Hollywood is such a unique place which is why some people like to call it Hollyweird. Most people would find the idea of watching a movie in a cemetery odd. And yes, it is odd but in Southern California watching movies at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery has become a popular tradition. Have you seen the Valentine’s Day
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My first visit to Hollywood Forever was a few years ago when I was working on a tv show that had us park there. I have been wanting to attend one of the Cinespia movie screenings for a long time. Cinespia is the name of the screening series that takes place in the cemetery. Every now and then you can find free tickets to a screening as I did. Typically tickets to the screening can range from $16-$40 depending on the type of ticket you get.
On occasion, the tickets will cost more due to fireworks. In 2019 my Mom and I spent close to $40 a ticket to see ET on the 4th of July. Even though it was pricey the fireworks made the experience totally worth it! And since we got free parking that helped too. Parking can be hard to find around the area though I was able to park on the street for free a half-mile from the venue. They do sell parking passes for $12 though if you prefer to have closer parking.
People line up early for these screenings. If the doors open at 6 pm the line will most likely start to form before 5 pm. The earlier you line up the better view you’ll have on the inside. I recommend bringing beach chairs, there are restrictions on how high off the ground your chair can be. I love packing a picnic though they should have a few food trucks that you can get concessions from.
The walk from the entrance to the screening area is at least half a mile if not longer. I would recommend bringing some kind of wagon or rolling cart to put your stuff in so you don’t have to carry your things too far. Be sure to bring blankets and a jacket. If you bring a blanket to sit on it is recommended that you bring a tarp to place underneath it. Chairs are allowed but only if the height from the ground to the seat is 6 inches and 21 inches from the seat to the top of the chair.
What makes the Cinespia screenings popular? For starters the photo booths that they have for the movie screenings are incredible! They are so well made and really fun! They do post copies of the photos online but it is around $20 to get a printed version of the picture. Arrive early and make the photo booth your first stop or you could be waiting in a long line.
There are so many different movie screenings that happen throughout Los Angeles during the summer. Cinespia offers a truly unique screening experience that is family-friendly. I had such a great time at the Cinespia screenings and would love to go again. A few years back I attended the fan screening of The Neon Demon and I was able to get free tickets. I signed up for the mailing list of the Cinespia website. I received an email with a link to download the free tickets before they were shared on social media. If you want to get emails like this be sure to sign up for their emails. You can visit their website by clicking here: http://cinespia.org
