell to Earth, now celebrating 50 years since its initial release! Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth, Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou, a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened. Fans of dreamlike, visually intoxicating cinema will find a lot to love in The Man Who Fell to Earth, which remains one of the cornerstones of 70s cult classic cinema. Restoration: The restoration is based on a 4K scan of the original camera negative, followed by a full 4K workflow, with the approval of cinematographer Anthony Richmond. Please note: we are screening the 139 minute European Cut of the film, also known as the Director's Cut or Uncut version of the film!

Paint yourself rich with the new neon-tinged slow-burn suspense film Forge! And stick around afterwards as we are joined for an in-person Q&A from the director of the film, Jing Ai Ng!  In Miami, siblings Raymond and Coco Zhang’s art forgery ring flourishes when they encounter a disgraced millionaire in need of their expertise. Meanwhile, FBI Art Crimes agent Emily Lee moves to Miami to investigate a series of mysterious paintings. Director Jing Ai Ng's debut feature premiered at SXSW to an enthusiastic audience response and positive reviews highlighting Ng's fresh spin on the caper film. The cast includes Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), TR Knight (Grey's Anatomy), Sonya Walger (Lost), and led by breakout performances by Andie Ju and Brandan Soo Hoo. 

Award-winning actor, screenwriter, and Youtuber Maggie Mae Fish joins us in person to present a new series aptly titled Nu-Classics at The Frida Cinema! This series spotlights cult films that deserve to be added to the canon, programmed and hosted by Maggie, with special appearances by her YouTube and Nebula friends. The first nu-classic is Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning-masterpiece Titane! Following the screening, Maggie will discuss the movie with Will Reese, director/co-showrunner of her Nebula series Amy's Dead-End Dreamhouse. The story follows a woman with a metal plate in her head from a childhood car accident as she embarks on a bizarre journey, bringing her into contact with a firefighter who's reunited with his missing son after 10 years. Fresh off its historic win at Cannes, the film became one of the most talked-about releases of the year 2022. Critics and audiences alike were electrified, praising Ducournau’s fearless vision. With only her second feature film, she has carved out a gnarly niche of body horror and melodrama that we absolutely adore at The Frida. Come see it on the big screen!

One life. One hundred years. Jinsei, the new anime masterpiece from first-time director Ryuya Suzuki, is coming to The Frida Cinema! Our hero (voiced by rapper ACE COOL), called by a different name in each chapter of his life, becomes a J-pop idol, an outcast, a leader, and an oracle in this hundred-year chronicle spanning the past, present, and future. Through a chance encounter with a transfer student, he trains to become an idol, starting his search for self-identity and a journey toward greatness beyond superstardom. Written, directed, edited and entirely hand-drawn by newcomer Ryuya Suzuki over eighteen months, Jinsei (meaning “life” in Japanese) is an anime tour-de-force that announces Suzuki to the world as a bold new talent in independent animation.

To save the future, they must uncover her past. GKIDS presents Another World, a dark fairytale that explores forgiveness and reconciliation in the face of hatred and despair. Gudo is a Soul Keeper, a spirit who guides human souls into their next life. When he befriends a young girl named Yuri, he discovers that her untimely death has left her cursed with unresolved rage and regret. As Yuri’s soul teeters on the edge of annihilation, Gudo embarks on a dangerous journey to stop her from unleashing horrible destruction on both the human world and the spirit realm. The directorial debut from Tommy Ng Kai Chung, the movie brings together the finest young talent from Hong Kong to create a poignant fantasy that boasts awe-inspiring action and captivating visuals. This film will be presented in Cantonese with English subtitles.

She's evil...and not just high school evil. OC Pride is back at The Frida Cinema to present a special one-off screening of Diablo Cody and Karyn Kusama's iconic 2009 cult classic Jennifer's Body! Jennifer, a gorgeous, seductive cheerleader takes evil to a whole new level after she's possessed by a sinister demon. Now it's up to her best friend to stop Jennifer's reign of terror before it's too late. Cody's signature dialogue, the emo-era soundtrack, and terrific darkly comedic performances from a stacked cast including Amanda Seyfriend, Megan Fox, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, Kyle Gallner, and many more, make Jennifer's Body the perfect 2000s era time capsule to present for Pride Month this year! Come see it on the big screen with a hot crowd!

Our award-winning resident performance troupe K.A.O.S. returns for their celebrated all-costumed, all-choreographed, all-leg-kicking live shadowcast presentation of 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, performed on stage in front of the film! Director Jim (Don’t squeeze the…) Sharman’s cult classic stars Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as Brad and Janet, two virginal small-town lovers whose car breaks down in the shadows of a creepy old castle, where they encounter an odd collective of “unconventional conventionalists” gathered to witness transvestite scientist’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation – a muscular man named Rocky. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including tap-dancing Columbia, rocking biker Eddie, and of course, the castle’s “Sweet Transvestite” himself, Frank-N-Furter! Adapted from the 1973 stage musical by Richard O’Brien, this glam cult classic is a cinematic experience unlike any other. Sing-along (and shout-along!) to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a classic that still packs houses 50 years after its initial release! Get your tickets now before it sells out! Doors open at 11:00pm  Official K.A.O.S. preshow starts at 11:30pm!  Movie at midnight! SENSORY WARNING: Flashing Lights and Fog effects may be used during the event. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.

The second film in our Starring Natalie Wood series is Splendor In The Grass, co-starring Warren Beatty in his screen debut! Wood's performance garnered her the second Oscar nomination of her career, this time Best Actress! The story follows a small-town Kansas teenager whose passionate romance collides with the strict social expectations of the late 1920s. As heartbreak begins to take its toll, she’s forced to confront the fragile line between desire and despair. This Summer, we are celebrating the unforgettable star power of Natalie Wood with a quartet of films that showcase the unique blend of charisma and emotional intensity that made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen icons. This series is co-presented by the amazing folks over at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton as part of their exhibit More Than Love: The Life & Art of Natalie Wood!

Join us for a special one-off screening of the new film Matador Bolero, starring Kansas Bowling and Yves Tumor (in their acting debut)! And stick around after the screening for a special Q&A with director Jonathan Rosado and producer Nicolette Wilkey!  The story follows a New York nightclub, The Matador, that becomes the site of a high-profile murder that attracts the attention of an obsessive detective, a TV news reporter, and an elusive being living outside the realms of time and space. Their stories converge with that of a new-age cult operating at the command of an ultra-intelligent supercomputer named Bolero. A love letter to 70s exploitation cinema, Matador Bolero promises a genre-mashing and psychedelic trip to the movies!

See It On 16MM is back with another heater as they present Tobe Hoober's 1975 horror masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre! When a group of young friends take a detour through rural Texas, what begins as a sun-bleached road trip dissolves into something far more harrowing. In the middle of nowhere, they stumble upon a decaying farmhouse...and a family of cannibals. Chief among them: a towering, masked figure with a roaring chainsaw and a childlike rage. One by one, the travelers are pulled into a waking nightmare of violence, ritual, and bone-deep madness. No comfort. No escape. Just heat, metal, and the sound of human terror. Don't miss this cinematic game-changer on the big screen with a screaming crowd!

Season 2, Episode 6 - “Demons”
Original Air Date: November 3, 1990

With pressure mounting from all sides, Cooper and Truman move closer to identifying the forces behind Laura Palmer’s death. Leland's increasingly erratic behavior draws uneasy attention, and Ben Horne remains entangled in business and family conflicts that ripple outward. The case grows darker as personal grief and supernatural dread begin to overlap.

Season 2, Episode 7 - “Lonely Souls”
Original Air Date: November 10, 1990

As several long-running threads finally converge, Cooper and the sheriff’s department race to act on information that could bring them face to face with Laura’s killer. Donna, James, and Maddy continue to follow Laura’s trail, while events at the Roadhouse and the Palmer home take on an almost unbearable intensity.

Season 2, Episode 8 - “Drive with a Dead Girl”
Original Air Date: November 17, 1990

The town struggles to absorb the consequences of what has been revealed, and the investigation begins shifting away from one question and toward several others. Cooper tries to steady himself after a breakthrough that has changed everything, while Donna, James, and the Palmers each respond to the truth in very different ways.

Cutter does everything his way. Fighting. Loving. Working. Tracking down a killer. Our Hallucinations series is detouring to the world of sun-soaked neo-Noir with Cutter's Way!  Alex Cutter is a boozy, belligerent and deeply cynical Vietnam veteran whose encounter with a landmine during the war has left him minus an eye, a leg and an arm. When his drifter playboy friend Richard Bone is falsely accused of murder, Cutter sets out for revenge in his own inimitable style. Cutter’s Way is one of the great overlooked neo-Noirs of the 1980s and an extremely cynical portrait of a country where power always seems untouchable. Hosted by Polygon’s editor-in-chief Chris Plante, Hallucinations is a monthly event that spotlights movies that challenge our expectations of story, style, and “good taste”. We invite guests to bond over films that change what we expect from the medium, the world, and themselves. So come early, stay late, make friends, and watch something strange, surprising, or just shamelessly sick.

One night. One city. One endless conversation. We're continuing our annual June 16th tradition with another screening of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise! On a train bound for Vienna, two strangers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), a restless American backpacker, and Céline (Julie Delpy), a thoughtful French student, strike up a casual conversation that quickly deepens into something electric. Jesse, impulsive and charming, persuades Céline to get off the train with him and wander the city until his flight leaves the next morning. Over the course of one night, they talk, laugh, debate, and flirt as they walk the cobblestone streets, share glances by the Danube, and explore the edges of intimacy. With no promise of a future, they make the present feel infinite.  What makes Before Sunrise the type of film we can play to sold out crowds year after year? Probably how immediate and fresh it feels, even thirty years later. Linklater strips romance down to its simplest form: two people connecting at exactly the right moment in their lives. Let the yearning begin! 

Our second Volunteer of the Month is courtesy of Jonathan V., who has chosen Steven Soderbergh's star-studded heist comedy Logan Lucky! Channing Tatum stars as Jimmy Logan, a West Virginia construction worker who recruits his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) and an eccentric crew to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600. Their plan hinges on the help of Joe Bang, a bombastic explosives expert played by Daniel Craig in one of the funniest performances of his career.  A caper comedy mixed with an underdog story in only the way Soderbergh can deliver, Logan Lucky swaps the sleek glamour of traditional heist films for dive bars and race tracks, making it warmhearted crowd-pleaser that plays best...where else? The big screen!

The first film of our brand new Art House for Families series is Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, just in time for Father's Day Weekend! In the wake of World War II, Antonio finally secures a job that could support his struggling family, but when the bicycle he needs for work is stolen on his very first day, he and his young son Bruno set out across Rome in a desperate search to recover it. What unfolds is both a gripping odyssey through the city and a deeply moving portrait of the unique bond between parent and child. A defining work of Italian neorealism, Bicycle Thieves transformed world cinema with its use of nonprofessional actors and location shooting, finding profound emotional weight in ordinary lives. Decades later, its heartbreak and compassion remain just as powerful, making it the perfect film to kick off this series. This film will be presented in its original Italian language, with English subtitles. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Our Classic Movie Nights is diving headfirst into the deliciously catty world of The Women, a glammed-up showcase of all-out social warfare! Society wife Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) seems to have it all, until whispers start circulating that her husband is having an affair with a predatory perfume clerk. What follows is a cluster-mess through high society circles as Mary navigates the uniquely cutthroat support system of her all-female friend group, including the sharp-tongued Sylvia Fowler (Rosalind Russell) and the endlessly naive Peggy (Joan Fontaine). Directed by George Cukor, The Women is famous for its entirely female cast—no men appear on screen—and its dazzling blend of biting dialogue and high-fashion spectacle, including a legendary Technicolor fashion show sequence. Adapted from Clare Boothe Luce’s hit play, the film remains a masterclass in ensemble performance and unapologetic melodrama, where every line lands like a perfectly aimed dart. Make sure to get to the screening early, as our Marketing Director Bekah will be doing a very informative and entertaining presentation on the film before it starts!

Brian Helgeland's medieval action comedy A Knight's Tale is coming back to The Frida Cinema to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and we are honored to be hosting an in-person Q&A with Shannyn Sossamon, who plays Jocelyn in the film! William Thatcher (the unforgettable Heath Ledger) is a peasant who disguises himself as a noble knight to compete in jousting tournaments across Europe. With the help of his loyal friends, including a witty writer named Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), William rises through the ranks of the tournament circuit, all while hiding his true identity. Along the way, he falls in love with a noblewoman and faces off against the ruthless Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), his main rival. With its energetic blend of medieval action and humor, A Knight’s Tale quickly became (and has remained) one the 21st century's most beloved cult classics!

This visionary music documentary traces the turbulent, transcendent life of Gregg Allman, from a childhood ruptured by his father’s murder to the soulful emergence that reshaped American music. Through archival recordings, candid interviews, and electric performances, the film follows Gregg’s musical awakening amid the blues he worshipped, the creation of the Allman Brothers Band with his brother.

Before he created the music, he lived every bit of it. Our Staff Pick for the month of June comes from Allyssa, one of our Box Office Managers! She has chosen the mythmaking rock Drama Purple Rain! A victim of his own anger, the Kid is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his truculent father, the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with a captivating singer, Apollonia. But another musician, Morris, looks to steal the Kid's spotlight...and his girl. Purple Rain is a film powered by pure charisma and one of the greatest soundtracks ever recorded. Songs like “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” and the immortal title track were made to shake theater walls, and seeing Prince command the screen in all his magnetic brilliance is a reminder of just how singular a performer he was. Great pick, Allyssa!

Who wants to cook Aloo Gobi when you can bend a ball like Beckham? We're celebrating the World Cup and Pride Month with two ultra-rare screenings of Bend It Like Beckham, presented by our friends over at the Orange County Soccer Club! Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe. Endlessly quotable and packed with charm, this early-2000s nostalgic classic hits the sweet spot by blending sports movie thrills with a fresh and funny look at identity. Chase your goals!

Bust out those plastic spoons! The Room is back at The Frida Cinema! Wiseau's peerless magnum opus finds the auteur who shaped a generation taking on the arts of acting, writing, casting, directing, editing and more. What's even more remarkable: he's mastered them all. The multi-talented director stars as Johnny, a big-time banker working in gorgeously shot San Francisco. His fiancée Lisa, seemingly a happy part of a successful relationship, has wandering eyes…for Tommy's best friend Mark. Cinema has never witnessed such betrayal! An intense, sensual thriller, at least as it was intended by Wiseau, The Room is an intricately knit web of sweet secrets and bitter lies that interrogates the very form of drama itself, as well as a truly unforgettable piece of cinema.

Jeff Gets A Job, the new film from director Emmanuel Duga, is coming to The Frida Cinema for one day only! Jeff quits community college, and he doesn’t know what to do next with his life. He applies for jobs, but nothing has come to fruition. While waiting for any opportunity to present itself, Jeff goes to hangouts and parties with his friends. Throughout the film, Jeff quietly observes the different paths his friends are taking to move on with their lives. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. 

Fear and fury are sizzling in the Florida Keys! We're attempting to ride out the storm with our next Bogie Fest entry: Key Largo! This hurricane-lashed drama brings Humphrey Bogart together once more with Lauren Bacall in a story where danger rises with the tide. Set in a remote Florida Keys hotel, war veteran Frank McCloud (Bogie himself) arrives to visit the family of a fallen comrade, only to find himself trapped as a powerful storm bears down. The hotel is then seized by a gang of mobsters led by the ruthless Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson doing his very best Edward G. Robinson impression), a larger-than-life crime boss whose presence turns the claustrophobic setting into a pressure cooker of fear and defiance. As the winds howl outside, tensions escalate within, and McCloud must decide whether to remain the detached observer he claims to be...or take a stand against tyranny. Anchored by crackling dialogue and powerhouse performances, Key Largo is a bit underrated these days, sometimes lost in the sea of masterpieces that director John Huston bestowed upon us.

Merry-Go-Round Magazine is back at The Frida Cinema to present a cheer-along screening celebrating 20 years of Nacho Libre! Jack Black stars as Ignacio, a monastery cook with big dreams of wrestling glory. By day, he tends to orphans with meager meals and modest means, but by night, he dons a homemade mask and cape to become “Nacho”, a bumbling yet big-hearted fighter who enters the chaotic world of Lucha Libre. Teaming up Esqueleto (Héctor Jiménez), a wiry street thief with zero wrestling skills but plenty of scrappy determination (and a firm belief in science), Nacho must balance his secret life in the ring with his devotion to the children he cares for, all while chasing respect. Oh, and the heart of the beautiful Sister Encarnación (Ana de la Reguera). Wildly silly yet surprisingly sincere, Nacho Libre is a raucous underdog tale showcasing Jack Black at his most gloriously unhinged. It has become one of the defining cult films of the 2000s, begging for a re-visit on the big screen with a crowd of cheering Nacho fans!

As groundbreaking now as it was when it was released 25 years ago, By Hook or by Crook is coming to The Frida Cinema with a brand new 4K restoration via our friends at Altered Innocence! Shy, a handsome, gender-bending, small town dreamer with a nagging messiah complex, and Valentine, a deliriously expressive, wise-acre adoptee on a misguided search for her birth mother. The two freaky grifters join forces and learn the true meaning of "poise under pressure" in this visually stunning and wonderfully acted, anti-authoritarian tale of friendship, trust and redemption. Provocatively exploring issues of queer representation, gender and trans identity in ways that contemporary LGBTQIA+ culture and cinema are still catching up with, By Hook or by Crook has created a powerful cultural impact that endures today. The film has been digitally restored in 4K by the Academy Film Archive and UCLA Film & Television Archive in conjunction with Frameline, Outfest, Steakhaus Productions, Inc., and the Sundance Institute. 

Season 2, Episode 9 - “Arbitrary Law”
Original Air Date: November 24, 1990

Cooper, Truman, and the others try to bring order to the aftermath of the case as legal questions, emotional fallout, and lingering mysteries remain unresolved. Major characters are forced to reckon with what has happened, while the town searches for a way forward after months of fear and suspicion.

Season 2, Episode 10 - “Dispute Between Brothers”
Original Air Date: December 1, 1990

With Laura Palmer’s case no longer the sole focus, attention shifts to the strange dynamics between Benjamin Horne and his brother Jerry, as well as the schemes, affairs, and ambitions unfolding across town. Cooper finds himself facing professional complications of his own, and Sheriff Truman must navigate new tensions inside and outside the department.

Season 2, Episode 11 - “Masked Ball”
Original Air Date: December 8, 1990

As new dangers begin to take shape, Cooper continues investigating suspicious activity tied to the town’s criminal undercurrents, while Audrey becomes more deeply entangled in her father’s complicated world. Shelly and Bobby’s relationship faces new pressures, and James meets an alluring woman that pulls him away from town.

Love is a force of nature. Our Page To Screen series in June is headed to Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee's heartbreaking American epic starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film is about Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, two young ranch hands whose chance summer tending sheep on Wyoming’s Brokeback Mountain sparks a lifelong, impossible romance. What begins as a brief encounter deep in the wilderness grows into a decades-spanning bond shaped by the harsh realities of the world around them. With luminous cinematography capturing the staggering beauty of the American West, a mournful score by Gustavo Santaolalla, and deeply vulnerable performances from Ledger, Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway, Brokeback Mountain remains a landmark of Queer Cinema.

Our Art House for Families series is inviting you to Meet The Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. A Hard Day’s Night, in which the bandmates play cheeky comic versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell,” A Hard Day’s Night, which re-conceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

We're teaming up with the fine folks at Muzeo to present a very special screening of the legendary documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys! This award-winning, thrilling story is about a group of discarded kids who revolutionized skateboarding and shaped the attitude and culture of modern day extreme sports. Featuring old skool skating footage, exclusive interviews and a blistering rock soundtrack, Dogtown and Z-Boys captures the rise of the Zephyr skateboarding team from Venice's Dogtown, a tough "locals only" beach with a legacy of outlaw surfing. Directed by former pro skater Stacy Peralta and narrated with gravelly cool by three-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn, this electrifying documentary that chronicles how a scrappy crew of skateboarding misfits revolutionized youth culture forever. Come see it on the big screen, loud and proud!

Did somebody say..."more Audrey, please"? Witness the suffocating moral hypocrisies of mid-century America with The Children's Hour, William Wyler’s haunting adaptation of Lillian Hellman’s scandalous stage play about the potentially devastating consequences of forbidden desire. Reuniting screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, two women running a private girls’ school whose lives are destroyed after a malicious student accuses them of being lovers, the film unfolds as a quietly radical portrait of queer longing under siege. Shot in stark black-and-white with Wyler’s elegant precision, and anchored by MacLaine’s extraordinary portrayal of self-recognition and heartbreak, The Children’s Hour remains a landmark of coded queer Hollywood cinema.

Mark Jenkin (Bait, Enys Men) is back with his latest mind-trip, Rose of Nevada, starring Callum Turner and George MacKay!  A mysterious boat returns to a village 30 years after vanishing. Two men join its crew hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew. One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary UK art cinema, Mark Jenkin has made quite the name for himself for his handmade aesthetic, and Rose of Nevada looks to be more of that strange, melancholy folk-horror hybrid that we continue to be fascinated by.

This June, celebrate Pride Month with a 30th anniversary FREE screening of The Celluloid Closet, an exuberant and informative movie about the hundred-year history of the roles gay men and lesbians have had on the silver screen.  The Celluloid Closet is an epic story, by turns surprising, hilarious, and disturbing. Academy Award-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman assemble clips from over 100 Hollywood movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them (including Tom Hanks, Shirley MacLaine, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Curtis, and Gore Vidal). "Thoroughly enjoyable...a colorful overview with the popular appeal of a 'That's Entertainment'...sheer fun." - The New York Times "TWO THUMBS UP...terrific" - Siskel and Ebert

Just added: Joining us to introduce our June 27th screening of West Side Story is Actress, Author, Producer, and daughter of Natalie Wood, Natasha Gregson Wagner! Love finds a way...even in the middle of a war. The third film in our four film Starring Natalie Wood tribute is West Side Story, where she shines as Maria alongside other screen icons Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, and George Chakiris! In Manhattan’s Upper West Side, rival gangs of Polish-Americans and newly arrived Puerto Ricans clash for control of the neighborhood, even as two young members from opposite sides fall dangerously in love. Featuring unforgettable songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, this landmark musical remains one of cinema’s most vibrant expressions of youthful hope and heartbreak. This Summer, we are celebrating the unforgettable star power of Natalie Wood with a quartet of films that showcase the unique blend of charisma and emotional intensity that made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen icons. This series is co-presented by the amazing folks over at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton as part of their exhibit More Than Love: The Life & Art of Natalie Wood!

Our official Santa Ana Pride afterparty this year is the hilarious early-aughts satire on the superficiality of the music industry: Josie and the Pussycats! The film follows Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid), and Valerie (Rosario Dawson), three small-town girls who form a rock band and get swept up in the glitzy world of fame, where they discover the dark undercurrents of the music industry. As they rise to stardom, they find themselves being manipulated by an all-powerful corporation that’s using their music to influence the minds of consumers. Oh, and did we mention the villain is played by none other than Miss Parker Posey? And who doesn't love Alan Cumming!? Though initially dismissed as a bubblegum teen comedy, Josie and the Pussycats has since gone on to become a cult classic, still electrifying audiences over two decades since its release!

Just added: Director Ted Nicolaou and actress Diane Franklin will be joining us for this after this screening a special in-person Q&A! People of Earth: your planet is about to be destroyed...we're terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Our friends at HorrorBuzz are back to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the most gloriously bonkers creature features of the 1980s: TerrorVision! When the ultra-quirky Putterman family installs a new satellite dish, they accidentally beam in more than late-night cable. A grotesque alien known as the Hungry Beast materializes in their home, and soon the eccentric clan is fighting for survival as the creature slithers through their pastel nightmare of a mansion, devouring everything in sight! Horror Movie Night takes filmgoing to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Pres-how, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and video pre-show video begins promptly at 7:30 pm. Games, prizes, and short film begin at 8:00PM. Feature starts at 8:30PM. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

June Gloom is upon us, and our friends at Play It By Fear are sponsoring a Sunday Scaries screening of the 4K restoration screening of John Carpenter's marine layer horror film The Fog!  Starring the unbelievable cast of Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Hal Holbrook, the film centers on an unearthly fog that rolls into a small coastal town exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in its waters. What you can't see won't hurt you...it'll kill you! Don't miss this spooky good time on the big screen!

Season 2, Episode 12 - “The Black Widow”
Original Air Date: January 12, 1991

The town’s romantic entanglements, family tensions, and private agendas continue to multiply. Norma and Ed remain caught between old feelings and present obligations, and Audrey struggles with the limits of what she can control inside the Horne family.

Season 2, Episode 13 - “Checkmate”
Original Air Date: January 19, 1991

A contest of wits begins to take shape as Cooper faces off against powerful figures working behind the scenes, and several residents of Twin Peaks pursue their own strategic moves. Andrew Packard’s return complicates life for Catherine Martell and Pete, while Ben Horne starts slipping further into a world of fantasy and self-reinvention.

Season 2, Episode 14 - “Double Play”
Original Air Date: January 26, 1991

As one storyline rooted in small-town intrigue and another veering into noir melodrama, the town’s overlapping schemes continue to collide as Cooper follows new leads, Audrey tries to prove herself in a world of adult secrets and business manipulations, and James, now far from home, finds himself drawn into a dangerous and emotionally complicated situation involving a mysterious older woman.

Play It By Fear is continuing their June Gloom programming as they present a Sunday Scaries screening of the black-and-white version of Frank Darabont and Stephen King's The Mist!  After a violent storm, a dense cloud of mist envelops a small Maine town, trapping David Drayton and his five-year-old son in a local grocery store with other local residents. They soon discover that the mist conceals deadly horrors that threaten their lives, and worse, their sanity. What can we say about The Mist that won't spoil one of cinema's best endings ever? It combines pulpy monster-movie thrills with a savage critique of fear-driven groupthink, and also features a career-defining turn from Marcia Gay Harden as the terrifyingly self-righteous Mrs. Carmody. Come see the version that Darabont always wanted audiences to see, as the black-and-white version proves superior for many fans!

Young Frankenstein, the scariest comedy of all time, is coming to The Frida Cinema to celebrate the incomparable Mel Brooks' 100th birthday!  A young neurosurgeon (played by Gene Wilder in one of cinema's greatest comedic performances of all time) inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was delusional, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind. Featuring a slew of immortal gags, Young Frankenstein remains one of the greatest screen comedies ever made: an affectionate tribute to classic monster movies and a masterclass in comic precision from one of cinema’s all-time great joke machines.

Think you’ve got what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the film nerds of Southern California? Then it’s time to put your cinema knowledge to the ultimate test at The Frida’s monthly Film Trivia Night! Each month, we challenge cinephiles with five meticulously crafted rounds of film trivia, plus a special bonus round for those who truly know their stuff. Expect everything from deep dives to cult classics, iconic soundtracks to infamous flops. 

Celebrate the comedic genius of Mel Brooks as we celebrate his 100th birthday by rolling out a Cinemascope print of Blazing Saddles courtesy of our friends at See It On 16mm! A town (where everyone seems to be named Johnson) stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the Governor, so Hedley convinces him to send the town the first black sheriff in the west. One of the most outrageous and relentlessly quotable comedies ever unleashed on American screens, Blazing Saddles remains both a landmark of boundary-pushing studio comedy and a fearless reminder that Brooks’ sharpest target was always bigotry itself. Featuring all-time great comedic performances from Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, and of course...Madeline Kahn, it’s an absolutely unhinged ride from first punchline to last explosion through the studio backlot.

How could we do an Art House for Families series without a classic Godzilla film!? It's time for 1965's Invasion of Astro-Monster, the fierce battle between Godzilla, Rodan, and King Ghidorah! Aliens from Planet X make an irresistible offer to the people of Earth: let them borrow Godzilla and Rodan to help defeat King Ghidorah, and in return they will provide a cure for all known human disease. But the aliens’ duplicity is soon revealed, as they deploy all three monsters in their quest to conquer Earth. This retro romp, featuring American star Nick Adams, stands as a high point in the Showa Godzilla series. This film will be dubbed in English as to be more accessible for younger viewers. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Dun dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun dun. James Cameron's block-busting Sci Fi/Action masterpiece, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is headed to The Frida Cinema with a brand new 4K restoration just in time for July 4th!  A cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent into the past to protect Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her teen son John (Edward Furlong) from a new advanced model cyborg T-1000 (Robert Patrick) in a bid to stop a future war between humans and the intelligent machine SkyNet.  Hailed as one of the greatest sequels ever made, Terminator 2: Judgment Day remains the gold standard for action spectacle over 35 years after its initial release due to its cutting-edge visual effects and jaw-dropping stunts. But its that special James Cameron emotional punch that takes truly makes it next-level. Don't miss it on the big screen! 

Our Bogie Fest series begins to wind down with The Big Sleep, Howard Hawks' noir adaptation of Raymond Chandler's iconic novel. Private detective Philip Marlowe (played by Humphrey Bogart) is hired by the wealthy General Sternwood to investigate a blackmail scheme involving his daughter, Carmen. What begins as a straightforward case unravels into a clustermess of murder and corruption, as Marlowe discovers connections to organized crime. Along the way, he encounters the General’s other daughter, the sharp-witted and enigmatic Vivian (portrayed by Lauren Bacall) with whom he shares a smoldering chemistry. Known for its moody cinematography and the world famous Bogie and Bacall on-screen chemistry, The Big Sleep remains a defining work of the noir genre, celebrated for its stylish complexity.

Season 2, Episode 15 - “Slaves and Masters”
Original Air Date: February 2, 1991

As Windom Earle’s presence begins to loom larger, Cooper finds himself facing a threat that is both strategic and deeply personal. Around town, Nadine’s unexpected return to high school creates complications for Ed and Norma, while James remains entangled in a dangerous situation with Evelyn Marsh.

Season 2, Episode 16 - “The Condemned Woman”
Original Air Date: February 9, 1991

Cooper and Truman continue tracking Windom Earle as new information sharpens the outline of his plans, while tension builds around Josie Packard as her position in Twin Peaks becomes increasingly complicated. Catherine, Andrew, and Ben remain locked in a shifting power struggle, and Audrey continues trying to assert herself within her family’s complicated business dealings.

Season 2, Episode 17 - “Wounds and Scars”
Original Air Date: February 16, 1991

As Cooper reflects on his past and his connection to Windom Earle, the investigation takes on a more introspective tone, blending personal history with present danger. James attempts to escape the situation he has been pulled into, while relationships across Twin Peaks strain under the weight of secrets, regret, and unresolved emotion. The episode focuses on the lasting impact of earlier events, showing how deeply they continue to shape the present.

Twin Peaks: The Complete Series, David Lynch’s entire three-season television show, continues with episodes screening every Sunday night through September 20th, 2026.

A lethal secret arsenal was left behind in the jungle of Vietnam. Their job: find it and destroy it! Legendary actor-director Sammo Hung delivers a bazooka blast of pure adrenaline with Eastern Condors, an exemplar of Hong Kong action cinema at its most entertaining. Drawing inspiration from Hollywood war films like The Dirty Dozen, Eastern Condors follows a ragtag band of Asian American prisoners dropped into Vietnam on a secret suicide mission to prevent a cache of weapons from falling into the hands of the Viet Cong, who are more than ready for a fight. Propelled by a dynamic ensemble cast that includes the ever-charismatic Yuen Biao as a black-market trader and a superhuman Yuen Wah as a giggling martial-arts monster, this rip-roaring spectacle offers a nonstop barrage of turbocharged set pieces that defy gravity itself. Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series explores the time from the mid-’80s through the early ’90s, where Hong Kong filmmakers rewrote the grammar of action cinema forever. Directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam, and Lau Kar-Leung fused balletic gunplay, risky stunts, martial arts virtuosity, and raw emotional intensity into a new cinematic language that would be oft-imitated but never replicated. (sorry, The Matrix, we love you too!) Join us every month in 2026 as we explore this golden age where style and emotion collided to change movies forever.

Our documentary pick for our Art House for Families series is For All Mankind, Al Reinert's thrilling portrait about the twenty-four men who went to the moon! Constructed entirely from restored NASA footage and accompanied by a hypnotic score from Brian Eno, the film immerses audiences in the experience of the Apollo missions, transforming historic events into something deeply human. Rather than focusing on technical milestones or political history, For All Mankind captures the surreal beauty of space travel itself. Few documentaries evoke the scale of discovery quite like this one. Projected on the big screen, its images of Earth floating silently in darkness still inspire the same awe they did more than fifty years ago. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

In Summer 2025, a twenty-something took a solo trip to Yosemite. It was his goal to rediscover what it meant to be alive. And to say goodbye. Join in his escape, to the premiere of Wildman! Wildman is part found footage, part one-man-show, part quasi-musical. It is an oddball freakshow adventure movie. From the Director of Brainbugs comes a new, unique vision of madness. Shot entirely on a Sony Handycam camcorder from 2009.  This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

Season 2, Episode 18 - “On the Wings of Love”
Original Air Date: February 23, 1991

Relationships across Twin Peaks begin shifting in new and surprising directions, as characters act on long-held feelings and uncertain loyalties. Ben Horne’s increasingly strange behavior creates confusion within his family and business, while Cooper and Truman continue monitoring developments tied to Windom Earle.

Season 2, Episode 19 - “Variations on Relations”
Original Air Date: March 2, 1991

As Windom Earle’s influence spreads, connections between characters continue to rearrange themselves, often with unintended consequences. Bobby, Shelly, Audrey, Donna, and others navigate relationships that seem increasingly fragile, while Cooper works to understand the broader pattern behind recent events.

Season 2, Episode 20 - “The Path to the Black Lodge”
Original Air Date: March 9, 1991

Cooper and Major Briggs begin confronting ideas that suggest Twin Peaks is connected to something far older and more metaphysical than a conventional criminal case. As clues point toward the mysterious Black Lodge, Windom Earle becomes more active and more dangerous, and the town’s various storylines begin gravitating toward a shared and ominous center.

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen is up next in our Art House for Families series!  Director Karel Zeman conjures a story that follows the adventures of the legendary, boastful baron, whose whirlwind exploits take him from the moon to eighteenth-century Turkey to the belly of a whale and beyond. A rainbow-esque marvel that blends live action with techniques including stop-motion, cutout collage, puppetry, painted backdrops, and antique tinting, Zeman’s film is an exhilarating visual delight and a warmhearted whirl through a bygone age too entrancing to have existed. This film is presented in its original Czech language, with English subtitles. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

The final film in our Starring Natalie Wood retrospective is the oft-requested The Great Race, the movie that paired her with the iconic duo of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis for an affectionate throwback to silent-era spectacle and early Hollywood farce! Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention. Ms. Wood leans fully into broad comedy here, delivering rapid-fire dialogue and playful physical humor, a fun contrast to some of the her more intense performances covered in this series. This Summer, we are celebrating the unforgettable star power of Natalie Wood with a quartet of films that showcase the unique blend of charisma and emotional intensity that made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen icons. This series is co-presented by the amazing folks over at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton as part of their exhibit More Than Love: The Life & Art of Natalie Wood!

Season 2, Episode 21 - “Miss Twin Peaks”
Original Air Date: April 10, 1991

The town prepares for the Miss Twin Peaks pageant, bringing Audrey, Donna, Lana Milford, and many familiar faces together for a public celebration shaped by private tensions, and looming danger. Cooper and Truman remain focused on Windom Earle, while romantic complications and personal rivalries unfold behind the scenes.

Season 2, Episode 22 - “Beyond Life and Death”
Original Air Date: June 10, 1991

As Windom Earle’s plans reach their culmination, Cooper is drawn into the deepest and most mysterious elements of the world surrounding Twin Peaks. The aftermath of the pageant leaves several characters in danger, and long-running storylines converge in ways that feel both intimate and otherworldly. The season finale pushes fully into surreal, nightmarish territory, culminating with a haunting final scene.

Jacques Demy’s transcendent musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is the next film in our Art House for Families series! This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant. Simultaneously intimate and visually overwhelming, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg remains one of the most beloved movie musicals ever made, influencing generations of filmmakers with its fusion of romantic melancholy and pure color-saturated movie magic. It's a long-standing Frida Cinema favorite and an absolute-must for first timers on the big screen!  This film will be presented in its original French language, with English subtitles. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Our Classic Movie Nights series is stepping into the courtroom for a battle of the sexes with the sparkling romantic comedy Adam's Rib, starring the incomparable Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy! Married lawyers Amanda and Adam Bonner find themselves on opposing sides of a headline-grabbing case: Amanda defends a woman who shot her unfaithful husband, while Adam takes on the prosecution. What starts as a legal dispute quickly spills into their personal lives, as debates over marriage itself turn their once-harmonious relationship into a witty war zone. With the ever-scandalous neighbor Kip Lurie (David Wayne) stirring the pot, tensions run high. Directed by George Cukor and written by the husband-and-wife team of Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, Adam’s Rib is a masterclass in screwball dialogue and chemistry, showcasing one of classic Hollywood’s most iconic screen pairings at their absolute best. Make sure to get to the screening early, as our Marketing Director Bekah will be doing a very informative and entertaining presentation on the film before it starts!

In the town of Twin Peaks, everyone has their secrets...especially Laura Palmer.  Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is coming back to The Frida Cinema, playing between seasons two and three of our Twin Peaks: The Complete Series saga! And make sure to stick around afterwards as we go further down the rabbit hole with Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces, a 2014 compilation of deleted and extended scenes from the film. In this prequel to his groundbreaking 1990s television series, David Lynch resurrects the teenager found wrapped in plastic at the beginning of the show, following her through the last week of her life and teasing out the enigmas that surround her murder. Nightmarish in its vision of an innocent torn apart by unfathomable forces, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is nevertheless one of Lynch’s most humane films, aching with compassion for its tortured heroine. One ticket gets you access to two movies! There will be a ten minute intermission between both films.

Closing out our Bogie Fest series, celebrating the legendary performances of Hollywood icon Humprey Bogart, is Nicholas Ray's 1950 masterpiece In A Lonely Place! Bogart plays Dixon Steele, a Hollywood screenwriter with talent to spare and a temper he can’t quite control. When a young woman he briefly encounters turns up dead, suspicion settles on him almost immediately. And the unsettling part is…it doesn’t feel entirely misplaced. What makes In a Lonely Place stand out in a filmography stacked full of classics is how it subverts expectations of the noir genre. Directed with a quiet intensity, letting silences stretch and emotions simmer, the violence occasionally erupts in very upsetting aways. And Bogart, often the embodiment of control, lets something fray at the edges here. His Dix is charming enough...until he's not.

From the Land Beyond Beyond…From The World Past Hope and Fear…The Frida Cinema is proud to present a brand new 4K restoration of the most influential fantasy adventures ever made: Ray Harryhausen’s The 7th Voyage of Sinbad! See it the way audiences did in 1958, larger than life on the big screen! This special event includes a rare on-screen video appearance by child star Richard Eyer, along with two additional George Pal Academy Award®-winning Puppetoons, celebrating the golden age of fantasy filmmaking. In this landmark stop-motion adventure, the legendary sailor Sinbad journeys to the mysterious Island of Colossa to save Princess Parisa, his fiancée, who has been magically shrunken by the evil sorcerer Sokurah. Along the way Sinbad confronts a towering Cyclops, battles a sword-wielding animated skeleton in one of the most famous duels in motion picture history, faces a giant two-headed Roc, and ultimately fights a fire-breathing dragon in a spectacular fantasy climax--adventure, monsters, and magic Featuring groundbreaking Dynamation effects by Ray Harryhausen and a thunderous, unforgettable score by Bernard Herrmann! The 7th Voyage of Sinbad became one of the top-grossing films of 1958 and helped redefine fantasy filmmaking for generations to come--a giant-screen fantasy experience that launched a thousand filmmakers. Its influence can be seen in the work of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, John Landis, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker and many others. Hosted by producer-director Arnold Leibovit, who was inspired by the film as a child, later met and directed Ray Harryhausen in The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal, and stayed in touch with him for over 30 years. Leibovit also had the opportunity to meet George Pal and correspond with him for more than a year, and became a longtime friend of Pal’s widow, Mrs. Zsoka Pal. For decades, he has worked to restore and preserve the Puppetoons and carry forward the legacy of classic fantasy filmmaking. In 2008, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” and hailed as one of the finest fantasy films ever made, noted for its stunning color photography, imaginative creatures, and Bernard Herrmann’s thrilling score.   Doors open at 6:00PM and the show starts at 7:00PM! Tickets are $20 to this event. Frida Cinema comp passes and member discounts do not apply. 

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 1
Original Air Date: May 21, 2017

Twenty-five years after the conclusion of Season Two, the world of Twin Peaks expands to a network of places, characters, and mysteries stretching far beyond the state of Washington. In New York, a young man is hired to watch a mysterious glass box, while in Buckhorn, South Dakota, a grisly murder case begins raising strange questions. Elsewhere, Agent Cooper reappears under deeply unusual circumstances, as the new series immediately establishes a broader, darker, and more fragmented canvas.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 2
Original Air Date: May 21, 2017

As a dangerous doppelgänger appears, a confused and disoriented Cooper finds himself trapped in unfamiliar territory.  Meanwhile, law enforcement officers try to make sense of bizarre evidence surrounding the murder in South Dakota, as familiar names and places return in altered form. The result is a continuation that feels both recognizably Lynchian, and startlingly new.

We're keeping French with the next installment in our Art House for Families series as we present Jean Cocteau’s sublime adaptation of Mme. Leprince de Beaumont’s fairy-tale masterpiece: La Belle et la Bête!  Drawing from the classic French fable, the film follows Belle as she enters the mysterious castle of a cursed Beast whose world seems governed by living statues and other impossible acts of magic. You probably know the rest of the story, but you've never seen it told quite like this. The spectacular visions of enchantment, desire, and death in Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) have become timeless icons of cinematic wonder. It remains one of the great achievements of fantasy cinema, blending handmade visual effects and poetic imagination into something genuinely timeless. This film will be presented in its original French language, with English subtitles. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Each holds a secret power...together they face the ultimate evil! We're harnessing the supernova star power of cinema icons Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, and Anita Mui in a gloriously unrestrained action extravaganza double feature of The Heroic Trio + Executioners! From genre maestro Johnnie To, the story follows three knife-throwing, shotgun-toting, kung-fu-fighting super-heroines who must overcome their dark pasts in order to defeat an evil, baby-snatching eunuch who is terrorizing Hong Kong. Eye-popping motorcycle stunts, brain-exploding skeletons, infant cannibals, and kinetically choreographed wire work are all part of the delirium in this unstoppably entertaining cult favorite (referenced in Cheung’s international breakthrough Irma Vep), a kick-butt showcase for three of the coolest women warriors to ever hit the screen. There will be a ten minute intermission between each film. One ticket gets you access to both movies! Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series explores the time from the mid-’80s through the early ’90s, where Hong Kong filmmakers rewrote the grammar of action cinema forever. Directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam, and Lau Kar-Leung fused balletic gunplay, risky stunts, martial arts virtuosity, and raw emotional intensity into a new cinematic language that would be oft-imitated but never replicated. (sorry, The Matrix, we love you too!) Join us every month in 2026 as we explore this golden age where style and emotion collided to change movies forever.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 3
Original Air Date: May 21, 2017

Cooper’s attempt to navigate his strange new condition leads him through some of the most abstract and visually arresting material in the entire series, as spaces, identities, and physical laws all seem to blur. Meanwhile, the doppelgänger continues moving across the country with chilling purpose, leaving violence and confusion in his wake.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 4
Original Air Date: May 28, 2017

Back in Twin Peaks, Sheriff Frank Truman, Hawk, Andy, and Lucy begin reconnecting with unresolved threads from the town’s past, while Gordon Cole (David Lynch himself!), Albert Rosenfield, and agent Tammy Preston pursue a federal investigation with possible ties to Cooper. Meanwhile, Janey-E and young Sonny Jim are introduced to a version of Cooper who is present, but not fully himself.

Marty Isenberg’s The Way I Feel Inside blends the whimsical, offbeat charm of Wes Anderson's iconic mixtapes and cinematic language with his own personal story. It’s a soundtrack to the wonder, loneliness and nostalgia of life in the modern world. Presented as a concert that unfolds like a movie, its theatrical storytelling with Isenberg at the center of the frame. Downbeat Magazine’s glowing 4.5 star review says its "pitch perfect" and Vintage Guitar Magazine raves, “It’s a fascinating concept, executed splendidly”. Doors open at 6:30PM and the show starts at 7:00PM! Tickets are $30 to this event. Frida Cinema comp passes and member discounts do not apply. 

Our Art House for Families series is headed to Ancient Greece (pretty timely, no?) for Jason and the Argonauts! Before CGI armies and digital creatures, movie monsters were crafted by hand, and few artists ever did it better than Ray Harryhausen.  Jason, a fearless sailor and explorer, returns to his home land of Thessaly after a long voyage to claim his rightful throne. He learns, however, that he must first find the magical Golden Fleece. To do so, he must embark on an epic quest fraught with fantastic monsters and terrible perils. More than sixty years later, Jason and the Argonauts still delivers the kind of tactile cinematic wonder that inspired generations of filmmakers, from blockbuster directors to lifelong fantasy fans discovering these creatures for the very first time. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 5
Original Air Date: June 4, 2017

As Dougie Jones moves awkwardly through home life and office life, those around him begin reacting to his blankness in ways that are comic, tender, and increasingly consequential. In Twin Peaks, Becky Burnett and Steven bring a younger generation’s turmoil into the story, while Red, Shelly, and others suggest that the town’s troubles have hardly disappeared with time.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 6
Original Air Date: June 11, 2017

Dougie’s strange luck continues to carry him through situations he can barely understand, while Janey-E finds herself forced to fiercely protect their household. In Twin Peaks, Richard Horne’s volatility becomes impossible to ignore, and Carl Rodd reappears as a quiet witness to the town’s pain and sadness.

It's laugh-vacation time as our Art House for Families series presents Jacques Tati's gentle comic masterpiece Monsieur Hulot's Holiday! Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati’s endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort, where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tati’s masterpiece of gentle slapstick is a series of effortlessly well-choreographed sight gags involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers; it was the first entry in the Hulot series and the film that launched its maker to international stardom. Decades later, still feels fresh in ways that modern comedies rarely do.  This film will be presented in its original French language, with English subtitles. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 7
Original Air Date: June 18, 2017

The investigation begins to gather momentum as Gordon, Albert, and Tammy work through evidence tied to Cooper’s doppelgänger, while Sheriff Truman and Hawk continue following clues buried deep in Twin Peaks history. Ben and Beverly’s emotionally charged scenes introduce yet another complicated relationship into the mix, and several mysteries begin to hint at patterns to be resolved as, piece by piece, the larger shape of the story starts coming into view.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 8
Original Air Date: June 25, 2017

One of the most audacious episodes in television history, Part 8 detours into the origins of terror, violence, and perhaps evil itself, using a dazzling blend of sound, image, and nightmare logic. The doppelgänger's fate intersects with forces that feel cosmic in scale, and the episode reaches backward into mid-century America to suggest how long these shadows have been gathering. It is both a mythic expansion of Twin Peaks, and a singular audiovisual experience we can't wait to share on the big screen.

Charlie Chaplin’s silent comic masterwork, The Gold Rush, is the next film up in our Art House for Families series! Set during the Klondike Gold Rush, the film follows Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp as he searches for fortune in a frozen wilderness filled with comic catastrophe. Along the way come some of the most legendary moments in film history, from the famous “dance of the rolls” to a cabin teetering dangerously over the edge of a cliff. Shot partly on location in the Sierra Nevadas and featuring such timeless gags as the dance of the dinner rolls and the meal of boiled shoe leather, The Gold Rush is an indelible work of heartwarming hilarity. Our friends at Janus Films have granted us the rights to Chaplin’s definitive 1942 version, for which the director added new music and narration. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Our Classic Movie Nights series is headed out West as we present the trailblazing Gary Cooper film High Noon! Will Kane, the sheriff of a small town in New Mexico, learns a notorious outlaw he put in jail has been freed, and will be arriving on the noon train. Knowing the outlaw and his gang are coming to kill him, Kane is determined to stand his ground, so he attempts to gather a posse from among the local townspeople. High Noon holds a massive legacy as an Oscar-winning revisionist Western that redefined the genre by emphasizing tension over shoot-em-up tropes. It is famously interpreted as an allegory for McCarthy-era blacklisting, symbolizing moral courage against cowardice. The film also introduced the now-iconic cinematic trope of a real-time, high-noon showdown, which has been oft-imitated but never replicated.

He's not Freddy, he's not Jason...he's real. HorrorBuzz continues its 2026 series with the 40th anniversary of one of the most unsettling and influential films of the 1980s: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. Loosely inspired by the confessions of real-life murderer Henry Lee Lucas, the movie follows drifter Henry (played by iconic silver screen "that guy" Michael Rooker) and his volatile accomplice Otis as they navigate a bleak Chicago landscape. When Otis’s sister Becky moves in, Henry’s flat affect and unpredictable behavior begin to reveal something far darker beneath the surface. Horror Movie Night takes filmgoing to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Pres-how, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and video pre-show video begins promptly at 7:30 pm. Games, prizes, and short film begin at 8:00PM. Feature starts at 8:30PM. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 9
Original Air Date: July 9, 2017

Several threads are drawn closer together as Gordon, Albert, Tammy, and Diane compare notes with the Twin Peaks sheriff’s department. Long-absent names return to the conversation, old evidence takes on new significance, and Jerry Horne wanders through the woods in a state of comic disorientation.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 10
Original Air Date: July 16, 2017

As a palpable dread hangs over the town, daily life continues in Twin Peaks, with scenes involving Richard, Becky, Steven, and others revealing just how much pain the town now grapples with. Meanwhile, Dougie’s life in Las Vegas remains oddly buoyant, with Janey-E, the Mitchum Brothers, and his coworkers all responding to him in ways that are baffled, yet increasingly affectionate.

Two of the most beloved family films ever made are up next for our Art House for Families series as we're presenting a special double feature presentation celebrating the poetic, adventurous world of filmmaker Albert Lamorisse. It's The Red Balloon and White Mane! Winner of the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film and an Academy Award for its screenplay, The Red Balloon follows a young Parisian boy who discovers a mysterious balloon with a personality all its own. Drifting through the streets of Paris with almost no dialogue, the film transforms ordinary city life into something quietly magical. And then after a ten minute intermission, it's time for White Mane, Lamorisse’s breathtaking adventure set in the marshlands of southern France, where a young boy forms an unforgettable bond with a wild horse pursued by local ranchers. Shot with extraordinary natural beauty and a sense of freedom that still feels exhilarating today, the film captures childhood adventure in an almost-mythic way. These films will be presented in their original French language, with English subtitles. Although, it should be noted the films are essentially wordless, with the exception of some sparse dialogue. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 11
Original Air Date: July 23, 2017

Dougie’s improbable path continues to create ripples through Las Vegas, especially as the Mitchum Brothers become convinced he may be more extraordinary than he appears. In Twin Peaks, Bobby Briggs steps further into the role of deputy, and a discovery in the woods suggests that the town’s past is still very much alive beneath the surface.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 12
Original Air Date: July 30, 2017

Conversations take center stage as characters revisit old wounds, hidden histories, and unresolved feelings, particularly in scenes involving Audrey and Charlie, Sarah Palmer, and the members of the Blue Rose task force.

Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart! Our Art House for Families series concludes with Powell & Pressburger's astonishing Technicolor fantasia A Matter of Life and Death! After miraculously surviving a plane crash during World War II, British pilot Peter Carter finds himself caught between worlds when celestial authorities realize he was never meant to live. As heavenly forces attempt to correct the error, Peter fights for the right to remain on Earth alongside the woman he has fallen in love with. Few filmmakers ever have possessed sheer cinematic imagination quite like Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Moving effortlessly between the everyday and the cosmic, A Matter of Life and Death excels at both dazzling visual invention and genuine emotional sweep. The film stands as one of the great achievements of postwar cinema, making it a perfect finale for a series dedicated to the wonder of experiencing movies together on the big screen. Our Art House for Families series celebrates the magic of moviegoing across generations all summer long. From silent comedy and international classics to science fiction and fantasy adventures, the series invites longtime cinephiles and first-time art house audiences of all ages to discover some of cinema’s most enduring films together on the big screen. This event is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Ana. 

Never was a Hero needed more... Once Upon A Time In China, Writer-producer-director Tsui Hark’s sprawling vision of a changing nineteenth-century China, is coming back to The Frida Cinema! This blockbuster hit cemented Jet Li’s status as the greatest martial-arts superstar of his generation. Li displays his stunning, fast-and-fluid fighting style as the legendary martial-arts teacher and doctor Wong Fei-hung, who, with a band of disciples, battles a host of nefarious forces, foreign and local, who are threatening Chinese sovereignty as British and American imperialists encroach upon the Mainland. Once Upon a Time in China’s breathtaking blend of kung fu, comedy, romance, and melodrama climaxes in a whirlwind guns-vs-fists finale that is also a thrilling affirmation of Chinese cultural identity. Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series explores the time from the mid-’80s through the early ’90s, where Hong Kong filmmakers rewrote the grammar of action cinema forever. Directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam, and Lau Kar-Leung fused balletic gunplay, risky stunts, martial arts virtuosity, and raw emotional intensity into a new cinematic language that would be oft-imitated but never replicated. (sorry, The Matrix, we love you too!) Join us every month in 2026 as we explore this golden age where style and emotion collided to change movies forever.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 13
Original Air Date: August 6, 2017

As several storylines begin moving more decisively, the tension around Mr. C intensifies, while Dougie continues drifting toward moments of accidental brilliance and emotional connection. In Twin Peaks, Sarah Palmer’s growing estrangement from ordinary life becomes more disturbing, and James Hurley quietly returns to the series in a way that reconnects the present to the past.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 14
Original Air Date: August 13, 2017

Old mysteries return to the foreground as Gordon Cole recounts a dream, Hawk investigates a clue left behind by Major Briggs, and several key characters begin rediscovering the hidden history of the town. Andy is drawn into an experience that is both surreal and unexpectedly moving, while the Roadhouse continues serving as a gathering place for reflection, confusion, and sorrow.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 15
Original Air Date: August 20, 2017

Several long-simmering threads take darker and more emotional turns as Nadine, Ed, Norma, Steven, and others reach moments of painful recognition or change. Mr. C continues pursuing his goals with frightening determination, while the ominous phrase “the dreamer” begins to resonate more strongly throughout the narrative. The episode is full of endings, thresholds, and the uneasy sense that something irreversible is approaching.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 16
Original Air Date: August 27, 2017

A series of major turns reshapes the story’s direction as Janey-E, Sonny Jim, the Mitchum Brothers, and the FBI all find themselves pulled into events they could not have anticipated. Mr. C’s trajectory grows more perilous, and long-awaited movement in Cooper’s story brings a surge of emotion and momentum. After so much delay, uncertainty, and displacement, the episode feels electrifyingly alive.

Twin Peaks: The Complete Series, our presentation of all three seasons of David Lynch’s acclaimed television show, continues with episodes screening every Sunday night through September 20th, 2026.

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 17
Original Air Date: September 3, 2017

As the series heads into its endgame, Cooper, the sheriff’s department, and the Blue Rose team all converge around long-hidden truths and immediate threats. Familiar faces from across the saga reappear as the story reaches toward resolution, and the line between supernatural conflict and personal reckoning grows increasingly thin. (Can you tell we've tried to be as spoiler-free as possible with all of our episode synopses?)

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 18
Original Air Date: September 3, 2017

All good things come to an end, and the same can be said for one of the greatest television shows ever. The final chapter follows Cooper and a surprise companion into a haunting, uncertain space where identity, memory, and reality itself become unstable. Old places return in altered form, familiar questions take on new weight, and the series abandons any expectation of a tidy farewell. Rather than fully closing the book on Twin Peaks, Part 18 leaves it echoing with mystery befitting the vision and style of its celebrated director.

Join us for the Orange County premiere of Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie with the man himself, Skweezy Jibbs, live in person! Be among the first people to see the movie, and stay after for an exclusive Q&A with Skweezy himself as he keeps going on his US tour. One night only! Get your tickets before they're gone! Oddball internet legend Skweezy Jibbs is making the movie of his dreams. Unfortunately for him, he's got no money, no experience, no skill, and no filmmaking talent. When his controlling mother gets involved, Skweezy is forced to confront the very essence of who he is. GA Doors open at 7:00PM and the show starts at 7:30PM! Tickets are $20 to this event. Frida Cinema comp passes and member discounts do not apply.

Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series is  growing larger, darker, and more operatic with each and every chapter. There's no better example of this with our special double feature of A Better Tomorrow II + A Better Tomorrow III! Directed by John Woo, A Better Tomorrow II picks up in the aftermath of betrayal and loss, following survivors pulled back into a violent underworld they can’t escape. As old wounds reopen and new alliances form, the film pushes themes of brotherhood and sacrifice to even more operatic extremes, all building toward action staged on a mythic scale. And then after a quick 10 minute intermission...Tsui Hark’s A Better Tomorrow III rewinds the clock, re-centering the saga around the rise of its most iconic figure amid political upheaval and shifting power structures. Steeped in romantic fatalism, this prequel is less about crime than about identity and the cost of survival. There will be a ten minute intermission between each film. One ticket gets you access to both movies! Our Hong Kong Action Essentials series explores the time from the mid-’80s through the early ’90s, where Hong Kong filmmakers rewrote the grammar of action cinema forever. Directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam, and Lau Kar-Leung fused balletic gunplay, risky stunts, martial arts virtuosity, and raw emotional intensity into a new cinematic language that would be oft-imitated but never replicated. (sorry, The Matrix, we love you too!) Join us every month in 2026 as we explore this golden age where style and emotion collided to change movies forever.

After a decade of silence...the buzz came back. HorrorBuzz is slicing up our October lineup with a 40th anniversary party of unhinged insanity: Tobe Hooper’s gloriously deranged sequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2! When late-night DJ Stretch accidentally records a pair of murders committed by the Sawyer clan, she teams up with the unhinged Lieutenant “Lefty” Enright (a chainsaw-wielding Dennis Hopper in one of the wildest performances of his career). Their mission: descend into the Sawyer family’s subterranean lair of meat, madness, and twinkling Christmas lights to put an end to the carnage once and for all. Horror Movie Night takes filmgoing to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Pres-how, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and video pre-show video begins promptly at 7:30 pm. Games, prizes, and short film begin at 8:00PM. Feature starts at 8:30PM. This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.