[category]
[title]
Have you made it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures lately? This weekend is your chance to take advantage of the institution's cinematic delights for free. On Sunday, February 22, the Academy Museum is throwing open its doors to welcome visitors gratis, no tickets or reservations required. The free day is part of the citywide Museums Free-for-All initiative happening this Sunday.
From 10am to 6pm, you can wander the galleries, catch a screening or join a workshop without spending a dime. Considering general admission usually runs $25 for adults, this is not a small deal.
RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about visiting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Start with the brand-new Studio Ghibli’s PONYO exhibition, which opened February 14. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki can get up close to original drawings and a rare look at how the beloved film came together.
Then pivot to something moodier in the newly opened "Screenwriting: Takes on L.A. Noir" gallery, where you can peek into the craft behind some of the city’s most shadowy stories. If blockbuster nostalgia is more your speed, "Jaws: The Exhibition" offers a deep dive into the making of Jaws, complete with behind-the-scenes details that make you want to rewatch it immediately.
You can also reserve a spot for a free screening of the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal or try your hand at tactile filmmaking in a drop-in workshop that breaks down the basics in an approachable way. Other open exhibitions spotlight everything from Barbie to Bong Joon Ho, so make plans to spend a good bit of time there.
Fanny’s, the museum’s restaurant, will be serving tacos and other treats for purchase in the Walt Disney Company Piazza from noon to 5pm. Earlier in the day, from 10am to 2pm, free fruit cups will be handed out in partnership with Inclusive Action for the City, while supplies last.
If you can’t make it Sunday, the museum is open Wednesday through Monday. But free is free, and it’s hard to think of a better cultural freebie in L.A.