Pop into the movies at UCLA
Happy National Popcorn Day, Bruins! National Popcorn Day is celebrated annually on Jan. 19. Whether microwaved, straight from the bag or popped at the theater, nothing pairs more perfectly with a good movie than popcorn. UCLA is surrounded by movie magic, from big-screen premieres in Westwood to iconic spots on campus that have starred in Hollywood films. For those looking for the best nearby theaters, curious about the films shot right here on campus or want to learn more about Westwood’s cinema history, keep reading!
Westwood Village and the film industry
Westwood has long contributed to the film industry. The Regency Village and Bruin Theatres, located in Westwood Village, first opened in the 1930s. The Regency Village Theatre was featured in the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and has also hosted movie premieres, complete with red carpets and celebrity attendees. The theaters closed in 2024, but the Regency Village Theatre is expected to reopen sometime after a renovation project, led by an investor group of over two dozen filmmakers, is completed, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Westwood Village hosted about 24 movie and television premieres a year while the Regency Village and Bruin Theatres were open, according to the Daily Bruin. Notable premieres in the past couple of years include “Challengers,” “Wonka,” “Queen Charlotte,” “Twisters,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “Are You There, God? It’s Me… Margaret,” according to the Westwood Village website. Click the link below to see all movies that premiered in Westwood since 2023.
UCLA’s campus and film
Aside from Westwood Village, UCLA’s campus has itself starred on the big screen, having been featured in over 300 movies, documentaries, short films, TV shows and music videos from classics like “The Godfather” to recent blockbusters such as “Oppenheimer,” according to online entertainment database IMDb. For a comprehensive list of entertainment media listing UCLA as a filming location from IMDb, click the link below.
Movie theaters near UCLA
Though the Regency Village and Bruin Theatres are now closed, Bruins can still enjoy a movie near campus at AMC Century City 15, located in the Westfield Century City mall, or the IPIC Westwood theater on Wilshire Boulevard. Students can also purchase discounted movie tickets at the UCLA Central Ticket Office, located at 325 Westwood Plaza. Click the link below to view pricing information.
