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.
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As the groundbreaking series Andor comes to a thrilling and emotional close, we invite you to return to where Cassian Andor’s journey leads: the unforgettable mission that changed the fate of the galaxy. Join us for three nights of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story–the gritty, high-stakes prelude to A New Hope that redefined where stories in the Star Wars universe could go in the 21st century!
Directed by Gareth Edwards and featuring a powerhouse ensemble cast led by Diego Luna, Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Donnie Yen, and Forest Whitaker, Rogue One is a bold and unflinching tale of sacrifice, solidarity, and the ordinary heroes who dared to fight the impossible. With Andor expanding and deepening the world of Rogue One, these screenings are a chance to witness the full arc of rebellion–from the shadows of espionage to the edge of hope.
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It’s widely regarded as one of the worst movies of the Eighties..and they made a documentary about how awesome it is! Join us for a very special Sunday evening screening of Making MegaForce, followed by a Q&A with the director of the documentary, Bob Lindenmayer, and then stick around for a screening of the original 1982 film!
Starring Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Megaforce is packed with futuristic vehicles, spandex jumpsuits, insane stunts, and corny dialogue. It’s an adolescent adventure that time has forgotten. But one man remembers: director Bob Lindenmayer. And he’s on a quest to convince the rest of the world just how amazing this under-appreciated stunt-filled spectacle is. The world’s biggest Megaforce fan, Bob owns a fleet of fully operational dune buggies and motorcycles from the film.
At first, Bob’s mission is pretty straightforward – chronicle the making of this box-office flop through cast and crew interviews. But when he meets his hero, Barry Bostwick, the film takes a left turn and becomes something more than a documentary – it becomes a hilarious and touching tribute to the power of fandom, friendship, and flying motorcycles. Making Megaforce is a feature-length documentary scheduled for released in 2025, starring Barry Bostwick and directed by Bob Lindenmayer.
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.
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Our annual Segerstrom at the Frida series showcases films that inspired upcoming stage adaptations at OC’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts! Join us as we conclude our 2025 series by celebrating 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.
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Our annual Segerstrom at the Frida series showcases films that inspired upcoming stage adaptations at OC’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts! Join us as our 2025 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 Universal Pictures for partnering with us to share their beautiful new restoration at The Frida as part of this series!
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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!
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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.
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Ridley Scott’s girl trip Thelma & Louise winds down our Pride Month programming with a brand new 4K restoration!
The story follows Thelma (Geena Davis), a timid housewife, and Louise (Susan Sarandon), a no-nonsense waitress, as they embark on what starts as a weekend getaway and turns into a flight from the law. After Louise kills a man who attempts to rape Thelma, the two hit the road, realizing that the justice system is unlikely to see their side. Their journey becomes one of personal awakening, radical defiance, and ultimately, tragic liberation.
Thelma & Louise is more than a road movie—it’s a feminist landmark, a genre-defying tale of friendship, freedom, and fury that still resonates over three decades later.
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Our In Defense Of Series pick for June comes via Isa as she has chosen the underrated musical Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!
A small town band makes it big, but loses track of their roots, as they get caught up into the big-time machinations of the music biz. Now, they must thwart a plot to destroy their home town. Built around the music of The Beatles, this musical uses some big name groups like Peter Frampton and Aerosmith.
Few films have been more gleefully panned, misunderstood, or prematurely written off than Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the 1978 jukebox musical that dares to turn The Beatles’ most iconic album into a surreal, candy-colored rock opera. Dismissed by critics as a misguided cash-in, the film has long existed as a cultural punchline. But behind the glitter, kitsch, and chaos lies an ambitious, bold, and strangely hypnotic cinematic artifact that deserves a closer look. Isa says “give it a chance!”
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Get ready to be drenched in neon as we present the oft-maligned but extremely fun Batman & Robin film from 1997!
In the second Joel Schumacher-directed installment of the Batman franchise, Gotham City faces a chilling new threat: Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a villain determined to encase the world in ice while searching for a cure for his terminally ill wife. Teaming up with the seductive and poisonous eco-terrorist Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), Freeze launches a plan to freeze Gotham solid.
Batman & Robin embraces a high-camp, cartoonish aesthetic that sharply contrasts the darker tones of its predecessors. The result is a film saturated in spectacle, puns, and visual excess, which making it a perfect addition to our Pride Month programming!
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