Here in L.A., we’re blessed with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to moviegoing. Think outdoor screenings in every picturesque location you can imagine, cult classics shown in theaters owned by Quentin Tarantino, blockbuster premieres along Hollywood Boulevard and special events in Downtown’s historic Broadway movie palaces. But seeing a classic film in the actual location where it was filmed isn’t an everyday occurrence.
Enter the Griffith Observatory, which just announced that it’ll be hosting a special anniversary screening of Rebel Without a Cause—the most remembered of Hollywood icon James Dean’s three films—inside the venue’s Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater on October 27.
The anniversary aspect here is twofold: First, the Griffith Observatory is celebrating its 90th anniversary and has been marking the occasion all year long with special public programming and events. Also, 2025 marks 70 years since Rebel’s theatrical release (meaning the observatory was only 20 years old when the movie was filmed there).
The observatory features prominently in the 1955 tale of teenage angst—it’s the site of a field trip, the famous knife fight and the film’s final scene. Rebel also marks the first time a planetarium theater was used in a film (the same planetarium was later the stage for the dreamy dance scene in La La Land).
Any time you visit the observatory, you can see a monument with a bronze bust of Dean on the landmark’s lawn, with the Hollywood Sign in the background. The piece was commissioned by the actor himself before his untimely death (in retrospect, the likeness is a bit haunting). But on the night of the screening, you’ll also get after-hours access to the observatory—which is typically closed on Mondays—and can see firsthand where key scenes from the movie were filmed. You can also take part in a themed scavenger hunt, listen to a pre-screening talk with Griffith Observatory director Dr. E.C. Krupp, plus a special guest, and purchase a limited-edition poster.
Tickets for the anniversary screening—which will take place October 27 from 6 to 10pm—cost $50 and include parking. You can grab yours here. Proceeds directly support the Griffith Observatory’s mission of sharing the skies with all.