Why Everyone In Los Angeles Is Dressing Up To See Movies In A Cemetery

Forbes

21-07-2025

In its 24th year screening movies at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Cinespia has become a must-do summer activity in Los Angeles. Cinespia/Kelly Lee Barrett
Short of scoring a box at the Hollywood Bowl or primo seats at Dodger Stadium, there may be no outdoor experience more quintessentially Los Angeles than spreading out a blanket on the grass at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and watching a movie with 4,000 strangers at a Cinespia screening.
Cinespia is L.A.'s longest running outdoor film series and has transformed the city's most famous resting place into one of the city's liveliest summer traditions. What began in 2002 with a modest screening of Strangers on a Train has grown into a 24-year cultural phenomenon, complete with pre-show DJs, vintage inspired photo booths, food trucks and cinematic cosplay that could make even the dearly departed celebs nearby (Rudolph Valentino, Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, et al) do a double take.
Set amid the graves and mausoleums of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Cinespia draws a crowd of thousands on its movie screening nights. Cinespia/Kelly Lee Barrett
I love the Cinespia atmosphere no matter what film is screening. On movie nights, Fairbanks Lawn is a combo of backyard movie night, fashion show and picnic party. This past weekend's screening of Romy & Michele's High School Reunion had moviegoers dressing up in blue and silver empire-waist minidresses and taking credit for inventing the Post-it note.
This being Los Angeles, celebrities and filmmakers often show up to introduce the screenings, including Demi Moore, Cameron Crowe, Drew Barrymore, QuestLove and the late Paul Reubens.
As Cinespia closes out the summer 2025 season, fans are looking ahead to Labor Day weekend and beyond with a roster of crowd-pleasing favorites. Here's what's coming up:
Saturday, August 30: The Princess Bride
Sunday, August 31 – The Silence of the Lambs
Saturday, September 6 – This Is Spinal Tap (with Rob Reiner in person).
Saturday, September 13 – Alien
I'm always curious about the behind-the-scenes on successful ventures like this, so I checked in with Cinespia founder John Wyatt to ask a few burning questions.
Cinespia continues through Labor Day and beyond with upcoming screenings of Princess Bride (August 30), Silence of the Lambs (August 31), This is Spinal Tap (September 6) and Alien (September 13). Cinespia/Kelly Lee Barrett
David Hochman: When you started screening movies in a cemetery, did you think of it as a joke, an art project or something else completely? It was a an audacious move.
John Wyatt: Originally, we were a film club. A group of us would go see classic movies in a traditional theater. Then I'd plan an after-party to make it more enticing. The club topped out at 100 people, so I started looking for our own place to screen films. Hollywood Forever Cemetery was perfect, with all the Hollywood history, a big open lawn and a mausoleum wall to project on. So, in most ways the original mission is the same as today—to create a fun experience that would lure people out to a classic film. That focus helped me shape the business model early on, with a clear directive for every season, and guidelines that my team could follow.
Hochman: Was there one moment early on when you went, 'Whoa, this is a bigger success than I ever imagined?'
Wyatt: Immediately it was a success, and when I heard the applause at the end of my first showing, I knew I was on to something. From there, word of mouth spread like wildfire. The dual features of the screenings being this exotic, special event in a wild location, plus a secret happening known only to a few, really fueled the fire.
I did no traditional advertising and still haven't, and hearing about the events from friends proved to be so powerful that everyone wanted to join in. We still have that working for us. Even if people haven't been to Cinespia before, they've heard about it from all their friends. This phenomenon is the most compelling advertising, as any studio exec can tell you, and it was a large part of our success.
So I'd say it was accidental at first, but I seized on it and made it part of our business. Early on we turned down the Today Show because we thought it would ruin our word of mouth mojo. They have never asked us back!
Hochman: You don't need them! You've got a super loyal and super cool fan following. How do you balance the reverence for the past with staying relevant a young audience?
Wyatt: I think building lots of extras around the movie helps sustain the appeal. Great DJs playing before the movie, popular restaurants serving food, stylish lighting — we bring over 70 individual lights per show — hosting A-list guests and surprise appearances by the stars of the movies. All that creates a very buzzy atmosphere.
For the past 15 years we have built a bespoke photo studio, custom themed to each film, at every event. We have sets, props, professional lighting and photographers who print beautiful photo prints. It's free for all customers and is wildly popular. We see over a thousand guests pose per night. The photo studio encourages people to dress up, in costume or in fashion, and sets a standard on our audience's looks. People see our party photographer Kelly Lee Barrett's great pics on social media and our website and they want to join in.
Hochman: And I've heard you screen movies, too.
Wyatt: Ha. Yes. The movie has to play in an engaging way and feel fresh and modern. Identifying the films that can still work magic on an audience of 4,000 people is our 'secret sauce' that keeps people coming back with the excitement of the crowd bringing us over the finish line. One benefit of doing these screenings for 24 years is we have patrons who grew up coming to Cinespia. The movies their parents loved are now some of their favorites, I'm sure a few are already bringing their kids to the movies.
Movies that debuted in your childhood hold a certain potency. We love turning the audience on to old classics, and adding recent great films they love to the canon. By always looking at our events from the customer's POV, we've been able to keep our screenings relevant, fun and inspiring, and that's what keeps us going.
Hochman: What's ahead for Cinespia? New locations? Cinespia 3D?
Wyatt: For many years, we have done Cinespia screenings at other historic locations, including Los Angeles State Historic Park, Griffith Park, the 1920s movie palaces of DTLA and now even The Rose Bowl. These are places with historic value and vintage appeal tied to L.A.'s history. Beyond that, we would love Cinespia to teach people in other cities and countries how to create unforgettable film events in their communities and keep the love of going out to the movies an enduring passion around the world.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Why Everyone In Music Is Watching Blue Note's New Hollywood Club By David Hochman Forbes 'Jaws' Turns 50: The Summer Blockbuster That Still Dominates Pop Culture By David Hochman Forbes The Most Joyful Live Show In America Right Now Might Be Cory Henry's By David Hochman