Cult Classics and City Views with Rooftop Cinema Club
- By: Ani Gutierrez
Rooftop Cinema Club proves that in LA, movie night belongs under the stars.
Downtown LA has no shortage of rooftops, but few deliver an experience quite like Rooftop Cinema Club. Located on the fourth-floor terrace of the Level Hotel, this open-air theater screens cult classics every night, from Twilight and Mamma Mia! to La La Land, American Psycho, and Harry Potter. Feeling less like a trip to the movies, and more like a friendly gathering under the skyline, here the films aren’t just watched, they’re experienced. Projected against a backdrop of skyscrapers framed by DTLA’s glowing lights, this is the kind of big-screen moment you just can’t replicate at your average theater.
Insiders arrived on Saturday night for a screening of White Chicks. We literally made our way downtown for this amusing evening. Doors opened an hour before showtime, giving guests time to settle in, play board games, and enjoy the sunset with panoramic views. The bar poured beer, wine, and seltzers, while the concession stand served classic theater snacks like popcorn, candy, and nachos for anyone craving those familiar bites.
Once the sun went down and the stars came out, the film began and everyone slipped on wireless headphones, transforming the screening into a somewhat of a “silent cinema.” Rows of chairs stretched across the rooftop, blankets were draped over laps, and the projector glowed against the back of one of Downtown’s lit-up towers.
Even though the movie was technically silent, the laughs were anything but. Every punchline landed, every iconic quote felt fresh, and for a moment it was as if the entire audience was watching this cult classic for the very first time.
What makes Rooftop Cinema Club unforgettable is how effortlessly it elevates a familiar pastime. You’re still eating popcorn with eyes glued to the big screen, but you’re doing it with the LA skyline by your side. The atmosphere is cozy yet exciting, intimate yet social, and undeniably more memorable than the average movie theater.
You may show up for a movie you know by heart, but you leave with the memory of watching it in a setting as charming as this. For locals, it’s a chance to rewatch nostalgic films in a way that feels new again, and for anyone visiting, Rooftop Cinema Club is a reminder that in LA, even the simplest nights can turn into something cinematic.
