Historic theaters in California.
17 verified historic theaters in California, in Alameda, Bakersfield, Larkspur, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland. Movie palaces and main-street theaters with a century of stories.
Alameda Theatre & Cineplex
Alameda, CA
A restored 1932 Art Deco movie palace on Alameda's main street, now the centerpiece of an eight-screen complex. It shows current releases plus film series and live events, with recliner seating marked on the schedule.
Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater
Bakersfield, CA
Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater is a historic movie theater in Bakersfield, California, at 2001 H Street. It opened in 1930.
Lark Theater
Larkspur, CA
A community-run Art Deco theater in downtown Larkspur that pairs limited-run and indie films with filmed opera and theater, family matinees, classic revivals and live jazz.
Art Theatre
Long Beach, CA
A 1920s neighborhood theater on Long Beach's Retro Row, run as a community nonprofit. It mixes independent first-run films with repertory series, 16mm nights, and filmmaker conversations.
Brain Dead Studios
Los Angeles, CA
A cult and repertory cinema in the old Silent Movie Theatre space on Fairfax. The calendar mixes classics, midnight-style favorites, and themed event weeks, with a monthly membership that includes a free ticket per screening.
Egyptian Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood's 1922 Egyptian-themed movie palace, with retrospectives, 70mm presentations, and guest Q&As. American Cinematheque programs Friday through Sunday; Netflix, the owner, programs earlier in the week.
New Beverly Cinema
Los Angeles, CA
A revival house in a 1920s building that shows double features on 35mm, plus weekend midnight shows and Saturday kids' matinees.
Grand Lake Theatre
Oakland, CA
A 1926 Oakland movie palace with four auditoriums, no pre-show commercials and a Wurlitzer organ that rises before select weekend evening shows. It runs current releases in 3-D and 70mm, and Tuesday tickets are $6.
Oroville State Theatre
Oroville, CA
Oroville State Theatre is a historic movie theater in Oroville, California, at 1489 Myers Street. It listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cascade Theatre
Redding, CA
Cascade Theatre is a historic movie theater in Redding, California, at 1731 Market Street. It opened in 1934, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fox Performing Arts Center
Riverside, CA
Fox Performing Arts Center is a historic movie theater in Riverside, California, at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue. It opened in 1928.
4-Star Theatre
San Francisco, CA
A 1913 Richmond District neighborhood theater run by a nonprofit and known for repertory and cult screenings, such as Willy Wonka, Brazil and a local film club.
Balboa Theatre
San Francisco, CA
A 1926 Outer Richmond neighborhood theater run by a nonprofit, with a nightly mix of repertory and cult films, some on 35mm, and themed events like live drag screenings.
Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco's 1922 landmark movie palace, reopened in 2026 after a $41 million renovation. It now books concerts and comedy alongside film events, and hosts the SF Silent Film Festival.
Arlington Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA
Arlington Theatre is a historic movie theater in Santa Barbara, California, at 1317 State Street. It opened in 1931.
Aero Theatre
Santa Monica, CA
A 1940 Santa Monica neighborhood theater run by the American Cinematheque, known for repertory double features, filmmaker Q&As and its annual October all-night horror marathon.
Visalia Fox Theatre
Visalia, CA
Visalia Fox Theatre is a historic movie theater in Visalia, California, at 308 W. Main Street. It opened in 1930.
See every independent cinema in California or historic theaters nationwide.