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(73)
Los Angeles
196 events · 38 free · 33 concerts
San Francisco
33 events · 23 concerts
Universal City
2 events · 28 free
San Diego
27 events · 1 free · 14 concerts
Hollywood
14 events · 14 free · 10 concerts
Burbank
3 events · 23 free
San Jose
11 events · 12 concerts
Sacramento
10 events · 3 free · 7 concerts
Fresno
10 events · 4 concerts
Palm Springs
8 events · 1 concert
Glendale
7 events · 1 free
Santa Cruz
7 events · 1 free · 2 concerts
Costa Mesa
7 events · 7 concerts
Riverside
6 events · 4 concerts
Beverly Hills
5 events · 2 concerts
Cerritos
4 events · 5 concerts
Long Beach
3 events · 4 concerts
Oakland
4 events
Berkeley
3 events · 1 concert
West Hollywood
3 events
Davis
3 events · 3 concerts
Anaheim
3 events
Santa Monica
2 events · 2 free
Mountain View
2 events
Century City
2 events · 2 free
Ojai
2 events · 2 free
Inglewood
2 events · 1 concert
Carmel-by-the-sea
1 event · 2 concerts
Encinitas
2 events
Stockton
2 events · 2 concerts
Napa
2 events · 2 concerts
Visalia
1 event · 2 concerts
Walnut Creek
2 events · 2 concerts
Modesto
2 events · 2 concerts
Palm Desert
1 event · 2 concerts
North Hollywood
1 event
Newport Beach
1 event · 1 free
Coronado
1 event · 1 free
Santa Clara
1 event
Irvine
1 event · 1 free
Long Beach
1 event · 1 concert
San Fernando
1 event
Los Altos
1 event
Ventura
1 event
Aliso Viejo
1 event · 1 free
Hermosa Beach
1 event · 1 free
Rancho Cucamonga
1 event
Madera
1 event
Gardena
1 event
Fremont
1 event
Huntington Beach
1 event
Pomona
1 event
Eureka
1 event
Studio City
1 event · 1 free
Bolinas
1 event
Santa Ana
1 event
Vermont Avenues los Feliz
1 event
Monterey
1 event
Monte Rio
1 event
Susanville
1 event
West Sacramento
1 event
San Bernardino
1 event
Turlock
1 event · 1 concert
San Luis Obispo
1 event · 1 concert
La Mirada
1 event · 1 concert
San Rafael
1 event · 1 concert
El Cajon
1 event · 1 concert
Danville
1 event
Northridge
1 event · 1 concert
Auburn
1 event · 1 concert
Livermore
1 event · 1 concert
Santa Barbara
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 50+ sources across 73 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 (213 events), San Francisco (40 events), Universal City (28 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.