Cinespia's silver anniversary is a love letter to film fans, bringing beloved classics back to communal big-screen experiences at the magical Hollywood Forever Cemetery venue. Founder John Wyatt frames it as honoring stories that have earned their place in cultural conversation across generations.
The lineup skews heavily into horror and fantasy territory this year—Mia Goth's dual scream queen vehicles 'X' and 'Pearl' on a single night signals Cinespia doubling down on its cult following. The See's Candies partnership for joint milestone celebrations (their 105th to Cinespia's 25th) suggests some creative cross-promotion behind the scenes.
Screenings run every Saturday in August at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with 'Practical Magic' on Aug. 1, 'The Mummy' on Aug. 8, Mia Goth double feature 'X' + 'Pearl' on Aug. 15, 'Coming to America' on Aug. 22, and 'Labyrinth's' 40th anniversary screening on Aug. 29. Cinespia is presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.
Twenty-five years strong and Cinespia still knows exactly what its audience craves—no pretentious arthouse picks here, just crowd-pleasing nostalgia with DJs, wine bars, and the kind of theatrical atmosphere that makes watching at home feel like a crime against cinema.
Cinespia is marking its quarter-century of outdoor screenings in Los Angeles with a lineup that reads like a greatest-hits playlist for anyone who came of age between 1998 and 2006. The anniversary season, presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, will unfold every Saturday through August at the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery—a venue that somehow makes watching movies beneath the stars feel both spooky and sacred. The announced slate kicks off August 1st with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman channeling their inner witches in "Practical Magic," the 1998 cult favorite about unlucky-in-love sisters who discover that some loves are literally death.
August 8th brings the Brendan Fraser-led "The Mummy" (1999)—yes, THAT one—and the Variety description doesn't shy away from acknowledging it served as a "sexual awakening for an entire generation." August 15th goes full horror marathon with Mia Goth's back-to-back scream sessions: the adult-film fever dream of "X" followed by its technicolor prequel "Pearl," described as having "wtf written all over it, in the best way possible." Rounding out the month, Eddie Murphy's royal comedy "Coming to America" takes over August 22nd before David Bowie's legendary turn as Jareth the Goblin King anchors a 40th anniversary celebration of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth" on August 29th.
The film description practically swoons: enough "glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom." Cinespia founder John Wyatt offered a statement that leaned into the communal spirit that's kept the event running for a quarter-century. "The films we're showcasing this month have earned their place in the cultural conversation because they continue to resonate across generations," he said. "Bringing these stories back to the big screen in a communal setting is at the heart of what Cinespia has always been about." The experience extends beyond just the screenings—attendees can enjoy DJ sets bookending each film, a free photo booth, wine bar, and concession stands throughout the evening.
There's even a specially branded See's Candies box available exclusively at these screenings to celebrate both their 105th anniversary and Cinespia's 25th. Additional screenings for the season will be announced later, according to Variety, with tickets and more information available through www.cinespia.org.
