Gardena Cinema, the last family-run, single-screen theater in South Los Angeles, will host a weekend of free movies for the public June 7–8 as part of Pluto TV’s “Free Movie Weekend” campaign.
The historic cinema, located at 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., was nominated for the campaign by director Sean Baker, who won Best Director and Best Picture for his independent film “Anora” at the 97th Academy Awards.
The initiative supports family-run and independent theaters nationwide by covering the cost of movie tickets to encourage local attendance and celebrate community filmgoing.
Baker nominated Gardena Cinema as the first theater to participate in this summer’s program. He has been a vocal advocate for preserving traditional theatrical experiences, which he championed during one of his Oscar acceptance speeches.
Gardena Cinema was built in 1946 and has been operated by the Kim family since 1976. The late Nancy Soo Myoung Kim managed the 800-seat venue until her death in 2022. Her daughter, Judy Kim, now oversees daily operations and continues the family’s long-standing commitment to providing an affordable moviegoing experience in the community, organizers of the event said.
See the schedule and link to obtain tickets below:
Saturday, June 7:
- “Grease” (1978) Sing-along version: at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 8:
- “Ghostbusters” (1984) at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Pluto TV, a free streaming platform, launched its Free Movie Weekend campaign in 2023 and has partnered with filmmakers to draw attention to the importance of independent theaters.
Additional updates will be posted on Gardena Cinema’s Instagram at @gardenacinema and on Pluto TV’s website.
