Coming Soon

A titan of repertory cinema, Michael Mann's 1995 masterpiece Heat, is back at The Frida Cinema as part of our Val Kilmer Tribute series! A towering epic of crime and consequence, Heat is the film where everything came together: De Niro vs. Pacino, Mann at full power, and Los Angeles lit like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. It’s a genre-defining masterpiece that changed the way crime films look, sound, and move. Robert De Niro is Neil McCauley, a master thief planning one last score. Al Pacino is Vincent Hanna, the obsessive LAPD detective on his trail. Their lives orbit each other in parallel—both masters of their craft, both isolated by it. When they finally sit down face-to-face in a now-legendary diner scene, the movie bends time around them. With a killer ensemble cast (our beloved Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman, Jon Voight, and many more), an iconic synth-and-guitar score by Elliot Goldenthal, and shootouts that redefine the word intense, Heat is more than a crime film--it's pure cinema.

Our second Volunteer Of The Month screening comes courtesy of the amazing Ashley, as she has picked Strange Days, now celebrating its 30th anniversary! Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, written by James Cameron and Jay Cocks, and dropped into theaters at the tail end of 1995, Strange Days imagined the future as 1999—and it still feels prophetic. A blistering mix of cyberpunk noir, apocalyptic paranoia, and visceral street-level urgency, the film follows Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), a black-market dealer of “playback” clips—full-sensory VR experiences recorded straight from the mind—who stumbles onto a murder, a conspiracy, and a revolution in the making. Set during the final 48 hours of the millennium in a decaying, riot-torn Los Angeles, Strange Days explodes with Y2K anxiety, racial tension, police brutality, and techno-addiction—all filtered through Bigelow’s kinetic, hyper-physical direction and a pounding industrial score.

Our Technicolor Summer series goes from surreal to scrumptious with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory—a candy-colored fantasy that has enchanted generations with just the right amount of weirdness and pitch-black humor!  When poor but kind-hearted Charlie Bucket finds a golden ticket inside a Wonka Bar, he wins the chance of a lifetime: a tour of the mysterious, magical chocolate factory run by the reclusive and eccentric Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder, in one of the greatest screen performances of all time). Charlie joins a group of wildly different children—each one a cautionary tale—on a journey through a world of edible delights, fizzy-lifting drinks, and Oompa Loompa morals. Whether you grew up with it or are discovering it anew, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a golden ticket to a world where imagination rules—and where the most dazzling sights often hide the strangest secrets. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Join us for three talent-packed nights of unscripted comedy as we team up with OCIF to bring you the OC Improv Fest 2025! First held in 2013, the Orange County Improv Festival was conceived to celebrate the growing and diverse improv community of Orange County, California. Despite prevailing opinions that Orange County is a homogenized wasteland devoid of culture, the OC Improv Fest seeks to expose the vibrant comedy taking place behind the “Orange Curtain.” The largest improv event in Orange County, the OC Improv Fest is committed to the celebration and elevation of improvisation, as well as forging friendships across cities and states with diverse and open-minded performers. All performances are live, unscripted, and unrated. Line-ups subject to change. Block 1 (7:00pm) Ensemble Fleeting Reminiscence Sharks Barksley Pool Rules Menudo Block 2 (9:20pm) The Lobby Bernie Mac & Cheese The Live Direct Show Sweet Erika Ends 10:55pm For full improv team line-up, workshops, FAQs, visit: https://improvcollective.fun/ocif 

You’re invited to a screening of 1983’s Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi with actors Kevin Edward Thompson and Stephen Costantino in attendance to discuss their time working on the film! Kevin Edward Thompson played one of the Ewoks in the film, and also worked on movies such as Blade Runner, Under the Rainbow, The Goonies, Weird Science, and the two Star Wars Ewok Adventures: Caravan of Courage and Battle for Endor! Stephen Costantino played one of Jabba the Hutt’s Gamorrean Guards in the film, also did the music for Last Lives as well as being a singer/songwriter of his own. Both Stephen and Kevin will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs in the lobby starting at 2PM. The rest of the schedule is as follows: 2:00PM - Doors  3:00PM - Start of Return Of The Jedi 5:15PM - Start Q&A (moderated by Scott Zillner) This program is a venue rental engagement. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. 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 members are invited to a very special 30th anniversary screening of Claude Chabrol's masterfully unsettling La Cérémonie, now restored in a beautiful 4K restoration via Janus Films! Set in the quiet countryside of Brittany, the story follows a wealthy family who hires a new housekeeper, the enigmatic Sophie (Sandrine Bonnaire). When Sophie strikes up a friendship with the town’s outspoken postal clerk, Jeanne (the legendary Isabelle Huppert), the two women form a volatile bond that builds to an unforgettable and shocking conclusion. With chilling performances and an atmosphere thick with quiet menace, La Cérémonie is a slow-burn thriller that builds to a devastating crescendo. Winner of the César Award for Best Actress and widely considered one of Chabrol’s finest films, La Cérémonie is a must-see for fans of dark psychological drama and French cinema at its most provocative. Not a member yet? Sign up here: https://thefridacinema.org/memberships/

Just added: actor Ed Begley Jr. will also be joining us for the Q&A after the film! You’re invited to a special screening of 1995’s Batman Forever, the third film in the original Batman series, with the film’s writers, Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler appearing for a post-screening on-stage Q&A, moderated by Scott Zillner! Before the Dark Knight brooded in grayscale and before Gotham became “grounded,” there was Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever—a neon-drenched pop spectacle with a gothic heart and, at its center, a genuinely legendary performance by the late, great Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader. 6:45PM - Doors Open 7:30PM - Start Batman Forever 9:45pm - Start Q&A Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Batman Forever on the big screen and let’s give Kilmer’s Batman the flowers he’s long deserved. This program is a venue rental engagement. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

The beavers are back, baby! Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds...possibly even thousands...Hundreds Of Beavers is returning to The Frida Cinema! In the early 1800’s, Jean Kayak, a drunken applejack salesman, finds himself stranded in a surreal winter landscape with nothing but his dim wits to guide him. Against a backdrop of ruthless elements and forest creatures - all played by actors in full-sized mascot costumes – Kayak develops increasingly complex traps in order to win the hand of a mischievous lover. When he discovers that the Beavers have formed their own secret society, he must infiltrate their lair to uncover their secrets and win the day.

The Testament of Orpheus is the final film in our Jean Cocteau series—a dreamlike self-portrait where the artist literally walks through his own creations. Time bends, reality slips, and Cocteau—the mythmaker—steps in front of the camera to reflect on art, death, and immortality in a world of symbols and shadows. Part sequel, part epilogue to Orpheus, the film brings back familiar faces (including Jean Marais and María Casares), and introduces cameos from Cocteau’s contemporaries, including Pablo Picasso and Jean-Pierre Léaud. It’s a meditation on legacy and the surreal power of cinema to blur what is real and what is imagined. Shot in luminous black and white among ruins and strange halls, The Testament Of Orpehus is less a narrative than a moving poem—an invitation into the inner sanctum of one of the 20th century’s greatest visionaries.

Film Movement Classics is bringing a brand new 4K restoration of Masayuki's Suo 1996 charmer Shall We Dance? to The Frida Cinema! Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) seems to have it all – a high-paying job as an accountant, a beautiful home, a caring wife and a doting daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him head-first into the world of competitive ballroom dancing. A box office sensation in North America upon its initial release (which led to a Hollywood remake with Richard Gere), Film Movement Classics is presenting the original 137-minute film, available uncut for the first time in North America.

The third film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Woman in the Dunes, a film about an entomologist on a casual field trip that finds himself lured into a nightmarish existence—trapped in a sand dune with a mysterious woman and forced into a Sisyphean task of survival. What begins as a bizarre circumstance becomes a harrowing philosophical inquiry into time, identity, and the illusion of freedom. Based on the novel by Kōbō Abe, and brought to life by Hiroshi Teshigahara’s stark, surreal direction and Torū Takemitsu’s haunting score, Woman in the Dunes is a landmark of Japan’s 1960s avant-garde cinema. Nominated for two Academy Awards and winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, it’s both a psychological thriller and a profound existential riddle. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Our Page To Screen series, presented by Arvida Book Co in Tustin, is bringing you Stephen King and Rob Reiner's classic, Stand By Me, in July! Before King's stories were all haunted hotels and killer clowns, there was The Body—and from it came Stand by Me, a film that captured the raw, unfiltered ache of growing up like few others ever have. Set in 1959 and told through the memory of a now-grown writer, the film follows four boys—Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern—on a two-day trek to find a dead body… and maybe figure out who they are in the process. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell in breakout roles, and narrated with perfect wistfulness by Richard Dreyfuss, Stand by Me balances humor, heartbreak, and the slow, quiet realization that childhood doesn’t last forever. It’s about stories, scars, and the people who shape us—no matter how far we drift.

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is turning 40, and you better believe we're playing it! Before the Large Marge nightmares, before the Alamo letdowns, before you learned what a “Pet-O-Rama” even was… there was the bike. And for Pee-wee Herman, the bike meant everything. Released in 1985 and directed by a then-unknown Tim Burton, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is the movie that launched a thousand catchphrases, made breakfast machines cool again, and turned a gray-suited man-child with a red bowtie into a pop icon. Co-written by Paul Reubens and the legendary Phil Hartman, the film is a candy-colored cross-country odyssey filled with ex-cons, cowboys, biker gangs, dinosaurs, and one very memorable basementless Alamo. As surreal as it is sincere, Big Adventure is a perfect mix of Burton’s gothic whimsy and Reubens’ manic, offbeat charm—an outsider comedy that became a generation’s inside joke.

Super Yaki and Mise en Scènt are invading The Frida to celebrate the 25th anniversary of McG's Charlie's Angels with a totally free screening! Join us for exclusive merch, movie magic, and a brand-new scent drop!  Come for the slow-mo hair flips and killer soundtrack, stay for the giveaways, exclusive merch, and the in-person debut of our brand-new Concession Stand Candle 3-Pack. This 3-pack features scents inspired by our favorite cinematic snacks—popcorn, cherry slushy, and chocolate bar—and will be available exclusively at the screening, ahead of its online release. A portion of proceeds from this event (and the full week of programming) will go directly to our host theaters, in support of the independent venues that keep film culture thriving. Saddle up, Angels—it’s time to celebrate 25 years of sexy struts, fierce female leads, and summertime moviegoing!

Celebrate Art House Theater Day 2025 with the dazzling 4K restoration of one of cinema’s most poignant masterpieces: Nights of Cabiria, directed by the legendary Federico Fellini and starring the incomparable Giulietta Masina. Masina delivers a career-defining performance as Cabiria, a spirited and big-hearted sex worker navigating the streets of Rome in search of love, dignity, and meaning. With each disappointment, Cabiria’s resilience and vulnerability shine brighter — a testament to the human capacity for hope in the face of heartbreak. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Nights of Cabiria is a cornerstone of Italian neorealism infused with Fellini’s signature surrealist lyricism. This stunning new 4K restoration brings back the richness of its Roman nights, the expressive faces of its characters, and the unforgettable finale — one of the most quietly triumphant endings in film history.

Join us in celebrating Art House Theater Day 2025 with a special screening of Céline Sciamma’s powerful coming-of-age film Tomboy--a landmark work in contemporary queer and arthouse cinema. A luminous exploration of gender identity and childhood, Tomboy follows 10-year-old Laure, who introduces himself as Mickäel after moving to a new neighborhood during summer break. As friendships blossom and playtime gives way to self-discovery, Laure navigates a world of freedom and tension that arises from living between gender expressions in a society still learning how to respond. On this day dedicated to the power of independent and artist-driven film, Tomboy reminds us why arthouse theaters matter: they make space for stories that are deeply human.

Ten years ago, a wildly original, and unapologetically raw movie exploded onto the indie film scene--shot entirely on an iPhone and changing the rules of what independent cinema could look and feel like. This Art House Theater Day, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sean Baker’s Tangerine, a landmark in queer and DIY filmmaking. More details are to be announced, but the screening will also include exclusive content with Arthouse Theater Day Ambassador Sean Baker himself! Set against the sun-soaked, neon-drenched streets of Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, Tangerine follows Sin-Dee and Alexandra--two Black trans sex workers and best friends--as they embark on a chaotic and deeply heartfelt odyssey through Hollywood in search of a little revenge. Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor give breakout performances that forever redefined representation and visibility on screen. More than just a technical marvel or an underdog success story, Tangerine remains a vital portrait of friendship and life lived loud on the margins. On its 10th anniversary, it still feels as urgent as ever.

Long before the tracking shots and 70mm epics, Paul Thomas Anderson burst onto the scene with Hard Eight—a sleek, slow-burn neo-noir about lost souls who take us in…and the secrets they bring with them. The legendary Philip Baker Hall stars as Sydney, a professional gambler with ice in his veins and a soft spot for the desperate. When he meets down-on-his-luck John (John C. Reilly), he offers him more than just a hand up—he offers him a future. But when a cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow) and a reckless criminal (Samuel L. Jackson) enter the mix, things unravel fast—and quiet dignity turns to blood-soaked reckoning. Shot with precision and restraint, and humming with tension beneath every word, Hard Eight is a masterclass in economy, tone, and atmosphere. It’s PTA at his most subtle—and still unmistakably him.

Jackie Chan’s Police Story is turning 40 years old—and we’re bringing it back to the big screen at The Frida Cinema for a limited run!  Before CGI, before Hollywood figured out who Jackie Chan was, and before every action hero pretended to risk their life for the shot—there was Police Story. Directed by and starring Chan at the absolute height of his powers, this Hong Kong masterpiece redefined the genre with bone-breaking stunts, insane choreography, and a perfect blend of comedy, chaos, and pure cinematic adrenaline. Chan plays Inspector Chan Ka-Kui, a cop framed for murder who takes on a corrupt system with nothing but fists, loyalty, and an unbreakable moral code. What follows: exploding shanty towns, bus-top chases, and one of the most legendary mall-set finales in action history. (Yes, that glass-shattering pole-slide.)

One role. Two twins. A thousand iconic moments. Lindsay Lohan’s star-making double debut The Parent Trap is finally coming to The Frida Cinema! Identical twins Annie and Hallie, separated at birth and each raised by one of their biological parents, discover each other for the first time at Summer Camp and make a plan to bring their wayward parents back together. The Parent Trap into a generation-defining family film. Whether you grew up quoting the handshake, dreaming of Napa Valley, or wondering how one actress could pull all that off, this movie owns a piece of your childhood. Directed with charm and sparkle by Nancy Meyers, this endlessly rewatchable reimagining of the 1961 Disney classic features a delightful supporting cast: Natasha Richardson, Dennis Quaid, and Elaine Hendrix as the perfectly wicked Meredith Blake—a villain so stylish, we all kinda rooted for her?

Banned. Protested. Worshipped. See It On 16MM is back with another screening on celluloid, and this time it's John Waters' dirty masterpiece Pink Flamingos! Welcome to Baltimore’s trashiest backyard, where the grass is plastic, the chickens are nervous, and Divine reigns supreme. Part shock comedy, part underground rebellion, Pink Flamingos (1972) is John Waters’ cult atomic bomb—an unholy hybrid of sleaze, satire, and pure punk provocation that shattered the rules of good taste and built a throne from the pieces. Starring the legendary Divine in her filth-crowned breakout role, Pink Flamingos follows a depraved battle for the title of “Filthiest Person Alive,” with kidnappings, foot-licking, meat theft, and one very infamous dog-walk that sealed the film’s place in midnight movie infamy. The competition? Mink Stole and David Lochary as the Marble family—suburban perverts running a black market baby ring out of a pink split-level. It only gets worse (and by worse, we mean better) from there.

Our Technicolor Summer series gets delightfully macabre with Alfred Hitchcock’s offbeat charmer The Trouble with Harry—a murder mystery where the murder is beside the point, and the comedy is as dry as a New England autumn. When the body of Harry Worp is discovered in the woods outside a sleepy Vermont town, the locals react not with horror, but with a series of polite, peculiar inconveniences. Who killed Harry? Was it the eccentric spinster? The retired sea captain? The single mother with a past? As each character quietly confesses—or denies—involvement, the real puzzle becomes what to do with the body… and how many times it must be buried. Unexpected, off-kilter, and beautifully shot, it’s a reminder that Technicolor wasn’t just for musicals and melodramas—it could bring even the darkest jokes to life with a brilliant, irreverent glow. And plus, you didn't think we could do this series without a couple of Hitchcock flicks, right? In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Prepare your black gloves and pour yourself a glass of J&B--Cinematic Void is invading The Frida Cinema for a four film marathon that dives headfirst into the shadowy world of Giallo cinema. Join us for Giall-o-thon, a one-night-only marathon featuring four gloriously unhinged Italian thrillers from the golden age of the genre. From whispered secrets and voyeuristic danger to knives in the dark and swinging Euro decadence--this is where horror meets high fashion, and nothing is quite what it seems. The lineup for the evening is: 4:00PM - What Have You Done to Solange? (1972, dir. Massimo Dallamano) A haunting, sexually charged mystery set in a Catholic girls' school, where buried secrets and brutal killings unravel a web of scandal and repression. 6:00PM - Don’t Torture a Duckling (1972, dir. Lucio Fulci) Fulci’s rural murder mystery mixes Giallo style with biting social commentary. This one cuts deeper than most. 8:00PM - The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970, dir. Luciano Ercoli) A stylish, swinging thriller soaked in sexual paranoia. With a Morricone score and a gorgeously mod aesthetic, this one’s pure Euro pulp pleasure. 9:45PM - Torso (1973, dir. Sergio Martino) The sleaze hits overdrive in this proto-slasher classic. Violence and velvet are the name of the game--all building to a final act that is pure nightmare fuel. There will be a 15 minute intermission between each film. Tickets are $25 for access to all 4 films. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. All films presented dubbed in the English language with the exception of The Forbidden Photos, which will be in its original Italian language with English subtitles.

Even having just played it a few months ago, we felt that no Val Kilmer Tribute could truly be complete without showcasing his brilliant comedic work in the goof-fest that is Top Secret! Kilmer stars as Nick Rivers, an Elvis-style American pop star sent to East Germany, where he becomes entangled in an underground resistance, a scientist’s mysterious daughter, and an increasingly deranged plot involving cows, underwater bar fights, backwards bookshelves, and ballet-dancing Nazis. It makes no sense—and that’s exactly the point! Equal parts homage and satire, Top Secret! fires visual gags and one-liners with a machine gun’s rhythm. But it’s Kilmer—singing his own songs, keeping a straight face through total nonsense, and completely owning the camera—who turns it into something iconic, as he often did.

Santo Sundays continue with Santo Contra Los Jinetes Del Terror! After a group of violent lepers escapes from a sanitarium, robbing several farms, residents of the town demand the the sheriff - take action. Meanwhile, a local criminal joins forces with the lepers - to commit even more robberies. As the disfigured madmen keep the - entire town indoors with its reign of terror, the sheriff has no - choice but to call on the only man who can help--legendary wrestling - superhero, Santo! Trash-Mex is proud to collaborate with Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematográfico for a special screening series of Mexican icon El Santo. Join us every other Sunday this Summer for a total of eight of his greatest hits! All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is $9. 

For the first time in The Frida Cinema's history, we are presenting a very special run of the 1993 Western classic Tombstone, with an emphasis on celebrating Val Kilmer's electric performance as the legendary Doc Holliday! And to mark the occasion, we are, of course, running the brand new 4K restoration! Directed by George P. Cosmatos (and, unofficially, co-directed by Kurt Russell), Tombstone tells the true-ish story of Wyatt Earp and his brothers as they attempt to leave the law behind and settle into a quiet life in Arizona—only to be drawn into a violent showdown with the outlaw gang known as the Cowboys. It's lightning-fast, guns-blazing, and has an absolutely stacked cast. In honor of Kilmer’s legendary performance and enduring legacy, we’re bringing the O.K. Corral back to the big screen—where legends belong.

Oliver Stone's The Doors: The Final Cut is a psychedelic firestorm—a feverish vision of the ‘60s rock myth, driven by rebellion, poetry, and the endless search for something beyond the veil. But at the center of it all is Val Kilmer, vanishing into the role of Jim Morrison with such uncanny depth, voice, and electricity that even bandmates couldn’t tell where the frontman ended and the actor began. Following Morrison’s meteoric rise—from UCLA film student to rock god to haunted wanderer—the film pulses with chaos, charisma, and the tragic gravity of a man burning too bright, too fast. It’s a swirling mix of surreal imagery, concert ecstasy, and Stone’s trademark intensity, backed by iconic music that still rattles the bones. Come celebrate another one of Kilmer's most celebrated performances loud on the big screen!

“Monsters are gathering. The Earth may not survive.” The Frida Cinema is teaming up with our friends at Creature Bazaar to bring you Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster! And make sure to get there early for a book signing with authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski and their new book Godzilla: The First 70 Years: The Official Illustrated History Of The Japanese Productions! Released in 1964 and still crackling with cosmic weirdness, this fourth installment in the Showa-era Godzilla series doesn’t just raise the stakes—it tears a hole in the sky and sends a golden dragon through it. Enter: King Ghidorah—a planet-destroying, three-headed space hydra who crashes to Earth in a meteor and promptly starts leveling cities. The only hope? An uneasy alliance between Earth’s three reigning monsters: the once-terrifying Godzilla, the majestic Mothra, and the elusive Rodan. Together, they’ll grumble, fight, and eventually team up in a monster mash for the ages!

Closing out the July portion of our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Onibaba, a visceral, hypnotic tale set in Japan’s medieval past, where two women—an older mother and her young daughter-in-law—live in isolation, killing lost samurai and trading their armor for food. But when a mysterious mask enters their world, desire, jealousy, and supernatural terror take root. Shot in striking black and white, Shindo’s film blurs the lines between eroticism and horror, realism and folklore. Tall reeds sway ominously, the wind howls, and the mask—once worn to intimidate—becomes a symbol of inner torment and karmic consequence. It’s one of the most iconic and unsettling films of Japanese cinema. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Joel Schumacher’s The Phantom of the Opera (2004) is the next film in our In Defense Of...series brought to you by our phantastic Marketing Director, Bekah!  A lavish, operatic fever dream of unrequited love and pure spectacle, this bold adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic stage musical transforms the beloved Broadway production into a grand cinematic spectacle bursting with candlelit catacombs, crashing chandeliers, and soaring ballads. Starring Gerard Butler as the tortured Phantom, Emmy Rossum as the angel-voiced Christine, and Patrick Wilson as the dashing Raoul, Schumacher’s take is a maximalist and unapologetic in a way only he could do!  Boasting a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was received poorly upon its initial release. Come see it on the big screen and judge for yourself!

Fans of atmospheric horror and psychological dread are in luck! The next film in our Hallucinations series is 1971's Let's Scare Jessica To Death!  Recently released from a mental institution, Jessica moves to the countryside with her husband and a friend, hoping for peace and a fresh start. Instead, she finds whispers in the orchard, strangers in the lake, and the creeping suspicion that either she’s being haunted—or she’s slipping back into madness. Directed by John Hancock, scored with ghostly minimalism, and photographed like a faded dream, this is New England horror at its most hushed and haunting. Released in 1971 to little fanfare and growing cult reverence, it remains one of the most quietly devastating and psychically destabilizing horror films of its era. 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”. Plante will introduce each film with some behind-the-scenes history and critical context. With Hallucinations, The Frida Cinema wants to build a communal space for lovers of Weird Cinema. 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.

Step into the neon-lit world of Boogie Nights, the breakout film that announced Paul Thomas Anderson as the most exciting American filmmaker of his generation.  Mark Wahlberg stars as Eddie Adams, a shy busboy turned adult film superstar Dirk Diggler, whose meteoric rise and fall tracks the industry’s shift from ‘70s glam to ‘80s sleaze. Along for the ride: a dream ensemble that includes Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and William H. Macy, all orbiting a world where dreams come true until they don’t. At once a wild, raucous ride through the golden age of the adult film industry and a deeply human epic about family, fame, and the price of chasing the spotlight, Boogie Nights swings hard—and lands every punch.

Jack Hill’s Coffy is coming back to The Frida Cinema, guns blazing and ready to burn it all down courtesy of our friends at See It On 16MM! Long before Tarantino crowned her a legend, Pam Grier became one with Coffy—an explosive, no-holds-barred blaxploitation classic that put her front and center as the fiercest, flyest, most fearsome avenger in '70s cinema. Dressed to kill (and very often undressed to kill), Coffy is a nurse by day, vigilante by night, taking down the pushers, pimps, and politicians who poisoned her little sister with heroin. Directed by cult master Jack Hill, Coffy is pure grindhouse satisfaction: outrageous action, killer dialogue, sleazy villains, slow-motion shotgun blasts, and Grier—an absolute force of nature in every frame. This isn’t just revenge—it’s a revolution in heels.

Our Technicolor Summer series slows down for a sun-drenched romantic escape with Summertime—a bittersweet story set against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice. Katharine Hepburn stars as Jane Hudson, a middle-aged American schoolteacher fulfilling a lifelong dream of visiting Italy. Independent, curious, and slightly adrift, Jane arrives in Venice with her camera and sensible shoes, eager to soak in the beauty but wholly unprepared for what she finds: a chance at unexpected romance with Renato (Rossano Brazzi), a charming Italian antiques dealer. Directed with warmth and restraint by David Lean, Summertime achingly romantic a perfect midsummer reverie in vivid, glowing color. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Kicking off the August portion of our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Kwaidan, director Masaki Kobayashi's fascinating meditation on memory, regret, and the delicate boundary between the living and the dead. Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Magnolia, a love letter to coincidence and a cry for connection, is the kind of maximalist, go-for-broke filmmaking that few dare to attempt—and no one does like Paul Thomas Anderson. Simultaneously epic and intimate, Magnolia (1999) is a film that feels like a storm—swirling with regret, redemption, rage, love, and the deep, deep need to be heard. Across one long day in the San Fernando Valley, lives collide: game show kids, dying fathers, broken lovers, estranged children, and one motivational speaker with a heart full of rot. Featuring an all-timer ensemble—Tom Cruise (in an Oscar-nominated role), Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Jason Robards, and more—Magnolia is a symphony of raw performances, tracking shots, Aimee Mann songs, and unexpected grace.

This year's Segerstrom at The Frida series kicks off with Some Like it Hot, Billy Wilder's hilarious 1959 screwball comedy that follows two down-on-their-luck musicians, Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon), who witness a gangland massacre and flee Chicago disguised as women in an all-female band on their way to a Florida resort. On the run, they become Josephine and Daphne, traveling with the enchanting Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), a singer with dreams of marrying a millionaire. Romantic entanglements and mistaken identities spiral out of control in a Florida resort, culminating in what many consider to be one of the funniest comedies of all time.

See the movie. then experience the brand new Tony and Grammy Award-winning stage musical! Running October 7 - 19 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, experience the “glorious, toe-tapping, razzle-dazzling" (Deadline) Some Like it Hot! Visit scfta.org/events/2025/some-like-it-hot for info and tickets!

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 almost 50 years since its release! Get your tickets now before it sells out!

Our Technicolor Summer series turns rich with mid-century emotion in All That Heaven Allows—a swooning melodrama from master filmmaker Douglas Sirk that’s as emotionally vivid as it is visually stunning. Jane Wyman stars as Cary Scott, a well-to-do widow in a quiet New England town whose world is upended when she falls for her much younger gardener, Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson). What begins as a tender connection soon draws the judgmental glare of her country club peers and disapproving adult children. As Cary wrestles with the pressures of conformity and the cost of personal happiness, the film paints her inner conflict in bold, breathtaking hues. Elegant, emotional, and quietly radical, All That Heaven Allows is a shining example of how Technicolor could elevate not just the world we see, but the feelings we carry. A true classic of color, style, and heart. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

The Frida Cinema just hit 100,000 followers on Instagram, and as a massive thank you, we’re throwing a high-octane, turbo-charged party the only way we know how — with a FREE screening of The Wachowskis' eye-popping cult classic: 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.

Our Santo Sundays series continues with 1973's monster mash Santo Y Blue demon Vs. Dracula y El Hombre Lobo! After facing defeat at the hands of Cristaldi the magician, Dracula is back to seek revenge and rule the world. With the help of Wolfman and his legion of followers, victory seems eminent. Professor Cristaldi, a descendant of the magician, is warned about Dracula's plans and calls upon El Santo and Blue Demon in the hopes that they can put the infamous Count and the werewolf down for good. Trash-Mex is proud to collaborate with Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematográfico for a special screening series of Mexican icon El Santo. Join us every other Sunday this Summer for a total of eight of his greatest hits! All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is $9. 

Equal parts Spaghetti Western, French New Wave, and hard-boiled noir,  A Colt Is My Passport is the next film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series. It's a lean, moody crime film that oozes cool. Joe Shishido (with his famously surgically enhanced cheeks) stars as a stoic gun-for-hire navigating a botched assassination, double-crosses, and a bloody standoff at the edge of town. With stark black-and-white cinematography, stylized action, and a jazzy score, the film plays like a fusion of Jean-Pierre Melville and Sergio Leone, all filtered through the lens of late-’60s Japanese cynicism. It represents the turn in Japanese cinema from introspective postwar realism to a new wave of genre experimentation and rebellion. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Last night I dreamt that I was at Manderlay again... Our Classic Movie Nights series celebrates Alfred Hitchcock's birthday by screening his only film ever to win Best Motion Picture at The Oscars--Rebecca! A masterclass in shadowy suspense (what else did you expect?), this gothic romance cloaked in elegance, obsession, and secrets that refuse to stay buried is not just a ghost story—it’s a story about the ghosts we create, the ones we inherit, and the ones we try to escape. Joan Fontaine stars as the shy, unnamed heroine who marries the wealthy widower Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier), only to find herself haunted by the legacy of his late wife, Rebecca—a presence that lingers over the mansion of Manderley like perfume in a locked room. Judith Anderson is unforgettable as Mrs. Danvers, the icy housekeeper whose devotion to Rebecca tips from unsettling to unhinged. 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!

Our 2025 Segerstrom at the Frida series continues with Baz Luhrmann’s eye-popping 2001 musical Moulin Rouge!

A fever dream of romance, music, and heartbreak in turn-of-the-century Paris, Moulin Rouge! stars Ewan McGregor as Christian, a penniless writer who falls madly in love with the dazzling courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), star performer at the titular famed cabaret. Set against the backdrop of the bohemian underworld and bursting with mash-ups of modern pop songs reimagined through Luhrmann’s hyper-stylized lens, Luhrmann's vision is a sensory whirlwind of color, musica, and passion that blends theatrical spectacle with melodramatic tragedy, as love and art collide under the threat of greed and ambition.  Winner of the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, the film was also nominated for Best Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Makeup, Best Sound, and Best Picture of the Year.

“The jukebox musical to end all jukebox musicals - it’s hard to imagine how it can be topped.”- Time Out New York

Now that you've seen the movie, watch it come to life on the Segerstrom stage, October 28 - November 2! Pop the champagne -- Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of 10 Tony Awards®—including Best Musical! Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and—above all—Love, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical—it is a state of mind.  Running at Segerstrom Center for the Arts!

Visit scfta.org/events/2025/moulin-rouge for info and tickets!

Punch-Drunk Love—Paul Thomas Anderson’s strangest, sweetest, and most unexpectedly explosive film, is back at The Frida Cinema for one night only. Starring Adam Sandler in the performance of his career, this isn’t just a love story—it’s a pressure cooker disguised as a rom-com, wrapped in harmonium chords and shimmering blue light. Sandler is Barry Egan, a painfully lonely novelty toilet plunger salesman with seven sisters, a hair-trigger temper, and a secret stash of pudding cups he’s collecting to hack a frequent flyer program. Enter Lena (Emily Watson), and suddenly, Barry’s life teeters from implosion to unlikely redemption—while being chased by phone sex scammers and Philip Seymour Hoffman at full “shut up shut up shut up” intensity. Punch-Drunk Love is PTA at his most deceptively small, strangely romantic, and vibrantly unhinged.

Our Technicolor Summer series gets delightfully glamorous with Indiscreet—a sparkling romantic comedy that pairs the incomparable Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant in a dance of charm, wit, and stylish deception. Bergman plays Anna Kalman, a successful London stage actress who’s all but given up on love—until she meets Philip Adams (Grant), a suave economist with a roguish smile and a secret: he claims he’s married and can’t divorce. Anna, swept off her feet despite herself, embarks on a love affair with no strings...until the truth begins to unravel. Directed with breezy elegance by Stanley Donen, Indiscreet is a romantic farce where misunderstandings are played for sophistication, and every line sparkles with mid-century wit. But it’s the chemistry between Bergman and Grant—radiant in Technicolor—that makes this film truly irresistible. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Based on the real-life story of serial murderer Akira Nishiguchi, Vengeance Is Mine is the next film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series! The story follows Iwao Enokizu, a charming drifter and remorseless killer who leaves a trail of death and deception across Japan. But this is not a crime thriller—it’s a forensic excavation of a man’s broken psyche and a nation’s suppressed demons. Director Shohei Imamura—known for his fascination with society’s underbelly—eschews sensationalism for something more disturbing: a portrait of evil not as anomaly, but as a product of postwar dislocation, generational trauma, and cultural repression. This is Japan far removed from the poetics of Ozu or the mythic ghosts of Kobayashi. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Our 2025 Segerstrom at the Frida series continues with the stunning new 4K Restoration of Sidney Lumet's bold and imaginative reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, 1978's The Wiz!

Set in a dreamlike version of New York City and brought to life with an all-Black cast, The Wiz stars iconic performer Diana Ross as Dorothy, a Harlem schoolteacher who gets swept away by a magical storm to a fantastical urban landscape. Along the way, she’s joined by a Scarecrow made of garbage (Michael Jackson), a Tinman from a Coney Island theme park (Nipsey Russell), and a cowardly Lion from the New York Public Library (Ted Ross). Infused with infectious musical numbers, Broadway flair, and stunning costume and set design, the film explores themes of self-discovery, community, and inner courage through a uniquely soulful lens.

We thank Warner Bros. for partnering with us to share their beautiful new restoration at The Frida as part of this series!

“An eye-popping and high-intensity revival!” - Chicago Sun-Times

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back in an all-new Broadway tour, coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts January 13 - 26, 2026! This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Everybody rejoice--this dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road!

From the scorched deserts of California to the inner depths of one man’s ambition comes There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson's  monumental American saga—one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a titanic, Oscar-winning performance as Daniel Plainview, a silver miner turned oilman whose thirst for power burns brighter than the derricks he erects across the West. As towns rise and morals fall, Plainview wages war—against the land, against the Church, and eventually, against his own humanity. Across from him: Paul Dano, pulling double duty as twin brothers and spiritual adversaries, locked in a violent dance of faith and greed. Shot by Robert Elswit in apocalyptic beauty and scored with nerve-jangling dread by Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood is a film that doesn’t just depict America’s creation myth—it bleeds it.

An annual tradition returns for a fourth time! Calling all vampires, werewolves, and in-betweeners! We're heading back to Forks, Washington with an epic marathon of The Complete Twilight Saga marathon -- presenting all five films in the beloved saga...in one day! Witness the beginning of eternal romance with 2008's Twilight, embark on the love triangle of 2009's New Moon and 2010's Eclipse, then wage war with the two-parter finale, Breaking Dawn: Pt. 1 & 2. GA tickets are $30, and VIP tickets are $50. VIP packages are limited and include thirty minutes early access to get your seats, a free Twilight soundtrack-inspired bumper sticker, a special merch surprise, and unlimited coffee! This schedule for the marathon is below: Twilight-- 12:00PM New Moon-- 3:00PM Eclipse-- 5:30PM New Moon: Part 1-- 7:45PM New Moon: Part 2-- 10:00PM

Our Technicolor Summer series heads to the rolling green hills of Ireland with The Quiet Man—a sweeping romantic classic brimming with fiery passions, heartfelt tradition, and postcard-perfect landscapes. John Wayne stars as Sean Thornton, a retired American boxer who returns to his Irish roots in the village of Innisfree, hoping to leave his past behind and live a quiet life. But peace proves elusive when he falls for the strong-willed Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara), whose pride and fiery spirit are matched only by the land itself. Their courtship is as tempestuous as the Irish weather, complicated by local customs, family pride, and a brother with a grudge. Directed by John Ford with deep affection and painterly vision, The Quiet Man is as much a love letter to Ireland as it is a love story between two unforgettable characters. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re celebrating 30 years of David Fincher's serial killer classic Se7en!   Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Santo Sundays keeps on truckin' with Santo Y Mantequilla Nápoles En La Venganza De La Llorona! El Santo & boxer Mantequilla Nápoles  assist a professor in finding a medallion that will be used to help local children. The medallion is worn by a mummy in a cave, known as "The Crying Woman". The mummy soon comes to life & terrorizes the locals! Trash-Mex is proud to collaborate with Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematográfico for a special screening series of Mexican icon El Santo. Join us every other Sunday this Summer for a total of eight of his greatest hits! All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is $9.

Closing our the August portion of our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Demon Pond! The story follows a Tokyo academic that stumbles into a remote village with a strange obsession: the locals ring a bell daily to prevent a mythical dragon from rising from the nearby pond and flooding the region. What begins as eccentricity becomes uncanny, as the boundaries between folklore and madness begin to blur. Adapted from Kyōka Izumi’s 1913 play and reimagined with a theatrical, dreamlike visual language by New Wave master Masahiro Shinoda, this is a ghost story told in the language of myth and ritual. Part parable, part fever dream, Demon Pond is less about monsters and more about what it means to believe—and what it costs to stop. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Our 2025 Segerstrom at the Frida series continues with beloved 2004 tearjerker The Notebook!

Directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook tells the decades-spanning love story of Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams), two young lovers from different social worlds who fall deeply for one another during a summer in the 1940s. Their bond is tested by class divides, war, and the passage of time, but through it all, Noah remains steadfast in his devotion. Framed by an elderly man reading their story from a notebook to a woman in a nursing home, the film explores memory, endurance, and the transformative power of love. Highlighted by lush cinematography and sweeping emotion, The Notebook has become a hallmark of early 2000s romantic cinema.

“a love story for the ages”- The New York Daily News

You've seen the movie --  now experience the stage adaptation of The Notebook, coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts January 27 - February 8, 2026!  Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, The Notebook tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), The Notebook is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

A film about power, persuasion, and the impossible hunger for meaning, The Master is Paul Thomas Anderson’s haunting American odyssey—equal parts postwar character study and cosmic riddle.  Joaquin Phoenix is Freddie Quell, a drifting, volatile Navy veteran untethered in the wake of WWII. Philip Seymour Hoffman is Lancaster Dodd, a charismatic cult leader who sees something in Freddie—something primal, dangerous, maybe divine. Their connection is...combustible. Shot in stunning 65mm and lit like a dream slipping into a nightmare, The Master floats through smoky banquet halls, ocean liners, and desert retreats, all while unspooling big questions with no easy answers. It’s a film of gestures, glances, and eruptions—a push and pull between control and chaos.

The penultimate film in our Technicolor Summer series takes a thrilling detour into espionage and mistaken identity with Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest—a sleek, suspenseful, and wildly entertaining ride across some of America’s most iconic landscapes. Cary Grant stars as Roger Thornhill, a suave Manhattan ad executive who’s suddenly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse after being mistaken for a government agent. Framed, pursued, and utterly bewildered, Thornhill races from New York to Chicago to Mount Rushmore, dodging enemy spies, government secrets, and one unforgettable crop duster along the way. Along for the ride is the enigmatic Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), whose loyalties—and affections—are anything but clear. Directed with Hitchcock’s signature style and razor-sharp wit, North by Northwest is a masterclass in cinematic storytelling. Cool, clever, and endlessly rewatchable, North by Northwest is a Technicolor thrill ride that proves Hitchcock didn’t just master fear—he mastered fun. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Tampopo is like no other film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema—or in movie history, really. This deliriously inventive comedy follows a widowed ramen shop owner who, with the help of a mysterious trucker (a stoic parody of Clint Eastwood), sets out to create the perfect bowl of noodles. Along the way, we meet an ensemble of eccentric characters whose lives revolve—sometimes absurdly, sometimes erotically—around food. Billed as the first “ramen western,” Tampopo is both a genre spoof and a soulful tribute to Japanese cuisine and community. It’s a movie about perfection, pleasure, and the strange, spiritual rituals we attach to what we eat. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Our 2025 Segerstrom at the Frida series concludes with a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of a Frida Cinema favorite, Monty Python and the Holy Grail!

Ranked among the top British films of all time by the BFI and various critics’ polls, directors Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones' irreverent and absurdist reimagining of the Arthurian legend stars the Monty Python comedy troupe as King Arthur and his eccentric band of knights. The film follows their doomed quest for the Holy Grail through a series of loosely connected skits featuring killer rabbits, anarcho-syndicalist peasants, and a castle full of rude Frenchmen. With its low-budget charm, fourth-wall-breaking humor, and endlessly quotable dialogue, the film skewers everything from medieval epics to organized religion to British bureaucracy, all deliciously sandwiched between hilarious opening credits and a climax for the ages.

“Pure Glee! Spamalot is deliriously funny!” -The Wall Street Journal

“The funniest musical on Broadway!” -The Washington Post

“A hilarious funfest filled with true Broadway razzle dazzle!” –Entertainment Weekly

Paul Thomas Anderson's shaggy dog detective story in flip-flops and a denim jacket, Inherent Vice adapts Thomas Pynchon’s psychedelic noir into a deliriously funny trip through the fogged-out tail end of the 1960s. Joaquin Phoenix is Doc Sportello—private eye, deeply stoned romantic, and very possibly the last good man in Los Angeles—as he stumbles through a tangled conspiracy involving real estate developers, surf saxophonists, runaway girlfriends, and something called the Golden Fang. With a killer cast (Josh Brolin! Katherine Waterston! Owen Wilson! Reese Witherspoon! Martin Short!), a dreamy Jonny Greenwood score, and PTA’s most straight-up goofy film to date, Inherent Vice is a smokey ode to things slipping away one step at a time.

The final film in our Technicolor Summer series reaches the celestial with A Matter of Life and Death—a visionary romance that floats between worlds, from war-torn Earth to the halls of a fantastical afterlife, in one of the most inventive films ever made. David Niven stars as Peter Carter, a British RAF pilot who miraculously survives a doomed jump from his burning plane—only to fall in love with June (Kim Hunter), the American radio operator who heard his final words. But Peter was meant to die, and when the otherworldly authorities realize their clerical error, he must plead his case for life in a cosmic courtroom, where love itself becomes the ultimate argument. Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, this genre-defying masterpiece blends romance, fantasy, and philosophical inquiry with dazzling visual artistry. In the early 1930s, the 3-strip Technicolor process was introduced to audiences, inviting them to experience a world dripping with vibrant saturation for the very first time. The Technicolor Summer series ranges from familiar classics to rarely-screened gems all Summer long!

Santo Sundays rumbles along with Santo En El Tesoro De Drácula! El Santo assembles a time machine. After somebody uses the machine to find the hidden location of Drácula's treasure, El Santo must hunt down & battle the fearless vampire leader.  Trash-Mex is proud to collaborate with Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematográfico for a special screening series of Mexican icon El Santo. Join us every other Sunday this Summer for a total of eight of his greatest hits! All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is $9.

The next film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Kiyoshi Kurosawa's heart-pounding thriller Cure. A detective investigates a string of grisly murders—each victim killed in the same ritualistic manner, each murderer caught at the scene, unable to explain why they did it. The only connection? A mysterious drifter who seems to erase people’s memories—and unlock something buried deep inside them. With icy precision and a creeping sense of dread, Cure is not just a murder mystery—it’s a meditation on identity and unraveling. Shot in long, haunting takes and drained colors, the film moves like a fog over post-economic-boom Japan: quiet and uncertain. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Come see Paul Thomas Anderson's elegant masterpiece, Phantom Thread, as it was meant to be seen: on the big screen! Set in the haute-couture world of 1950s London and wrapped in lace and poisonous glances, Phantom Thread  is a love story—though maybe not the kind you bring home to mother. Daniel Day-Lewis (always brilliant) is Reynolds Woodcock, a genius dressmaker obsessed with beauty, routine, and control. Enter Alma (Vicky Krieps), a quiet waitress who upends his world—not with chaos, but with her own willpower, as graceful and unrelenting as his. What begins as muse and artist becomes something far more unsettling—a power struggle played out through fashion, food, and the sharp edge of devotion. Jonny Greenwood’s lush, aching score swells like a secret, and Anderson’s camera moves like hands through fabric: precise and just slightly dangerous.

The penultimate film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Isao Takahata's Grave Of The Fireflies! In the final days of World War II, two siblings—teenaged Seita and his little sister Setsuko—struggle to survive in firebombed Kobe after losing their home, their parents, and eventually, their place in a society that has collapsed around them. What follows is not just a war story, but a story of love, resilience, and unbearable loss. Rendered with breathtaking beauty by the legendary animators at Studio Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies is often called one of the greatest animated films ever made. It is also one of the most emotionally shattering anti-war films of any kind—haunting not because of spectacle, but because of its heartbreaking truth. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney’s mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025! The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film. The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit. The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet. They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times! Doors open 7:30PM; show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and Frida Cinema Member Discounts do not apply.

Licorice Pizza closes out our Paul Thomas Anderson retrospective at The Frida—young, wild, and stumbling into love. The year is 1973. The streets of the San Fernando Valley are paved with shag carpet, gas lines, and impossible dreams. And in the middle of it all: Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), child actor and hustle king, and Alana Kane (Alana Haim), adrift and electric, unsure of what she wants—except, maybe, everything. Licorice Pizza is PTA at his loosest and most lovingly chaotic—a meandering and utterly sincere coming-of-age epic that captures the awkwardness of growing up and falling in love. With a supporting cast that includes Bradley Cooper as a deranged Jon Peters, Benny Safdie as a local politician, and every storefront in The Valley as a supporting character, the film is a mixtape of growing up in Southern California.

We've saved the best for our last Santo Sunday screening as we present Santo Vs. La Hija del Dr. Frankenstein! Dr. Frankenstein and her assistant, Dr. Yanco, are going to bring one of their experiments to life in Santo Vs. Frankenstein's Daughter. She intends to use a monster named Ursus to do her evil bidding. Using a youth serum to retain their vitality, the doctors set their sights upon none other than El Santo. They need his super human blood to regenerate a stronger youth serum. They kidnap Santo's goddaughter, Norma and lure him into Dr. Frankenstein's lab where he is captured and enslaved. Will Santo make it out alive? Trash-Mex is proud to collaborate with Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematográfico for a special screening series of Mexican icon El Santo. Join us every other Sunday this Summer for a total of eight of his greatest hits! All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is $9.

The final film in our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series is Hirokazu Kore-eda's 1998 masterwork After Life! In After Life, the recently deceased arrive at a waystation between this world and the next. Their task? To choose a single memory from their lives to take with them into eternity. A small team of counselors helps each soul re-create that memory on film, allowing them to move on—leaving everything else behind. With a mix of actors and real interviews, After Life blurs the line between fiction and documentary, imagination and memory. The result is a quietly transcendent film that contemplates the meaning of life not through grand events, but through small, deeply human moments. Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles!

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re screening the gnargly 2013 version of Evil Dead! Mia, a drug addict, is determined to kick the habit. To that end, she asks her brother, David, his girlfriend, Natalie and their friends Olivia and Eric to accompany her to their family's remote forest cabin to help her through withdrawal. Eric finds a mysterious Book of the Dead at the cabin and reads aloud from it, awakening an ancient demon. All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Prepare to journey beyond the stars to Altair IV with the groundbreaking classic Forbidden Planet—newly restored in dazzling Cinemascope! A landmark of visual effects, sound, and imagination, this 1956 classic helped ignite the future of the genre setting a new standard for sci-fi influencing Star Wars, Star Trek and beyond! Experience the stunning visuals and unforgettable special effects that transformed science fiction and fantasy motion pictures from then on. Whether you're a sci-fi enthusiast or a newcomer, don't miss your chance to see this timeless adventure on the big screen--including the legendary screen debut of the iconic Robby the Robot! As an added bonus, enjoy a rare screening of 2 George Pal Academy Award-nominated stop-motion animated Puppetoon Classics before the show: Dr. Seuss The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and Tubby the Tuba, restored from their original Technicolor negatives by producer/director Arnold Leibovit, who will also be show's MC for the evening! 

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they're celebrating 45 years of the George C Scott masterpiece The Changeling! After a tragic event happens, composer John Russell moves to Seattle to try to overcome it and build a new and peaceful life in a lonely big house that has been uninhabited for many years. But, soon after, the obscure history of such an old mansion and his own past begin to haunt him. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!