Movie Screenings & Film Events in California
45 cities·415 events·68 free
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(45)
Los Angeles
154 events · 30 free · 37 concerts
San Francisco
23 events · 9 free · 19 concerts
San Diego
24 events · 2 free · 12 concerts
Hollywood
6 events · 10 free · 4 concerts
San Jose
8 events · 9 concerts
Sacramento
7 events · 5 free · 6 concerts
Burbank
3 events · 7 free
Fresno
7 events · 3 concerts
Costa Mesa
6 events · 6 concerts
Palm Springs
5 events · 3 concerts
Anaheim
5 events · 1 free
Riverside
5 events · 3 concerts
Glendale
4 events
North Hollywood
4 events · 1 free
Long Beach
3 events · 4 concerts
Cerritos
3 events · 4 concerts
Newhall
3 events
Encino
3 events
Davis
3 events · 3 concerts
Oakland
2 events · 1 concert
Berkeley
2 events · 1 concert
Universal City
1 event · 2 free
Irvine
2 events · 2 concerts
Bear Valley
2 events · 2 concerts
Carmel-by-the-sea
1 event · 2 concerts
Beverly Hills
2 events · 2 concerts
Stockton
2 events · 2 concerts
Napa
2 events · 2 concerts
Visalia
2 events · 2 concerts
Walnut Creek
2 events · 2 concerts
Modesto
2 events · 2 concerts
Santa Monica
1 event
Century City
1 event · 1 free
Gregory Way beverly Hills
1 event
Concord
1 event
Stanford
1 event · 1 concert
Long Beach
1 event · 1 concert
Encinitas
1 event
Turlock
1 event · 1 concert
San Rafael
1 event · 1 concert
El Cajon
1 event · 1 concert
Northridge
1 event · 1 concert
Auburn
1 event · 1 concert
Livermore
1 event · 1 concert
Santa Barbara
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 45 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 (226 events), San Francisco (34 events), San Diego (24 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.