Movie Screenings & Film Events in California
About California's Advance Screening Scene
California is the undisputed capital of the American film industry and the most active state for advance movie screenings. Home to Hollywood, the state's screening scene stretches from Los Angeles and San Francisco down to San Diego, with studio-backed events available nearly every week of the year. California's unique advantage is its proximity to the studios themselves. Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, Sony, Paramount, and dozens of independent production companies are all based here, and many use California cities as their first testing ground for unreleased films.
Screening Landscape
Los Angeles dominates the state's screening volume, but San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento all see regular advance events. Studios distribute free passes through platforms like Gofobo and Advance Screenings, and research firms recruit California audiences for confidential test screenings months before release. The state's film festival circuit adds hundreds of additional screening opportunities, from Sundance overflow events in LA to SFFILM in San Francisco and the San Diego International Film Festival.
Tips for California Screenings
- Los Angeles has the highest screening volume in the world. Check Gofobo daily for new listings.
- San Francisco's independent cinema scene provides unique art-house and tech-themed screening opportunities.
- Sign up for studio mailing lists directly. Many California-exclusive screenings are distributed through studio portals.
- California test screenings happen months before release. Be prepared for unfinished films and strict phone policies.
California hosts more advance movie screenings than any other state. During peak season, LA alone averages 30-50 screenings per month.
Cities in California(70)
Los Angeles
211 events · 66 free · 34 concerts
San Francisco
37 events · 5 free · 23 concerts
San Diego
18 events · 1 free · 11 concerts
Burbank
6 events · 20 free · 1 concert
Hollywood
12 events · 9 free · 10 concerts
Sacramento
18 events · 2 free · 8 concerts
Universal City
2 events · 18 free
San Jose
9 events · 11 concerts
Fresno
7 events · 2 free · 3 concerts
Costa Mesa
6 events · 8 concerts
Beverly Hills
7 events · 2 concerts
Palm Springs
5 events
Cerritos
5 events · 4 concerts
Riverside
5 events · 4 concerts
Long Beach
4 events · 1 free · 3 concerts
Santa Cruz
4 events · 1 free · 2 concerts
Inglewood
2 events · 2 concerts
Berkeley
3 events · 2 free · 1 concert
North Hollywood
3 events
Anaheim
3 events · 1 concert
Santa Rosa
3 events · 2 concerts
Santa Barbara
2 events · 2 concerts
Saratoga
2 events · 2 concerts
San Rafael
2 events · 2 concerts
Santa Ana
2 events
Glendale
2 events
Oakland
2 events · 1 concert
Stockton
2 events · 2 concerts
Napa
1 event · 2 concerts
Santa Monica
2 events · 1 concert
Newport Beach
2 events
Visalia
2 events · 2 concerts
Walnut Creek
2 events · 2 concerts
Davis
2 events · 2 concerts
Modesto
2 events · 2 concerts
Palm Desert
1 event · 2 concerts
Temecula
1 event
Menlo Park
1 event
Petaluma
1 event · 1 free
Century City
1 event · 1 free
San Fernando
1 event
Truckee
1 event
Cathedral City
1 event
Point Richmond
1 event · 1 free
Gardena
1 event
Baldwin Park
1 event · 1 free
Encinitas
1 event
Bodega Bay
1 event
San Bernardino
1 event
East Los Angeles
1 event · 1 free
Perris
1 event
Willits
1 event
Pasadena
1 event
Turlock
1 event · 1 concert
Mill Valley
1 event
San Luis Obispo
1 event · 1 concert
La Mirada
1 event · 1 concert
Rancho Cucamonga
1 event
El Cajon
1 event · 1 concert
Milpitas
1 event
Garden Grove
1 event
Sunnyvale
1 event
Danville
1 event
Culver City
1 event
Northridge
1 event · 1 concert
Mountain View
1 event
Santa Clara
1 event
Auburn
1 event · 1 concert
Livermore
1 event · 1 concert
Palo Alto
1 event · 1 concert
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find free movie screenings in California?
SeeItEarly aggregates free advance screening passes from 40+ sources across 70 cities in California. Browse the city listings below, click "Get Passes," and follow the instructions on the source site. Most passes are first-come, first-served.
Which cities in California have the most screenings?
The most active cities are Los Angeles (242 events), San Francisco (44 events), San Diego (23 events). New events are added daily as studios announce screenings.
Are advance movie screenings really free?
Yes, most advance screenings are completely free. Studios use them to generate buzz and gather audience feedback before a movie's official release. Some premium events or film festival screenings may charge admission, which we clearly label.