The history of moviemaking finally has a home in Los Angeles with the arrival of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Located next to LACMA in the Wilshire May Company buildling and in a new and expanded space designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the museum features four full floors of gallery space, two theaters (including a 1,000-seat space in that giant glassy sphere) a restaurant and a gift shop.
RECOMMENDED: Check out our full guide to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The collection includes the sorts of cinematic treasures you’d expect from the people who put on the Oscars: the Rosebud sled for Citizen Kane, Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, R2-D2 and C-3PO, the Dude’s robe from The Big Lebowski, the sole surviving shark from Jaws and the flowery May Queen dress from Midsommar, among many others. You’ll also find a revolving set of galleries dedicated to specific creators and industry crafts, plus special exhibitions that are swapped out at least once a year.
Timed reservations are encouraged (but not required) and available via the museum’s website and smartphone app. Tickets (which include admission to all exhibitions) cost $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (62 and up), $15 for students, and are free for visitors 17 and younger and CA residents with an EBT card. An immersive installation dubbed the Oscars Experience costs an additional $10. Outdoor public areas and the lobby (which includes the small Spielberg Family Gallery) are free to access.
