305 E. 4th Street STE 100 | Santa Ana, CA 92701
The Frida Cinema is Orange County's only 501(c)(3) non-profit art house theater,
dedicated to enriching, connecting, and educating communities through the art of cinema.
El Topo - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
The Frida's Drive-Ins at Mess Hall Market are back! Join us as we kick off our 2022 series with Alejandro Jodorowsky's classic EL TOPO!
The Holy Mountain - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Experience Alejandro Jodorowsky's legendary surreal masterpiece THE HOLY MOUNTAIN under the stars at Tustin's Mess Hall Market!
Stop Making Sense - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Join us on Thursday, January 27th at 7:30pm at Tustin's Mess Hall Market for Talking Heads' pioneering live concert film Stop Making Sense!
The meticulous leader of a professional crime crew and an overworked LAPD detective cross paths in director Michael Mann's 1995 heavy hitting crime drama Heat, the last entry in our Michael Mannuary series.
Pedro Almodóvar strikes again with Parallel Mothers, a powerful new drama starring Academy Award-winner Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit.
Cage Match Round 1: The Rock
Round 1 of our Cage Match series - highlighting the movies of the one and only Nicolas Cage - kicks off with The Rock, an action-packed thriller from Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Cage Match Round 1: The Wicker Man (2006)
Making up the second half of Round 1 of our Cage Match series - highlighting the films of the one and only Nicolas Cage - is The Wicker Man, a folk horror film from Neil LaBute.
Tuesday, Feb 1
The night starts off normally enough but things take a turn for the worse with Collateral, the next entry in our Michael Mannuary series.
Wednesday, Feb 2
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Join us on Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:30pm at Tustin's Mess Hall Market for Edgar Wright's video game-graphic novel-action-comedy masterpiece Scott Pilgrim vs. The World!
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliche
Punk lives with Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliche, a revealing documentary about the iconic X-Ray Spex front-woman.
Thursday, Feb 3
Friday, Feb 4
From co-writers/co-directors Emily Bennett and Justin Brooks comes the 2021 Mile High Horror Film Festival winner Alone with You.
New York Ninja
The long-lost footage of John Liu's 1984 production of New York Ninja becomes assembled into glorious completion - all in a stunning feat by Vinegar Syndrome.
Saturday, Feb 5
Sunday, Feb 6
Monday, Feb 7
Hausu - The Frida Cinema Drive-In Dine-Out at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Jump in your cars and prepare to have your minds melted as The Frida Cinema presents Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1977 cult masterpiece HAUSU!
Thursday, Feb 10
Tropicanna Presents: Sid and Nancy (21+ Event)
Join Santa Ana's Tropicanna for a one night-only screening of Alex Cox's Sid and Nancy, starring Gary Oldman!
Friday, Feb 11
Calling all mojito fiends! It's Michael Mann's 2006 adaptation of Miami Vice, starring the inimitable duo of Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.
Dasha Nekrasova, co-creator of the Red Scare podcast, makes her directorial debut with The Scary of Sixty-First, a daring slice of New York horror.
Saturday, Feb 12
Bust out those plastic spoons! Tommy Wiseau's The Room is returning in all its football-throwing glory!
Spend Valentine's Day with Harold and Maude! Harold is a morose teenager who is obsessed with death and faking suicide. His macabre activities are interrupted when he meets Maude, an elderly woman who is full of life.
Monday, Feb 14
Join us Tuesday, February 1th at 7:30pm for The Frida Cinema's next iteration of Trivia Night!
Wednesday, Feb 16
Witness one of the greatest love stories of all time with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Akira - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Join us on Wednesday, February 16th at 7:30pm at Tustin's Mess Hall Market for Katsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk classic Akira!
Mandy - Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market
Join us on Wednesday, February 23rd at 7:30pm at Tustin's Mess Hall Market for Panos Cosmatos' essential midnight horror film Mandy!
Cage Match Round 2: Moonstruck
Cage Match returns for Round 2 with Nicolas Cage playing romantic lead opposite Cher in Norman Jewison's romantic comedy Moonstruck!
Cage Match Round 2: Adaptation
And in this corner of Cage Match Round 2, Nicolas Cage's Academy Award nominated performance as twin brothers Charlie & Donald Kaufman in Spike Jonze's Adaptation...
THE FRIDA CINEMA WILL BE CLOSED JANUARY 14TH – 27TH, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE OMICRON OUTBREAK
Logan Crow / January 13, 2022
The Frida Cinema has made the difficult decision to temporarily close our doors for two weeks effective tomorrow, Friday January 14th.
THE FRIDA CINEMA IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS GRANT!
The Frida Cinema is proud to annouce we have been approved for a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America award to support free community screenings throughout Santa Ana!
SCENE SELECTIONS Episode 23: Best of 2021
Martin Nguyen / January 10, 2022
Anthony & Miquela contact previous guests from the podcast to discuss the best films of 2021. We also talk about some of the films we're looking forward to most in 2022.
To Sir, With Love: Sidney Poitier (1927-2022)
Justina Bonilla / January 9, 2022
Frida writing team member Justina Bonilla reflects on the life and career of the one and only Sidney Poitier.
A Little Night Music: THIEF
Josh Green / January 8, 2022
Frida writing team member Josh Green analyzes Tangerine Dream's soundtrack for Michael Mann's nighttime neo-noir Thief.
– FULL BLOG ARCHIVE –
This is a magical space. My first film experience here was Mullholland Drive, and I would have that no other way. The people that work there are all charming and fun to talk to. I really need to visit more often, as it's just such a radical place.
Cari M.
Went to see North by Northwest as a date night a couple weeks ago. I am a huge Cary Grant fan and yet had never seen this one so I knew I had to see it on the big screen so this was perfect! Cute little theater in Downtown Santa Ana near bars and restaurants. Will definitely be back for some more throwback movies or artsy films.
Sandra K.
What a hidden gem! I had such a lovely time at a recent showing of Godzilla (1954). This theater is a bit timeworn, yet undeniably quaint and charming with an unconventional feel. And interestingly enough, the audience served as the sweet element of surprise. Those in attendance created an atmosphere of delight, comfort, and personal acceptance… and get this.. there was an actual host who presented a brief preface to the film just prior to viewing. Very collegiate, which I loved! All in all pe… Read more
Mekayla W.
My new favorite theater! Such a friendly atmosphere and the staff is super friendly too. I've only been twice after discovering this gem about a week ago. I can't wait to come back and view more movies here.
Jay D.
This place rocks. The rest of this review is only to meet the minimum length requirement for yelp reviews, heh, imagine that. Failing to meet a length requirement. Couldn't be me, No way José. Not in a million years. But yeah this place rocks.
Heriberto R.
What a gem. I've lived in Orange County for twenty years and never knew of a repertory theater here. I'd expect to drive to L.A. to find a venue as cool as this.
Had the pleasure of meeting Dolores Huerta at the screening of her documentary. Loved it very much. I'm glad a place like this exists in Orange county!
Yesca C.