IMAX

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Audience inside IMAX Theater watching a movie featuring an astronaut

Turn your visit into an all-day science adventure – visit our exhibit galleries and watch an IMAX movie on our giant 7-story screen!

For the safety of our guests, all 3D glasses are cleaned and sanitized before every use.

Transport yourself to awesome new worlds and engage your senses in endless colors and soul-stirring sounds. Every element in our state-of-the-art theater is specially designed to create an immersive experience, ensuring movie magic each time the lights go down. Our IMAX with Laser projection system will draw you into the action like never before. Coupled with IMAX's next-generation 12 channel surround sound system, our IMAX Theater brings to life worlds as small as an atom and as vast as the universe. Experience an IMAX movie and get the big picture!

Concessions are currently closed.

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SHOWTIMES

NOW - NOVEMBER 22, 2024

9:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.) (Groups only)
10:30 a.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
12:30 p.m. Deep Sky (40 mins.)
1:30 p.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
2:30 p.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Deep Sky (40 mins.)

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 1, 2024 (Closed Thanksgiving)

10:30 a.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
12:30 p.m. Deep Sky (40 mins.)
1:30 p.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
2:30 p.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Deep Sky (40 mins.)
4:30 p.m.  Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)

DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 13, 2024

9:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.) (Groups only)
10:30 a.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
12:30 p.m. Deep Sky (40 mins.)
1:30 p.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
2:30 p.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Deep Sky (40 mins.)

DECEMBER 14, 2024 - JANUARY 5, 2025 (Closed Christmas and New Year's Day) View Details

10:30 a.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
12:30 p.m. Deep Sky (40 mins.)
1:30 p.m. Cities of the Future 3D (40 mins.)
2:30 p.m. Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Deep Sky (40 mins.)
4:30 p.m.  Blue Whales 3D (45 mins.)

NOW PLAYING—Deep Sky

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Deep Sky cover art
Image attribution
IMAX
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SMACS 0723 - James Webb Space Telescope captures a cluster of galaxies
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

The first image shared from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (known as Webb's First Deep Field) shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 overflowing with detail. This was the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. 

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James Webb Space Telescope anniversary photo
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)

The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) displays star birth like never seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth. 

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Carina Nebula captured by the James Webb Space Telescope
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Called the Cosmic Cliffs, this landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. 

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Pillars of Creation captured by the James Webb Space Telescope
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA's James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view. 

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Deep Sky cover art
Image attribution
IMAX
Image
SMACS 0723 - James Webb Space Telescope captures a cluster of galaxies
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

The first image shared from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (known as Webb's First Deep Field) shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 overflowing with detail. This was the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. 

Image
James Webb Space Telescope anniversary photo
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)

The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) displays star birth like never seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth. 

Image
Carina Nebula captured by the James Webb Space Telescope
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Called the Cosmic Cliffs, this landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. 

Image
Pillars of Creation captured by the James Webb Space Telescope
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA's James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view. 

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NOW PLAYING—Blue Whales 3D

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Blue whale and diver underwater.
Image attribution
SK Films
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Blue whale and diver underwater.
Image attribution
SK Films

Blue whales have been found in all oceans around the world except for the Arctic Ocean.

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Blue whale mother and calf swim together underwater
Image attribution
SK Films

Newborn blue whales are big babies! They can reach about 23 feet in length and can weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds at birth.

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Blue whale feeds on krill.
Image attribution
SK Films

The blue whale's favorite food is krill, or small shrimp-like animals. They can eat up to 12,000 pounds of krill a day during the feeding season.

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Research crew watches for blue whales on a boat.
Image attribution
SK Films

Today there are between 5,000 to 10,000 blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere and about 3,000 to 4,000 blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers like Dr. Diane Gendron and Jasivi Arcos (shown above) study blue whales so we can continue to help their populations recover.

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Blue whale and diver underwater.
Image attribution
SK Films
Image
Blue whale and diver underwater.
Image attribution
SK Films

Blue whales have been found in all oceans around the world except for the Arctic Ocean.

Image
Blue whale mother and calf swim together underwater
Image attribution
SK Films

Newborn blue whales are big babies! They can reach about 23 feet in length and can weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds at birth.

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Blue whale feeds on krill.
Image attribution
SK Films

The blue whale's favorite food is krill, or small shrimp-like animals. They can eat up to 12,000 pounds of krill a day during the feeding season.

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Research crew watches for blue whales on a boat.
Image attribution
SK Films

Today there are between 5,000 to 10,000 blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere and about 3,000 to 4,000 blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers like Dr. Diane Gendron and Jasivi Arcos (shown above) study blue whales so we can continue to help their populations recover.

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NOW PLAYING—Cities of the Future 3D

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Cities of the Future horizontal key art
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films
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Smart building, The Edge, found in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

The Edge, located in Amsterdam, has been internationally acknowledged as the most sustainable and most likely the smartest office building in the world. 

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Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Located in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is a stunning nature park built around a "supertree grove," a one-of-a-kind mechanical forest featuring 18 building-sized steel trees that house vertical living gardens, generate solar electrical power, send breezes through surrounding areas, and collect rainwater. 

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Los Angeles-baed engineer Paul Lee mentors students.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Cities of the Future 3D followed Los Angeles-based engineer Paul Lee, who mentors a group of elementary school students on their own determined quest: to triumph at the Future City competition, where they must dream up and build the ultimate 3D model of a 100% electrically powered city that fights climate change.

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A modern building in Singapore is made more sustainable by mixing in trees into the space.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

A tropical city-state in Southeast Asia, Singapore is an enthralling cultural melting pot shaded by abundant trees and innovative garden structures that are cool in both senses of the word.

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A high density of bicycles are stored outside of a museum in Amsterdam.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Often dubbed "city of bikes," Amsterdam boasts a higher quantity of bicycles than humans. 

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Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

The spectacular Marina Bay Sands complex is a vast resort featuring three striking towers designed to capture and recycle waste heat from its air conditioning units. The resort has also reduced its carbon footprint by 50% with energy efficient lighting, solar power systems, and an Intelligent Building Management System that tracks 125,000 data points including lighting, heating, and water supply.

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Joby eVTOL aircraft
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Flying cars have the potential to completely revolutionize the transportation landscape. At scale, they might reduce travel time, enhance mobility, and boost productivity, all while reducing the environmental pressures brought on by gas-guzzling cars. 

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Cities of the Future horizontal key art
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Image
Smart building, The Edge, found in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

The Edge, located in Amsterdam, has been internationally acknowledged as the most sustainable and most likely the smartest office building in the world. 

Image
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Located in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is a stunning nature park built around a "supertree grove," a one-of-a-kind mechanical forest featuring 18 building-sized steel trees that house vertical living gardens, generate solar electrical power, send breezes through surrounding areas, and collect rainwater. 

Image
Los Angeles-baed engineer Paul Lee mentors students.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Cities of the Future 3D followed Los Angeles-based engineer Paul Lee, who mentors a group of elementary school students on their own determined quest: to triumph at the Future City competition, where they must dream up and build the ultimate 3D model of a 100% electrically powered city that fights climate change.

Image
A modern building in Singapore is made more sustainable by mixing in trees into the space.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

A tropical city-state in Southeast Asia, Singapore is an enthralling cultural melting pot shaded by abundant trees and innovative garden structures that are cool in both senses of the word.

Image
A high density of bicycles are stored outside of a museum in Amsterdam.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Often dubbed "city of bikes," Amsterdam boasts a higher quantity of bicycles than humans. 

Image
Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore.
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

The spectacular Marina Bay Sands complex is a vast resort featuring three striking towers designed to capture and recycle waste heat from its air conditioning units. The resort has also reduced its carbon footprint by 50% with energy efficient lighting, solar power systems, and an Intelligent Building Management System that tracks 125,000 data points including lighting, heating, and water supply.

Image
Joby eVTOL aircraft
Image attribution
MacGillivray Freeman Films

Flying cars have the potential to completely revolutionize the transportation landscape. At scale, they might reduce travel time, enhance mobility, and boost productivity, all while reducing the environmental pressures brought on by gas-guzzling cars. 

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Accessibility Services & Amenities View Details

Here at the California Science Center, we want all guests to participate equally in the excitement of experiencing science! We are committed to breaking down any barriers to access. If you have questions about accessibility that are not answered here, please call us at 213-744-2019; email us at [email protected]; or stop by our Information Desk just inside the main entrance.

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Closed Captioning View Details

Closed captions for the hearing impaired are available. Learn more about Closed Captioning for our IMAX movies.

A family wearing 3D glasses and watching a film in the IMAX theater
Special Offers for Members

Support a dynamic educational resource and enjoy a year of special experiences, including IMAX movie previews and ticket discounts. Join today to launch your science adventure!

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Guest Services facilitator sits on floor with puppet in hand and plays with young children in the Ecosystem Discovery Room reading area
Image attribution
Tracie Spence Photography

Your patronage supports science learning

The California Science Center is a non-profit organization. Your IMAX ticket purchase helps fund our exhibit and education programs. The IMAX movies we show support our mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone. Thank you for choosing the California Science Center IMAX Theater!