Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Nights – An LA Classic Experience

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Nights – An LA Classic Experience

I’ve lived in Los Angeles more than a decade now and the one summer activity that keeps giving is the Cinespia Hollywood Forever Cemetery movies. I noticed they often run during the summer when the night time weather is just right (not too cold) and when daylight lingers a little more - so it’s definitely a night time activity.

Read on to learn more about my experience and helpful tips for when you plan your summer cemetery movie outing!!

Walking to the back of the cemetery, where the movie is located

 

What Kind of Movies Do They Show?

Night time picnicking in full affect!

They usually show older movies (I imagine so they don’t have to pay expensive rights to show the movie!) - so I notice a lot of movie buffs will go. That and regular people who just want to feel nostalgic! I don’t know how many people were 20 years old and younger, as that movie probably just came out lol and they (I imagine) might prefer to see a movie they’ve actually heard of!

I’m an elder Millennial which is to say, movies made in the late 90s eventually filtered down in my high school experience several years later as we watched it with friends.

The movie that got everyone in my social group excited, was Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). I remember those colorful, fun clothes that were like an amp’d up version of dresses from the delia’s catalog! I loved that fashion. Blazers and shoulder pads were still in. Voluminous hair, a little less tall compared to the 80s but still rocking it. Lots of face framing layers.

I remember watching Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion when I was young. At first, I didn’t get it. I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be taken seriously, if I was supposed to laugh out loud, or….what was it really saying about these women who spoke with a Valley Girl accent? I had never been to California or Los Angeles. I was just basking in the differentness of it all! But once they got to their dance scene - I bust out laughing and knew this movie had a great sense of humor. No one makes that dance scene and expects you to take this movie seriously. It’s not a serious movie. But adolescent me, was so confused. I remember being concerned that I wasn’t laughing at the right parts, or perhaps I didn’t “get it” like everyone else.

Cemetery movie fit check

It was liberating to watch it again decades later, now as an adult. I’m still feeling their fun outfits, hairstyles! Now that I live in Los Angeles, I love seeing familiar landscapes, scenes and streets. The movie showed an older LA— a city that I inhabited many years after the filming; yet it was fun to see LA all polished and clean. Whether it was that way just for the movie, or was LA really that clean back then? There were funny moments, like when they drove a convertible on Venice Boardwalk! UM, no cars are allowed on the boardwalk (which made me laugh at the contradiction)! It’s pedestrians only! I was shocked they filmed it like it was just a normal street. The sidewalks of Venice also looked suspiciously clean…perhaps they cleaned it before filming??

 

What’s It Like Watching A Movie Together?

During the movie, people would clap, whistle, and cheer on the characters during their favorite scenes. Since the movie is so old, everyone knows what’s going to happen. So the point is to gather and experience it together - anticipate the high points!

If you haven’t seen the movie being shown— for a few of my friends, this was the case— you can now experience it as almost performative where people are chiming in on their favorite and least favorite characters, actors, and scenes! It’s totally fine to watch the movie for the first time at Cinespia, since the peanut gallery did not detract or distract from the movie experience. I was still able to immerse myself in the movie world. But once a key scene would hit, then I”ll be pleasantly reminded that we’re all experiencing this together.

It takes on a feeling of connectedness and camaraderie!

There’s this unexpected feeling of connection and camaraderie at a Hollywood Forever Cemetery movie night—it’s just different from a traditional movie theater in the best way.

In a regular theater, you’re usually shushed. No phones, no talking, no laughing too loudly. Everyone’s zoned in, watching the story unfold for the first time in total darkness.

But here? It’s a whole different vibe.

You’re outside on the grass under the stars. The screen is big (but yes, how big it feels kind of depends on where you laid your blanket 😅). You can still see just enough to shuffle to the bathroom or grab another snack. Planes fly overhead. You might miss a line or two—but it’s fine, because you’ve probably already seen the movie.

Instead of sitting quietly, you’re part of the crowd energy. People cheer, laugh, clap, quote iconic lines out loud—it’s interactive, almost like a concert. It’s not really about watching the plot twist; it’s about being a fan with hundreds of other people who love the movie just as much as you do.

It’s casual, it’s nostalgic, it’s joyfully loud in all the right ways. And honestly? That’s the magic of it.

 

Gaining Entry – What to Expect At The Entry Line

Do you have to wait in line to get into the cemetery?

If you are arriving right when the line starts, and/or you want your choice of where to sit - then plan to wait in line (yes). From my experience, they typically sellout in advance. Even if they don’t sell out, you want to get at least some of your friend group there once the lines open. We basically gathered in line first, starting a mini-picnic while sitting on the astro-turn waiting for the doors to open!

Two friends arrived first and as others arrived in line with them - we all banded together so we could gain entry sooner rather than later.

Why would you wait in line to see an outdoor movie?

Well, they really let you sit anywhere on the lawn and it’s quite large! If you want to see the movie screen aka an optimal spot - recommend you (or your friends) wait in line. Not everyone in your party, but enough where you can mark out your area and stand by it, as your people start arriving!

Honestly, the waiting in line part just becomes part of the movie watching experience. If you’re with a great group of friends, waiting in line is just more time to catch up Remember, once the movie starts, people are engaged and watching the movie (not catching up, and not chatting). So the only time you get to connect with humans on the conversational level is hanging out ahead of the movie start time. I like to enjoy it.

So in summary, make sure you designate an early group who are happy to wait in line and save a good spot for the rest of the group! That’s only if you want to see the screen. No matter what, you will find a spot to sit down and watch the movie - it just may not be in the exact spot you were envisioning unless you divide and conquer!

 

What To Bring

  • Seating - If you bring a low chair, make sure it’s low to the ground and matches their requirements otherwise you will not be able to use your chair! Current dimension requires a seat no more than 6 inches from the ground, and the chair back to be no taller than 21 inches!

  • Note: If you bring a chair, there is a no-chair zone (which helps those without a chair see the screen). Make sure you find the no-chair zone so you can set-up camp in the right location!!

  • Picnic blanket - overall, most people used a combination of picnic blankets and low chairs!

  • The Entrance Ticket - For me, I could not find my digital movie entrance ticket (sent via email from a different website than Cinespia, so it was confusing!). But I was able to give a crew member my full name, and they successfully looked my ticket up on online! Yay! It might slow you down though. While we were sitting to get in, they actually started checking tickets, and stamping everyone’s hands before the doors opened. This rapidly sped up the entrance - love the efficiency of a well oiled machine!

  • Food and drink (PICNIC ALERT) - my friends brought alcohol (wine), food, napkins, utensils, and home baked cookies! Highly recommend blowing it up to make it the best picnic you can carry and share! It’s fun to snack, and break bread with your friends.

  • Note: There were 2-3 tents setup with food & drink at the Cemetery, so if you don’t bring your own food, you’re welcome to shop their carnival-esque tents for food, drinks, and dessert! It was truly an adorable set-up.

Food tent (bring money!)

There’s even a cash bar

My friend’s home made cookies

I live for desserts and a movie

 

What’s The Bathroom Situation? Portapotties Galore!

Portapotties galore

You can’t miss them

You guessed it—tons of portapotties are available, so no need to hold it all night. They even had foot-pump sinks with running water, soap, and paper towels, which made it easy to get a decent hand wash in after.

When we first arrived, everyone was more focused on claiming their picnic zone, so there was no line for the bathrooms. Closer to showtime, I waited maybe 5 minutes tops, and that was not bad.

After the movie ended? Total bathroom stampede. The line looked like a 5–8 minute wait by then, so pro tip: sneak out a little before the credits roll if you want to skip the queue!

 

Let’s Talk Parking

You know me, always trying to saw a few bucks AND I don’t mind walking in this lovely SoCal weather during sunset golden hour! I parked an 18 minute walk from the cemetery entrance (for free, street parking); and it appears my walk was a lot longer than everyone elses.

Note, unless you can get someone to open the back cemetery gate (must be triggered by an exiting car or a person entering a code to manually trigger the gate), you have to enter from Hollywood Blvd & Gordon Street! Do not believe the round about way Google map shows you when you click the pedestrian icon.

Yup, Google did me wrong when I parked. And told me there was a back-entrance. True, there was one. But did I have any special access that could open that back-entrance door? Nope! So after thinking I only had a 8 minute walk, I then had to walk AROUND the corner (which took another 10 minutes)! Plan accordingly.

This may sound dramatic, but imagine you are lugging a cooler, chairs, food, and everything for all your guests! Every step is costly!!


About Linhda (aka Elle)

Linhda thrives on being a tourist in her own city, generously sharing over 10 years of Los Angeles knowledge with fellow enthusiasts!

An enthusiastic bike-to-work cyclist, also known as a commuter, Linhda has recently embraced the world of roller skating. If you have any questions about LA, drop her a line, or simply say HELLO! Meeting new people brings her immense joy. Cheers! linhdy@outlook.com


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