Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

The exhibits are beautifully curated, with iconic props and costumes that feel like stepping into film history. I especially enjoyed seeing the behind-the-scenes details from classic and contemporary films. The rooftop offers stunning views of the Hollywood Hills, a perfect way to end the visit. It’s a place that makes you appreciate cinema on an entirely new level.

We were told that this was a great museum to visit and it certainly lived up to that reputation. You get to see how sound is such an important aspect of film amongst others senses. You can sit in The Godfather chair. At the end dont miss out on seeing a Toy Story roundabout. No need to buy tickets in advance we just bought them on the door. There are many more things to see including lots of Oscars. But too many things to mention.

This was a very cool museum! Admission was fairly reasonable and it filled a few hours. Movie props and costumes are the stand out. With some exhibits that can drag on. Some of our party was disappointed over several rooms with projections of things in the walls and not much more. The Toy Story spinning machine was very cool on the other hand. And seeing different movie props that we recognize was amazing, notably Star Wars and the red slippers! Good way to spend time in La!

Great Architecture & Rooftop Views — But Pricing Could Use a Rethink We mainly visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA to see the stunning new theater and rooftop structure designed by Renzo Piano—and it did not disappoint! The rooftop offers an amazing view, and the architectural design alone made the visit worthwhile. We only had about an hour to explore, but we managed to check out the exhibits and the rooftop. When we asked about discounts, the front desk staff were super responsive and helpful, which we appreciated. That said, the cost felt a bit steep: $25 per ticket and $21 for parking. We went for it anyway, but I do think the museum could consider offering a separate ticket for rooftop access only, maybe around $10. I truly believe this would increase revenue, since the rooftop is such a strong draw on its own. Of course, the museum may have other reasons for encouraging visitors to experience the full set of exhibits—but from a visitor’s perspective, more flexible options would be welcome. Even a discount for the last hour of the day on weekends could help make it more accessible. Just a thought—but overall, we enjoyed the visit and were especially inspired by the design and views.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a must-visit for film lovers. The exhibits are beautifully curated and take you through the history of cinema — from early classics to modern films. You can see real costumes, scripts, and behind-the-scenes footage that bring the magic of movies to life. The building itself is stunning, especially the Sphere with its amazing view of LA. The only small note is that it would be great to see more original props and objects from movie sets

A fun time to spend immersed in the history of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Plenty of artifacts from many iconic movies like the Godfather and others. The museum also houses an exhibit regarding the development of movie cameras and styles. I was surprised regarding how much I learned regarding the progression of the development of movies. There is a beautiful patio that overlooks the Hollywood sign and the rest of the city. The patio was surprisingly peaceful and a great photo op. The museum also houses a gift shop and restaurant. The gift shop is typical and prices are what you would expect. The restaurant and bar look fancy. A peak at the menu revealed several delicious cuisines at a price one would expect for nice ambience. Museum entrance fees was rather appropriate for families and didn't break the bank. Teachers get free entry. Overall, it was a nice experience. Clean all around. Friendly staff.

Interesting museum about the motion picture academy. Nice interactive exhibits. The direction is sometimes confusing, something I think they can improve upon. Loved learning about the history of the motion picture studios that arose from racism and a monopoly. Very modern, industrial looking building. Very nice restaurant located inside, Fanny's, with reasonable prices. Gift shop has many selections for all genres of movies. Hight recommended. Would visit again.

If you’re a fan of movies and the artistry of filmmaking, the Academy Museum is your mini Disney World. Yeah, I know I should say Disneyland because it’s LA, but I’m a Florida boy at heart. 407, represent. If soundscapes move you, treat yourself to their darkened Dolby digital room — it’s like a full-body symphony of sound. I was genuinely moved. The museum could use one or two more exhibits to fully flesh out the experience, and the Oscar photo op should be free. (Parking in LA is already a con job.) I’d also love to see an interactive section — something that makes you touch, smell, and hear the magic. Headphone soundscapes. Coloring stations for kids. Clay molding for horror effects. Even a quick “make a movie in 15 minutes” setup, with script and directing stations. I’m giving you gold here. Use all of this and this place will be sold out daily. I take no responsibility if it doesn’t. Other than that, the staff were phenomenal, and each space pulls you into iconic cultural films, legendary female creatives, costumes, and more. Also - check me out in The Godfather photo op. A true boss.

I love this museum and especially on Oscar Night!! Sunday afternoon was a super windy day in Los Angeles. As I waited on line, the stanchions were blowing over creating a challenge to the staff working the event and causing a lot of dressed up event attendees to be holding on to their hats, hair-dos and keeping their dresses from lifting upwards. For example, my scarf ( wrap) blew off of me and I had to chase after it ! ( I was laughing so hard at this comical moment as I ran ) Walking into the area of the photo shoot, the wind continued to blow so hard that as I got to my "moment" holding a real OSCAR for my photo, my hair covered my face and my dress was lifting up. The lovely photographer took many extra shots because of this issue! It was hysterical! Finally, getting inside, I walked into the gorgeous lobby to see a wonderful crowd of beautifully dressed people, enjoying alcohol and hors d'oeuvre. It was just great to be here! I made friends with a lovely group of like-minded attendees that were so passionate and joyful about filmmaking and all of the films of the year and sat with them upstairs in the stunning David Geffen Theatre! Watching the Oscars on a huge movie screen with a fantastic sound system was amazing! The audience was completely engaged throughout. All of us were so excited to be watching together! We all felt a sense of community that left us all uplifted! As a member of the Academy Museum since the moment they officially opened (and as they broke ground to build it), I am a huge supporter! The greatest moment for me was ANORA winning so many Oscars and BEST PICTURE. I am an "indie" producer and for this $ 6 million budgeted film to win was inspirational and the most exciting moment for me!!! As I left to go home, as I went outside, there was a table full of gift bags on a big table, and as I walked by it, they gave me one that was filled with all sorts of Oscar-themed goodies! What a surprise! I urge everyone to visit this Museum ( on Museum Row). It's a wonderful, fun and educational experience! 5 Golden Stars !!!

I'm a frequent museum goer in LA and been to many of the popular ones in the city like LACMA, the Broad, MOMA, etc and even small art galleries. Visited this museum with a family member one weekend and really enjoyed the full walk through! The layout can be a bit confusing as some exhibits were closed/exclusive and the exhibits are located on separate floors, however once you're inside each exhibit there's a lot of information and visuals to browse and view. My favorite part of the museum was the costumes room where there were glass displays of the costumes worn in modern and popular films. Also really liked the informational bits about the history of film studios. I would suggest parking at the LACMA underground structure as it's a relatively short walk and if you want pictures or nice views of the city, there is an outside terrace on the second floor which is pretty cool!

the museum's layout can be confusing, with limited signage and a somewhat disorganized flow, making navigation challenging. While the museum does highlight a diverse range of filmmakers, it could offer more comprehensive coverage of classic films and industry pioneers.

So much to see here! So first thing, park at LACMA for $21, it's easy peasy. The entrance to the museum faces towards the campus and just west of LACMA. This museum has so many interesting exhibits spread over five floors. Level one sets the stage with a fun video montage from the 30's then take the elevator to level 5 for the view and work your way down. The view is amazing, especially at sunset. The color exhibit was especially interesting. Overall you could easily spend two hours here and not see it all. The bar is fun and there is a bookstore and a restaurant as well. So many things to do at this cultural campus.

Truly amazing museum. If you like movies, go here and budget a few hours. They have a set from the Godfather, the shark from Jaws, original costumes from Spider-Man, the Matrix, and much more. You can also see actual Oscars all the way from 50 years ago, watch several long movie clips in cool screening rooms, and more. It's also super close to the LACMA museum and the tar pits at La Brea, so you can spend the whole day here really.

They have a Cyberpunk exhibit running from now until I don't think they say when, but my husband wanted to check it out so we went after visiting the balloon museum. Tickets were buy one with your Chase debit card, get one free, so we did that. I think one ticket was less than $20. Parking is at at the Peterson Auto Museum across the street, and parking was $17 for two hours and the daily max is $23. I can't remember how much we paid or how long we stayed at the museum. There are metered street parking behind the structure but we there was nothing. The entrance isn't on Wilshire, it's on Fairfax, and the ticket booth is located to your right inside the building. Security will check your bags before buying a ticket. The Cyberpunk exhibit was two stories and small, but there is a video presentation (we think Scarlett Johansson did the voice over) to it and a few art pieces to admire. We walked around almost every room they offered - Color in Motion, Hollywoodland, Casablanca, Boyz in the Hood, The Godfather, Pixars 3D Zoetrope, The Oscars Experience, Stories of Cinema. I learned a lot about how movies started in Hollywood by reading everything in the Hollywoodland exhibit, and really admired the Colors in Motion exhibit. The Colors in Motion had dresses, suites and actual props the stars wore in a rainbow display. The Oscars Experience showcased a timeline of Oscar winners, Oscars, and speeches by some of the winners. There was another exhibit (I think it was tied to Hollywoodland, can't remember) but it explained how the camera evolved over time and how color was introduced (first painted scene by scene and now it's all on the computer). I thought that was really interesting. If you make it to the top there is a theater-like, open spaced area with a view of Los Angeles. Each level has a very clean bathroom and there are elevators and escalators. There is also a large store and a restaurant on the same floor tickets are sold. Overall, I'd say this is an educational museum with some "wow" factors involved. I'd say it's a must for anyone interested in film or history in general. It's not a day trip, I think three, maybe four hours is enough to see everything.

Cosmic, movie-insider genius-level exhibits. Costumes, lighting, cinematography, *sound design/editing, concept, casting, color palette assembly, hair & makeup, music, relics from yesteryear's greatest films of all time and so much more. *watching the step-by-step creation of the process behind sound design for The Raiders Of The Lost Ark's scene where Harrison takes the idol from the pedestal - then tries to escape death - is worth the admission price itself! From The Past - to The Future (of film and LIFE!) - you'll see it all at this most incredible museum that's as "Ellay" as it gets. Utterly surprising and interesting with videos, interactive bits throughout and enough to keep you busy for the entire 8 hours they're open. DO THIS!

After some reviews was skeptical but don't know what people are talkin about. My friend and I really enjoyed it, you must be interested in movies to enjoy the museum. But every staff member we encountered were super friendly, they were talking and not just statues. Wish they had more interact things like the color exhibit. But I think it was a good experience and nothin bad with this place. Also did not know there was a restaurant and cafe in there, I gotta try that.

I love museums. But honestly this place is not it. For the price of a ticket you don't get much. Then if you want to spend even more you can hold a real Oscar. The staff were a mixed bag. Some were friendly while one scowled at us as we walked into an exhibit. Another flat out ignored us as she must have been too busy to care. When I go to a museum I want to see artifacts, exhibits, things of interest relevant to the museum. There is a tiny bit of that here, but not much. For the amount of movies in existence you'd think this museum would have more. It just doesn't. To me it fell flat. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I'd rather hit up LACMA, the Peterson or Tar Pits Museums if I'm in the area.

So grateful this museum exists! LA has needed a proper movie museum that actually celebrates the craft of movie making and that's exactly what the Academy Museum does. In some ways, I feel this museum is mainly for people in the industry or at least those who are extremely passionate about movies. You may not get as much out of it if you're just looking for cool stuff that was in films. Not that they don't have that, too. But there are plenty of other places that have movie memorabilia if that's all you're interested in. The Academy Museum is meant to inform people about how movies get made. It celebrates the people involved and oftentimes the incredible odds filmmakers have had to overcome in order to create and succeed. I unfortunately missed the Miyazaki exhibit when the museum first opened but some of the other exhibits I've really enjoyed have been the Agnes Varda and John Waters exhibits. I also love the room that has various props, models, and costume pieces from sci-fi and horror films. And the corresponding space movie video installation that plays on a mini panorama screen. It's really interesting if you take the time to read the information in the exhibits. I do think the museum needs some more interactive elements and maybe a separate gallery that's kid-friendly. But they do have their Calm Morning programs and sensory-friendly gallery tours which is pretty cool. As for the Academy Award experience, it's kind of touristy and not really worth the extra money IMO. Definitely a one and done thing. But it's really quick and it doesn't record your voice, there's only music. It also edits your "thank yous," but I think it might be automated so it can turn out kinda spliced up. I hope they tweak it a bit more to make it a bit more personalized, too. But definitely take advantage of the movie screenings and events they have! The theaters are really nice and they often have original prints of films or conversations with filmmakers before a screening. Parking is a bit tricky but there are often metered spots on street parallel to the museums or you can park in the LACMA garage. My husband and I have been members for two years and plan on renewing our membership again for next year. Definitely worth it if you are a movie buff interested in the craft!

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a nice spot to enjoy new tech (eg Mixed Reality) with Cyberpunk and relish in the nostalgia and development of previous films from Cinderella to Marvel. Some exhibits are paid experiences, but the majority are free. Some Oscar trophies are even on display! My favorite galleries were those that showed the process of make-up, drafting, and setting as well as stop motion and color techniques. They really make you appreciate all the hard work that artists put in to to paly into the human experience and interaction. From floor to floor, I swept as much as I could within the 2.5 hours. At a $25 price tag, I highly recommend visit for a DAY trip and coming in the morning... feeling rushed here is by far the easiest way to not enjoy well the experience. And of course, parking is quite pricy at $21... nearby parking is possible, but $21 really is the best they could do for daily rate. Carpool and save!

I found the Academy Museum to be mostly disappointing. I need museums to have spectacular exhibits in which I see up-close artifacts and stunning tableaus. The Academy Museum features some very neat memorabilia to see in person - Star Wars creatures, Oscar gowns, costumes, Beetlejuice's wig, a Bruce the shark model from "Jaws". Items and exhibits range from cinematic perfection (set recreations and props from "The Godfather") to movies relegated to dust-catcher VHS tapes in the attic (a display features an '80s computer used by one of the screenwriters of "Problem Child", which tickled me, as I married the actor who played the Problem Child kid). Unfortunately, the exciting props and other visual attractions are not the majority of the museum's content. Most of the rooms are walls or boards of dense text and grainy photos. There's a room displaying actual Oscars and one can listen to some significant acceptance speeches, but most of the media content can be found online or in a book. I don't pay any museum entry fees to read, look at dull B&W pictures, or experience things I could find on YouTube. Aesthetically, the museum is pretty ugly. Concrete, open ceilings, unnecessarily whimsical architecture. The interiors feel dark and somber, more suited for a 9/11 memorial space than a museum celebrating cinema. There's a top-floor deck with lovely city and Hollywood sign views...but not as stunning as, say, the Observatory or the Getty. The Oscars Experience, the pièce de résistance of the museum, is a must. You have to make a separate reservation (and payment) for it. The day we were there, we were told there were some malfunctions and we might have to get refunds, as the effects weren't working. This was halfway through mostly boring ass rooms of Nothin' But Reading, so I was extremely upset. We came back later and the issues were fixed, so we did get to enjoy the experience. It made the museum trip worth it for me, as I went with my dad and his video turned out great. He died two weeks later, so I'm thankful to have that special video of him. However, the malfunctions also occurred with the museum's cash registers, so the gift store was closed when we tried to shop. We waited around for half an hour, but they couldn't swiftly resolve the issue. Though I was disappointed and I'm sure I would have purchased some items, the Oscar Experience video of my dad is a keepsake of the Academy Museum I'll cherish forever.

Great place. We always have a blast. Rotating exhibits so don't miss 'em! The top of the death star has great acoustics where whispers can be loud. Look out for the secret floor. This is the official home of Bruce the shark. Thank you

I seek out museums when I visit other cities and I couldn't think of a better Los Angeles thing to do than to visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Located off Wilshire Blvd, it is among other museums in the area. There are a couple of parking garages in the general area which range in the 20 dollar range. I got our tickets in advance which is suggested but not required. I thought the 25 dollar price tag to get in was reasonable. You can also do add ons like the Oscar Experience. It is the largest museum dedicated to the art of movie making. There is alot to see here so plan accordingly. The museum has 7 floors of different exhibits, some of which are temporary and changed periodically. When I went, there was a Spike Lee exhibit, Wizard of Oz exhibit, and a Pedro Almodovar exhibit. What I really enjoyed was their amazing amount of actual movie memorabilia they have on display here. If you are a movie buff like me, these items will blow you away. It was neat to see actual outfits worn by actors from all genres. If you want to see an Oscar in real life, this is where you will find it. One of my favorite parts was walking across a glass bridge to the Sphere building which houses a theater where screenings are done. They also have the Dolby Family Terrace which is an open air area that has the most amazing views of the Hollywood Hills. If you are looking to do something totally LA and Hollywood, this is a must see, especially for all you movie fanatics. I would consider coming again when there are newer exhibits I have not seen.

Came to the museum on a Sunday and it was quite fun! It was the day they had different activities to celebrate their anniversary too. One of the activities I liked was drawing on film (another you wanted and 24 or something frames equaled to just one second). The super friendly staff put everyone's film together to make into a short movie which was really cool. Other interactive elements was a space to make your own keychains with old cut up film pieces. The galleries are so fun and fascinating. From the pixar spinning wheel Toy Story to the floor with walls of iconic Academy Awards moments and famous film costumes is really interesting. One segment brought me back to my childhood from remembering the movie, 'The Thief and the Cobbler' the original version by Richard Williams. Blast from the past but it was so fascinating learning about how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was involved in that movie! There are rotating displays based on directors/producers or movies to keep you coming back too. They also show movies here too! Lastly, level 4 of the terrace is so gorgeous with great views. A must visit!

I have wanted to come for so long! But overall, i was disappointed. I had expected to see lots and lots of props, costumes, set pieces, etc. instead, the museum was mostly just reading signs on the wall and looking at photos. I love museums, but that was way more reading than I am used to. I would have loved to see more things from 2010+. I felt like so much was very old and referenced movies and directors I was not familiar with, and I consider myself decently well versed! I went with my parents, who liked the older things but agreed in that it was far too much reading with barely anything to look at.

Awesome. So many years we waited and they delivered. Great details. One of kind treats for they eyes and ears. Plan half a morning at least. The Dykstea film was a wonder!

It was an interesting museum; this museum is based on all motion pictures. How did they make them, and what technique was used? They had exhibits of some film artifacts. One section was based on the Godfather film and had the desk. Also, some Oscars and dresses belong to some of the movie stars. Since I had limited time, I could not do all the activities there, but if I did, I could easily be there for at least 3 hours. There is a giant sphere building where they show a film, which I was not able to attend since it was not available time I was there for a brief visit. Next time I am in Los Angeles, I will visit for a longer. It's right next to LACMA and Petersen Museum, too.

What a fantastic place for a screening. The space is absolutely huge and gorgeous and acoustics are great in the theaters. Tonight I saw Rita Moreno in the David Geffen Theater give a Q&A with a screening of West Side Story and the 70mm print was so vivid, detailed and clear that it was like watching it for the first time all over again. You could literally see the tears flow on Natalie Wood's face in the film and even her silver tooth fillings (!) because the 70mm film print is so sharp on the giant movie screen. Amazing. I highly recommend going here for one of their special screenings. And the architecture of the museum is outstanding. Part of it is a restored streamline moderne department store, and the other side has this gigantic orb. There's also a very nice restaurant inside named after one of Barbra Streisand's film characters called "Fanny's" (remember Fanny Brice?) If you have a ticket to one of the screenings, you get a 10% film screening discount on your meal at the restaurant. Parking is about $20-$21 if you park in the structure connected to the museum or you can park across the street at the Petersen. There tends to be a lot of free street parking on the other side of the park about a block north on 6th Street if you look around.

Museum is very difficult to access, no clear directions on where you should park and there's no signage on where to go once you do park. There's also construction everywhere so finding the actual entrance is rather difficult. Once inside the actual museum, the whole place felt almost incomplete. There's no real rhyme or reason to the sparse exhibits and you won't actually learn anything new. The whole place feels empty and it's almost like walking through a funeral home. My grandma and I made it maybe an hour before we decided we would rather go somewhere else fun like the LA farmers market. They do have an exhibit where you can apparently hold a real academy award. But it costs extra and neither of us felt it was worth it. Bottom line if you don't want to read my whole rant: overpriced, underwhelming and boring.

I have been a member since they have opened and it's my favorite museum in LA. I am a movie buff so I am biased, but they have something cool for everyone to checkout. They also change up some exhibits every so often, so there's something new to see every few months.

If you love movies, you'll definitely enjoy this museum. Come see the different exhibits featuring different directors that were trailblazers in their own right. Seeing the different exhibits and learning about film making was so interesting and cool. The room with all the costume design was my favorite. The hours spent to make these memorable characters is so incredible. The godfather exhibit was still under construction so I couldn't visit when I went. They do movie screenings and discussions with important film makers which is so cool. I wish I lived closer so I can attend. I purchased my tickets online but they do sell tickets in the lobby as well. The gift shop has lot of kitschy movie swag. Didn't try the cafe, but it did look very pretty and aesthetic. No parking on site but there is street parking. I was lucky to find parking across the street.

Beautiful museum, great interactive props, good for families, kids, a date, friends to go and enjoy the cinema together. I loved seeing the old movies, how they are made and what goes in to production. There's a cute cafe, and a lovely place to dine inside. The bathrooms are clean on the bottom floor and they are diligent about bag checking. The security ensures you will be safe!

BRAND NEW MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES. I was amazed at the effort the museum has gone to showcase the diversity of the industry, including its roots based in the Jewish immigrants who laid the foundation of the industry as we know it. Also, the inequities of women and minorities in the industry. Also the entire history of the Oscars and a full timeline of the awards as well as video. Of special interest to me was the Dyxtraflex camera used to film the Star Wars models in flight. There is also a small sci fi exhibit which features the only surviving space ship model from Stanley Kubrick's 2001 a Space Odyssey. . If you are in LA, don't miss this exciting museum.

Really enjoyed my time here. I went to see the John waters exhibit and it's the entire fourth floor which is great. I learned many things about him and plan to watch more of his movies. I went mainly for hairspray and Divine history but everything else was very cool. If you like costumes and makeup and the more physical items of movies they have many pieces from past and present work. There's a little bit of something for everyone. There's an animation section that is very interesting. The view from the family terrace is so nice! I would sit up there all day if I could. I didn't get a chance to check out the gift shop but I plan to go back because there were some exhibits that were closed that I wanted to see. It's exactly what you would expect for an academy museum. Lots of fun pieces from moments in film history.

Not much of interest here. We were very disappointed and would not recommend. We expected more on the history and components of movie making. Frankly pretty boring. The only worthwhile part was a movie on the Jewish studio founders. Poorly placed within the museum, however, next to an exhibit with a lot of conversation. It's worthy of a larger, seperate space with more seating and less distraction.

I am shocked by the mixed reviews this place has. On the one hand, I went in with very low expectations. On the other, give it some credit! My husband and I are movie buffs who never miss the Oscars each year, so this museum was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. One of my favorite parts was the selection of recorded acceptance speeches- Marlon Brando's decline to accept, Hattie McDaniel's acceptance as the first black woman to win, Tatum O'Neal as the youngest winner, and more; I got chills witnessing such history. Another favorite part was seeing behind the scenes and casting for John Singleton's "Baby Boy." Yet another was seeing how sound was edited in "Indianan Jones and the Temple of Doom." They even had Iron Man's shield! So many more cool and eye-opening exhibits. I would recommend to anyone who loves movies! We parked in the lot for the Petersen Automotive museum, and ended up eating lunch in that museum too.

Five stars for the John Waters exhibit. I like that this museum actually took the chance and put on this exhibition. There are misconceptions about John Waters and also not everyone is aware of the full extent of John Waters who isn't just a "filmmaker." He is foremost a master comedic storyteller & entertainer in the live space and a writer of bestselling books. The Academy needs to invite John Waters back for a closing event or invite him to do a show. He is one of the busiest entertainers alive whether it's hosting a music festival or his own shows or exhibiting artwork or doing a book signing, etc. His name is already a warning to those easily offended and if you don't like him, I don't get why you bought a ticket to go to this museum.

While I have yet to explore the museum as a paying visitor, I did come here for the red carpet Hollywood premiere of Knights of the Zodiac, the Hollywood live-action adaptation of Saint Seiya. I took a Lyft to get here, and upon arrival, one of the security/valet people was very kind to help me out of the car in my giant gown, and was super friendly and welcoming. Security was tight, as expected of any red carpet event. The red carpet itself was pretty small compared to other red carpet events, but it was a really memorable one. The theater was large, expansive, and comfortable. Really enjoyed my time here! Very easy for Rideshare to find and pick up and drop off, as there are signs to accommodate Rideshares. Would love to come back again, whether for another red carpet premiere, or as a visitor to check out the exhibits.

I will be honest: having grown up in DC, where most of the museums are subsidized, I'm sometimes irritated to pay admission fees. Twenty-five dollars does seem a bit steep. And that doesn't take parking into consideration. However, having visited, I can say it might be expensive, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My first visit was to a showing of the film, Serial Mom. The theater was absolutely enormous, with near perfect sound and visuals, as befitting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Great fun and great time with commentary from John Waters and staff of the museum. But my friend and I had not factored in time earlier in the day to see the actual John Waters Exhibit...so we planned a return. When we came back to actually see the exhibit, we started in the gift shop. I was shocked that I had missed the 40th anniversary of The Last Unicorn film. This was a movie I've seen literally 48 times growing up and I was so disappointed I missed it. Luckily the John Waters show helped perk me up. The John Waters exhibit was spectacular (And open till August 4th, 2024). Clever and inventive in its displays...like a makeshift mobile home (a la Pink Flamingos) filled with media clips to a beautiful display of Connie Marble's cat-eye glasses. One area of the exhibit was devoted exclusively to fan art either adoring John Waters, the Dreamlanders, the films...or all three. One of of my favorite components was the display of movie costumes. Here were dresses from Hairspray displayed like it was the Costume Institute at the Met. Seeing trash culture juxtaposed like this was an absolute treat. So, while a bit pricey, I would definitely recommend.

If you love films and museums this is the place for you. Whether you're a LA native or a tourist visit the Academy at least once. They change the exhibits every once in a while too. They also show films in their giant theater at a very low price.

I'm honestly stunned by the 3 stars this museum has. I went with my daughter and MIL and we had a great time. I'm not a total movie buff but I took it for what it was. There was a lot of great exhibits and there were IG worth spots. Don't miss seeing the Hollywood sign on the roof top and the restaurant below was meh.

If you are a cinephile or work in the business or even just want to go to a cool museum celebrating the main industry of this town, then go to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. There are a bunch of permanent installations like "The Godfather" room, and tons of famous outfits from classic movies. Lots of ancient equipment to check out. Famous props and special efx costumes. You'll totally geek out. It's three floors, and just tons of cool things to see. I would recommend going when they have a limited time exhibit you want to see. I went because of the John Waters exhibit. It's great that with these exhibits they aren't just a few weeks or a couple months. The limited time exhibits are actually usually open for like 1/2 a year. Somehow my procrastination meant I was still rushing in the end to go the last weekend. LOL. The Waters exhibit was just amazing. The Almodovar exhibit on the second floor, and the Star Wars exhibit on the ground floor were also very cool. And, all the props and costumes from so many classic movies from our collective psyche will leave you in awe as you stand in front of most of them. Only downer is they don't have a parking lot for some reason. I cannot believe in this area, where parking is a super pain in the ass, that they wouldn't have planned a paid parking lot into the design when they were building this only a few years ago. They could've made money and made everyone's life easier. We luckily found parking a few blocks away on the street, but it was a good walk to get back to the museum. And after walking for hours through the entire museum, which you can do in a day, your feet will be aching as you hobble back to your car. Still, this museum is a must go! So go!

Such a fun time! I decided to finally bite the bullet and visit this museum as a movie lover and film school graduate. The museum has so many cool exhibits for film lovers, including memorabilia from Casablanca, the Godfather, and more! I even learned about filmmakers I wasn't familiar with previously. Nearly every facet of filmmaking is saluted. I almost didn't want to leave the museum! I also did the Oscars experience which was pricey, but fun! It's very efficiently done and very cute if you're a big Oscar buff like me. The gift shop is also a sight to behold! I stayed there a while too, just checking out all the fun movie trinkets. A must-visit for movie lovers! There's also a yummy cafe to try on the ground floor in case you get hungry.

Cool store and timeline of movies and memorable milestones in Movie history. Clean bathrooms, handicap accessible. Professional staff. Flexible film schedule.

Meh. I'll honestly be surprised if this museum stays open longer than 5 years. It's expansive - too much so. The ceilings are very high so it just feels SO empty. The exhibits were nothing to write home about. The gift store was pretty nice with a lot of variety. Parking is a block away, but I wish there was handicapped parking available not just drop off service.

I had high hopes for this movie museum but unfortunately left disappointed with its lack of family-friendly planning. While the exhibits are detailed and informative, parents should be aware that much of the content isn't suitable for young children. The layout itself creates problems - for example, the animation exhibit, which naturally attracts children, is directly adjacent to an art installation featuring mature imagery. During our visit, we encountered several concerning moments. The Indiana Jones sound effects display includes intense scenes that may be disturbing for young viewers. Even more troubling, during what appeared to be a family-friendly costume demonstration, unexpected violent footage appeared without warning. There were no clear content warnings or guidance about which areas might be inappropriate for children. The museum does offer fascinating insights into cinema history, with impressive collections of movie artifacts and interactive exhibits about filmmaking techniques. However, it would greatly benefit from creating dedicated family zones, adding clear content warnings, and perhaps offering a suggested route for families with young children. If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend researching the exhibits beforehand or waiting until your children are older. The museum needs to better consider its diverse audience when designing and organizing its exhibits. Currently, it's trying to serve too many different audiences in the same spaces without proper separation or warnings.

My favorite museum in Los Angeles. We had the best time here. Make sure you buy tickets online cause they do sell out. U Yu in need a good 3-4 hours here. They have so much to see. Pay the extra $10 for the Oscar Experience and you get to hold a real Oscar and make a video of you winning one. A real Oscar is really heavy. Have fun museum hopping! Happy Yelping!

This really surprised me. Could have spent all day exploring the wonder of movies. The Godfather exhibit was especially interesting, but I am a 59 year old man, so that's almost a given. Great, only in LA place

Amazing Museum of Major Proportions! Five stars all the way. Spent 3+ hours and enjoyed it very much, leaving a couple of floors still to explore. We started at the top, pulling no strings (including hamstrings) to get there. Lots of guides around to steer you in the right direction. Currently, the fifth floor features an exhibit on John Waters. Hugely entertaining and informative. I have limited experience with his films, but have always been intrigued by him and the couple films I know. You don't have to be a fan to appreciate his contributions to film and to contemporary culture. His contributions to queer culture have been matter-of-fact, humorous and above all, frank. There are many costumes, props and more from his many films. Definitely fun. There was a smaller, complementary exhibit about avant-garde filmmakers and voices from the 1960s onwards. Again, informative, entertaining, yeah a little shocking. Take a walk on the Barbara Streisand Bridge to visit the rooftop. Spacious, perfect for an event, a party or just a breezy escape to gaze over LACMA towards the Hollywood Hills, and including, of course, the Hollywood Sign. Back inside, there was a fantastic exhibit all about Almodovar. Again, here's a huge director whose works I don't know well enough. This collection of posters, video excerpts (on gorgeous screens, of course) will make you want to tie yourself up, tie yourself down to watch more of his films. Fun to recognize some of his earlier films have actors we know as major stars today. The only thing I saw on the first floor was the very cool Stories of Cinema. Lots of familiar faces there, of course, but more importantly, a huge overview of motion pictures themselves. Colorful, poignant, humorous. The lower level has a movie theater with showings throughout the week. I look forward to see a film there, as one can only imagine how luminous it would be. Even if I don't see a movie, there's still much more to see here. Long the in the making, the Academy Museum is a joy to visit. Architecturally, they have done wonders upon the bones of the old department store from yesteryear, Bullock's. There are plenty of good ghosts all around. Well worth the price of admission. There are also cafes and other opportunities inside to help keep you nourished and rejuvenated. Bravo.

I have been here twice now and enjoyed both times, and each experience was different but I also believe what you put in, you get back. My most recent visit included the John Waters exhibit. I learned a lot and loved the it interviews and interactivity, and the dancing room like you were "back in the 60's". Costumes were cool to see too from Hairspray, Serial Mom and Cry Baby. Cost is $50/for 2 people which some might say is pricey but there are 4 floors and an observation deck. It's a large space and I look forward to going back and checking out the new art!

This is a don't miss this if you are a movie buff! The @ToyStory zoetrope was amazing!

I still have not been to the Academy Museum to actually walk around the museum, but I went specifically for a few of the 4-night special event with Song Kang-Ho 송 강 호 who stars in many of Korea's best films. This was a great event in a beautiful Theatre. He came outside after the screenings and was super friendly and kind and answered lots of questions. He also came and signed if you autographs afterwards outside. I will definitely stay on the mailing list for the museum and I cannot wait to go see the actual museum in person.

Visited recently for the John Waters show. This facility is pretty nice and the show was quite interesting (if a little brief). This museum is located adjacent to the LACMA grounds and there is a very convenient parking lot under that complex. In hindsight I wish I'd allocated time to also explore the LACMA, as it seems like a lot of fun too!

Definitely enjoyed my time here! The museum has lots of cool exhibits. You could spend an entire day roaming around in here. Loved it all!!

Minor note: Might be getting the floors wrong for some stuff. I went to this museum with two others recently as our whole group are movie buffs. The staff in front were friendly and there's a nice gift shop in front. It consists of several floors but the floors are a bit sparse. I would say in general their general exhibit is leagues worse than The Museum of Moving Images in NYC being both much smaller and just not as well spaced out but they have some fun special exhibits. I wish I was here when they had the Miyazaki exhibit but instead for now it's about John Waters. The best thing here currently by a country mile is the The Godfather exhibit which is part of their rather expansive third floor. Said special exhibit has certainly have a lot about said movie including Corleone's desk and also some early casting as well as many many other things. Outside of this exhibit and if you're not a big fan of The Godfather or whatever special exhibit there is here, I wouldn't really say there's much here. The second floor was probably the best floor otherwise. it consisted of a small section created by and based on Pedro Almodóvar with snippets from many of his films. This felt weirdly connected to an area on early animation. I mean it goes from a section that pretty explicitly says that it's not for kids and then the next thing you see in the next room is a set from Kubo and the Two Strings/Laika as well as Frank Thomas's desk (an animator for Disney.) I don't get it as a kid looking at the Laika stuff can look over to the literal next room and see something they might not want to. This connected to a tiny area on Georges Méliès and early stop motion animation. This went into probably the best section which was a sci-fi area with stuff from Alien, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, 2001, and various other movies which had a wonderful 26 minute video on multiple cameras essentially being about the wonders of space in movies. There was also a separate side room designed by Hildur Guðnadóttir. This dark room with only a little red light was inspired by her music for The Joker. The third floor outside of The Godfather section had a small section on early early types of cinema such as the camera obscura and other similar things. This was also fun though I wish this went more in depth having a whole lot less examples of early film stuff compared to said museum in New York. The Godfather exhibit was here as well as an exhibit going over Casablanca, Boyz N The Hood, a Spanish director, and the large section on the Oscars/the Academy Awards including videos from many previous Oscar awards as well as several Oscars themselves. There was also Vertical Cinemas which shows a bunch of mini works from local directors and some other things and this was probably the most comprehensive floor. For an extra $10, there's a gimmick that you can hold up an actual Oscar because of course they'll charge for that because tourists. The fourth floor was essentially all about John Waters and was the replacement for the Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki stuff. It went quite in depth though of course I prefer what was here earlier. It was certainly a well done exhibit but I honestly didn't think he needed a full floor. The fifth floor didn't have much outside of a nice view and there is a nice cafe on the bottom floor with pretty good American food called Fanny's (https://www.yelp.com/biz/fannys-los-angeles) which feels more inspired than the museum itself. For a museum about movies by The Academy, this felt more like a museum for tourists who barely know anything about films rather than a museum for people actually into cinema. I barely learned anything and outside of the Sci-Fi and Godfather areas, it just wasn't worth it. The comparative museum in NYC is probably one of my favorite museums period and this one kind of sucked. Go here only if you're a fan of the current current special exhibits. 2 and would likely be a 1 if The Godfather exhibit wasn't so good.

I'm so shocked that there are anything but 4-5 stars for this museum. Being a museums study major, there is some amazing things here and it's so well curated. I could spend literal hours here. I can see if you don't know certain producers, or directors (there are some more obscure directors etc) featured here you could be not amused... but then again I'm SO AMUSED by this museum. I love the rotating exhibits here. Anyone who hasn't been to California I always take them here and the car museum. The diner is amazing here too. Get a drink before walking the museum and just relax and soak it all in. It's just an unique museum where it touches on every aspect that make up a film. Beautiful. Will never stop coming back. I bring my 3 year old niece and my 11 year old daughter and they always love it

Wonderful museum for film buffs, next to auto museum on museum row. Also has a restaurant. Great views on hills on top floor. Always interesting exhibits that change

First time watching a movie inside a museum?! For free?! If you have your LA library card, they often have 2 free passes for you to watch movies of the month. Currently theme is geostorms and global warming. Disaster movies like the day after tomorrow, ashfall, with guest speaker to answer your questions at the end. The seats are so cush, the floors are spotless. Bathrooms are so nice and up the stairs to the right before you leave the theatre. Very well organized, lots of staff to assist. Security abound. Parking is free in nearby neighborhood or pay til 8pm in smaller streets.