The surest sign that it’s just about summer in Los Angeles? The nightly barrage of fireworks. But the next-surest sign? Outdoor movie screenings in a century-old cemetery. Put ‘em together and you have the recipe for a perfect summer night.
After making its seasonal return over Memorial Day weekend, Cinespia has announced the classic cinema selections headed for Hollywood Forever Cemetery this July, including two chances to see a fireworks-accompanied film. The lineup—which we’ll dive into below—boasts a high-flying action classic, a local love letter, a semi-recent horror sensation and a pair of ‘90s comedies.
Fri, July 4: Top Gun + Fireworks
Sat, July 5: La La Land + Fireworks
Sat, July 12: IT (2017)
Sat, July 19: Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Sat, July 26: The Addams Family
Tickets for the events, presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, are on sale now and cost just under $52 per person for the two fireworks screenings and $30 for the rest, with prices roughly between $24 and $36 for parking. We’d suggest jumping on tickets soon, too; Cinespia’s screenings pretty much always sell out.
“Each summer, we invite our city to come together and celebrate the movies that made us laugh, dream and scream,” said Cinespia founder John Wyatt in a statement. “This July is pure movie magic—from high-flying action and fireworks to nostalgic reunions and spooky classics under the stars.”
If you’ve never attended the summertime rite of passage before, here’s the deal: Since 2002, Cinespia has projected movies onto the side of a mausoleum at Hollywood Forever. Thousands of picnickers show up early to claim a spot on the Fairbanks Lawn and dig into their BYO snacks and drinks (yep, including beer and wine). That’s in addition to the hot food, popcorn and beer and wine for sale on the grounds of the outdoor movie series. And the series is also renown for its remarkably elaborate and film-accurate photo booths—like this Romy and Michele one below from 2023.
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As for the fireworks show, don’t expect a few measly pieces of pyro: This is a full-blown Fourth of July fireworks display. Check out the video below from about a decade ago, when the series last followed Top Gun with fireworks.
