Frida Cinema, Independent movie theater in Downtown Santa Ana, US
Frida Cinema is an independent movie theater in Downtown Santa Ana with two screens equipped with digital projection and modern sound systems. It shows a rotating selection of international, independent, and classic films each month along with work by local creators.
This cinema opened in 2014 after converting a former commercial space into Orange County's only nonprofit art house. The founding created a new home for independent and international cinema in a region without such a venue before.
The cinema serves as a gathering place for filmmakers and film lovers, showing work by emerging artists and local creators alongside established international films. The space has become central to how people in the region discover and celebrate cinema beyond mainstream productions.
You can purchase tickets online before your visit, and the cinema offers student discounts and a full snack and drink selection at the concession stand. The downtown location makes it easy to reach, and the space is accessible for most visitors.
The cinema hosts an annual Stanley Kubrick retrospective that draws serious film fans from across the region each year. It also partners with several film festivals, bringing curated programming that goes beyond what typical cinemas show.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
