The Frida Cinema is the only nonprofit independent cinema in Orange County. By not having to show just the latest blockbuster movies, they have a great variety of films. I really like that it has live shows, post movie Q & A sessions, film festivals and more. Check out their website and you'll probably find a number of movies you'll want to see or see again since they show classics and cult classics. read more

The Frida Cinema - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I came for the volunteer pick which was Signs and boy am I glad that I did because this was the best way to rewatch a classic! what a LOVELY art house my god! from the outside to the inside this place had stars in my eyes. and then to walk in and be greeted by the loveliest crew just made this all the better!! even the bathrooms were so cool!! considering The Frida is a not-for-profit art house, I really can't complain much. I do have to say that the pizza was sad and I'm glad I use a voucher to get it or else I would've been more sad. The popcorn though was DELICIOUS I could've eaten three more bags! and i wouldn't recommend sitting on the left side if youre in auditorium 2 because there was bumping and brushing on the other side of the wall the entire film which was unfortunately very distracting. but i cannot wait to go back!! Jennifer's Body showing here i come! read more

Great independent movie theater. Lots of cool community events and they show a lot of classics and unique movies, niche ones from the past and much more. A lot of them are one day only special showings and some are played a couple days, so definitely follow their socials to see what's going to be showing next. They also have their own film club that you can join with discounts and benefits too. They also have their own merchandise too and participate in a lot of local community events, which is always neat. Love to see that. Concessions are also affordable, unlike at large chain theaters. Huge plus. I came back here again recently to watch the Bang Dream! 10th Anniversary concert showing. Lots of cosplayers, wota doing wotagei (Google it, you won't be disappointed) during the showing (testament to how chill welcoming this theater is), and we did a group photo at the end together and there was a merch gathering in front. Absolute W. Since it is a smaller theater, the restrooms can get super busy with lots of people there for a singular event, so keep this in mind if you have to time your restroom breaks best on intermission etc. My only qualm, though might makes sense based on context, but the seats were super uncomfortable (though I was sitting for 5 hours for a very extended showing) and my lower back and butt muscles were cooked. Maybe bring a cushion or something for the next visit. read more

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This is one of the best theaters I've ever been to. The staff is friendly, the prices are good, and the movie marathons are a lot of fun! read more

The Frida Cinema - Front entrance - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Mother-daughter date at The Frida Cinema was nothing but good times. $10 movie tickets is a win itself, but this nonprofit independent cinema is also so unique and welcoming. The Frida Cinema is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Ana, and fits right into the cultural district. We were greeted by a very friendly worker, who later came into the theater to announce our movie. We watched Little Women, one of the two movies playing for the day. I had a great time! They play many classics, horrors, and diverse films that are selected. Other movies currently playing include Gremlins and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. You can go on their website and check out their movies. I would definitely go back and catch a movie again at The Frida Cinema. You can also rent the venue for film screenings, birthday parties, etc. read more

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Hands down one of the best historical movies theater in OC. The Frida offers a monthly membership fee for unlimited movies or pay per view. read more

the frida is awesome! the staff and volunteers are super nice and helpful and it's just an awesome place! leonardo in specific is awesome! can't wait to go again! :) read more

The Frida Cinema - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is an iconic non-profit movie theater! They have lots of seasonal activities and promos and tickets for a reasonable prize. I love watching classic movies and special screenings here, especially The Room, where it's interactive and there's so much energy. Bathrooms are clean, staff is friendly, refreshments are available for a decent prize, and the place has a wonderful artistic vibe. A must- go if you're in Orange County! read more

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Frida Cinema is a great little treasure of Santa Ana. It's a non-profit art house theater, so if you are a cinephile, you will be in love with the variety of films they show and the community there. I've always bought my tickets online so it's also chill for anyone who wants to watch movies alone. It's a small theater with what looks to be two viewing rooms, but the art on the walls and interior aesthetics is beautiful. They sometimes have posters of the film you can take home. The staff are really friendly and you can tell they love what they do. There's also a paid film club membership you can join which is great for locals. My only complaint is that the chairs in the theaters are super uncomfortable to me. Plaza has parking but may need to circle around a few times if you want free parking. Otherwise you pay for metered parking ($4 for about two hours, free past 10pm) or in the very close by parking structure (not sure about cost there). read more

I absolutely LOVE this place. You can definitely tell that the management and the volunteers love being there and love providing movie fans a place to convene as a community. I saw Creature from the Black Lagoon tonight, and it was SO FUN. I was very happy to see how many people were there watching one of my favorite classic movies and reacting to it. The service for concessions was pretty good considering there were a LOT of people when I was in line, and they had a lobby sale with a TON of cool merch, including shirts and posters, as well as DVDs. I snagged a GDT Pinocchio poster, a Death Records t-shirt, a Camp Frida shirt, and a collector's edition box set of Aliens, ALL FOR ONLY $40. I'm so glad I found out about this theater because it's such an awesome place to be. read more

Absolutely love this theater. Worth every penny making the trip to come catch a great feature film. I'm an absolute fan of old movies, and it's even a better treat when they host special events here. Everything from celebrating film anniversaries with a celebrity Q&A panel, to watching Godzilla on 16mm film, and my of all time favorite....HORROR marathons! Full service concession stand, popcorn,nachos, beer , candy, sodas! Enjoy the mural and artwork on display in the lobby. Some of the art is available for purchase. Staff is exceptional and friendly. I can't thank them enough for taking care of such a great theater. Check out their website for movies in rotation, special events. You can purchase tickets in advance or at the door. Card payments accepted. Off street parking available out front, but you'll have to feed the meter. Just pay the few extra bucks and park around the corner in the parking garage. Plenty of restaurants in the area, with a large food hall one block down. Enjoy and come out and let's keep the love of film alive. read more

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Love this theater but went to see T2 on Friday to heat the heat and it must have been 76 degrees in there I almost left. I had sweat dripping down my face. read more

Frida Cinema is located in the heart of downtown Santa Ana, a super charming and artsy area lined with fun shops and restaurants. I parked in the structure nearby, but there are also parking stalls with meters lined along the street. I love Frida Cinema because it shows indie films, throwback movies, and special features at good prices! I went to watch "Grave of the Fireflies" today and only paid $8 for my ticket (+$1 online fee). The lobby area was colorful and hip and the inside of the theater was decently spacious and clean. What a fun place! I will definitely come back for more of Frida Cinema's special events in the future!!! :D read more

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The people there definitely work there because they love movies and care for older or indie cinema. I saw hundreds of beavers and a few of the employees had niche merch from the movie. Fantastic ticket price and a great experience. read more

I didn't know places like this still existed?! Character and charm for days. It's like stepping back in time to your small hometown theater that delightfully pays homage to classics and is an outlet for new Indy films. The staff is exceptionally attentive, a remarkably vast snack bar and even has fun movie related sundry items for sale. Take time to appreciate the painted murals; very well done and communicate their very cool vibe. Remarkably affordable, seats are so comfy and sound was excellent. Additionally, there is a parking garage around corner, well lit, and plenty of interesting shops and libations surrounding the theater. read more

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Came here twice, once for a screening of Heat and more recently for the 30th anniversary event for Se7en, and this theater is great! The location is pretty nice, right next to the 4th St Market, and there's a parking structure right next to it that's 3 or 5 dollars I forgot. The interior and decorations were cute and festive, especially for the horrorbuzz event with the jack o lanterns, lollipops, the themed blood sack cocktail and raffle prize! The screens are decently sized, the audio systems are pretty well tuned in my opinion, and the film selections / series are well thought out. I would say small downsides are the seats aren't the most comfortable in the world, and at least for the right auditorium if you sit the front half area, there's not great elevation so if someone pretty tall sits in front of you their head might slightly block the bottom portion of the screen. Honestly it beats having to drive to LA and dealing with the headaches of traffic and parking, so I'll gladly come back and keep supporting :) read more

The Frida Cinema - John Doe's blood cocktail for Se7en event - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Excellent movies, old and foreign. Theaters like this need to be preserved...................

Super friendly staff. Plenty of concession options. Good knowledge of concession options from the staff. Nice bathroom. Super happy that they show what they do. Definitely affordable. Comfy seats & spacious. I love that this place exists. It is always a yes, to see art. To everyone involved, thank you. And shout out to all that volunteer there [x read more

Cool art house with friendly staff. We visited late October so lots of fun Halloween decor. Located in visitor friendly downtown Santa Ana. So many eateries and murals to enjoy while walking 4th Street. Parking in structure is suggested with decent pricing. Website is easy to navigate. Would definitely make the drive to enjoy another pleasant Sunday afternoon. read more

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I love!!! The Frida Cinema. I try to go at least once a week. Their mission to bring art house cinema to Orange County is so important to the community. I have been a film club member for a couple years now and it's definitely been the best investment I've made in terms of entertainment in a long time. I even had my birthday party at The Frida. The staff is always super helpful, and the volunteers rock. I have been introduced to so many of my favorite movies through this theatre, and so many films that would never have been on my radar otherwise. Classic Movie Nights is one of my favorite series, and I have been enjoying the Twin Peaks series this year. Last year, Technicolor Summer and Japanese Art House were definitely highlights. I could go on and on but I think I've made my point, lol. The Frida is the place to be if you love movies. read more

I visited the Frida Cinema for a showing of an independent film. I thought that was so cool and it was such a fun experience! The staff were super friendly and they were able to rangle the viewers well as it did get really packed at one point. They have good priced concessions which is rare these days and they even serve beer! The inside of the theater was nice and clean too. I will definitely be back to see a film in the future. read more

An excellent choice to see movies both current and vintage. Amazing staff who seem genuinely passionate about movies. A very safe area with great restaurants nearby. Definitely worth a visit. read more

I visited The Frida Cinema last night. I wanted to check out the Monochromatic Memories art show in the lobby. I was fascinated by all the art pieces on display. I also admired the murals that adorn the lobby walls. I like the vibe of the cinema. read more

The Frida Cinema - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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You can just feel the passion and love for film oozing from every inch of this place. The Frida is where I go to unwind and appreciate a movie I might not have heard of before or have not had the opportunity to see on the big screen. The staff is kind and generous and the environment is warm and fun. Highly recommend to any movie lover!!!!! read more

I was at this theater few days ago to watch The Hitcher (1986 film) starring C. Thomas Howell as (Jim Halsey) and Rutger Hauer as a murderous hitchhiker. And C. Thomas Howell was there in person to introduce the movie. How cool is that!!!! Love this small non-profit venue that showing old movies and special appearance of these actors read more

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It's so fun to go here & watch old movies up on the screen. The volunteers there are very friendly. Good snack options. No pre assigned seating so if you know what seats you want, get there early. I wish this was closer to my house. I would go more often. read more

I enjoyed the experience here forsure. Was able to catch a foreign film not showing anywhere else in socal.

Love that this theater is the only orange county non-profit cinema! I've seen a couple of throwback films that are near and dear to my heart. Tonight I watched the original Halloween and loved seeing first timers watching it and it still holding strong! I love the themes they do and little contests, as well as experiences! Definitely have a few movies I'm looking forward to soon! read more

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Took myself on a solo date to watch wolf children. Oh my gosh, such a cute film! I cried a few times not gonna lie. The place was cleaner than anticipated. The staff was nice. I did not purchase snacks here as I ate before I came. I will come back to watch another movie next week since it is such a good price and there was not that many people in the theatre which is a plus for a lady like me lol. read more

TLDR; You should absolutely go out of your way to go here This the best and only non profit movie theater in Orange County. You know how sometimes you feel like experiencing a movie in a theater, but maybe it was released before your time? The Frida has a good variety of throwback movies every month. It's also in a perfect location for dinner & a movie/drinks. They also have Q&As with the directors on select films which is cool for those that are maybe pursuing the arts and want to pick the brain of those who have made movies before. + volunteers who keep this place running are always so nice. + tickets are always fair & definitely worth it. Cheaper than a regular movie theater. Go here for good vibes read more

Friendly staff, old school independent theater. Definitely movie fans! We went to see a Goofy Movie and had a blast

The Frida is a staple of the movie-going experience in Southern California. As we witness the decline of traditional moviegoing, this location remains a bastion of hope for those who still love cinema. It's affordable, accessible, and an all around wonderful experience. As arthouse as it gets--no notes! read more

On any given calendar week, I am certain there will be a movie playing at the Frida to please everyone's tastes. Orange County is so lucky to have such a wonderful place for appreciating film. The schedules at the Frida are so clearly curated with thought, I am often amazed by the range of films being offered. Any given week, you can walk into almost any genre of film. I most recently attended this past weekend for the Twilight Saga marathon (and phew -- was THAT a marathon!) Frida staff came in between each film to do a fun activity with the viewers, were available for any questions or concerns, and really made the day as enjoyable as possible. I'm also a Frida film club member and I would recommend it to anyone who just enjoys hanging out at the Frida. For ~$150 (cheapest option) a year, you get access to monthly film club only screenings and events. It pays for itself, and it supports this amazing theater. Which brings me to my final point ... reviews complaining of snacks being offered and popcorn taste, please remember: this is a nonprofit! I would guess that a good amount of the staff at the Frida are volunteers, taking time out of their day just to help out. If you feel that there is something at the Frida that is not up to par, I would bet anything they are always taking donations. Just a thought. ;) The Frida is such an asset to the community and such a worthwhile place to visit! read more

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We are lucky to be close to some great places in LA, but it was worth the drive to give our film loving family a new indie theater experience. Follow on Instagram so you can see all the cool stuff they are showing! read more

Welcoming staff, intimate vibe, great movies, good prices! A great chill Friday night date night or friend outing activity :)

What a cute homey theatre!!!! I love it!!!!! The place is so cozy and the decor is the cutest. Almost all the seats have a great view of the theatre and the staff is so kind. There is paid parking behind the theatre! read more

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Never knew there was a nice little theater here in Santa Ana. It was super intimate and cute. I enjoyed the mural outside on the parking structure. Came on a weekday evening and met with a friend to see a movie. It was great. The concession was nice, all the staff were great and the bathroom was clean. Only thing is there is not too much street parking without a walk and if you use the structure there is a fee. You can use a card to pay. Would come back again for sure and lots of restaurants to eat at close by. read more

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The union hosted a movie screening for members here. The management team we worked with were great, very accommodating, helpful and supported the movement of equity for the working class. The theater has an old school vibe, slightly dark, posters and stickers posted everywhere and affordable concession prices. The seats were cloth, no recline but comfortable. Such a hit with our group. We watched American Dream and Other Fairy Tales by Abigail Disney, depicting the story of Cast Members working at Disneyland. Several of the members attending was starring in the film. What a great time. read more

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The Frida is such a sick theater. It was always my girlfriend's first choice when going to see a good movie, and after a couple times of going, it has become my number one theater to attend as well. The staff is very nice and respectful, you can also really tell that they love being there. The prices ate always very reasonable when we decided to go as well. read more

The Frida Cinema - I want this bench. - Cinema Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This theater was amazing. Great screen and fantastic programming. I just wish it was closer to my house. I would be a regular for sure. read more

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