Zoot Suit in 70mm
Added to the National Film Registry in 2019.
Thu, Dec 14, 2023

Added to the National Film Registry in 2019.
Luis Valdez’s (La Bamba) searing adaptation of his acclaimed stage play blends shocking history with cinematic fiction for this tale of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial that led to the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943. Barrio leader Henry Reyna (Daniel Valdez, who wrote the film’s score) and others from the Mexican American and Latinx communities are wrongfully imprisoned, and their activist counsel fights to shine a light on the discriminatory nature of the charges. Featuring Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Zoot Suit is a scorching indictment of the criminal justice system and the racially motivated arrests that proliferated in the Latinx community in the 1940s.
DIRECTED/WRITTEN BY: Luis Valdez. WITH: Daniel Valdez, Edward James Olmos, Charles Aidman, Tyne Daly. 1981. 103 min. USA. Color. English. Rated R. 70mm.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
Theater accessibility accommodations available upon request. Learn more about our accessibility initiatives.
Know Before You Go
Plan your Visit
Location
The Academy Museum and its theaters are located at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking
Self-parking, accessible parking, and electric vehicle charging options are available. See below for our parking structure information and view the parking page for further details.
Ride-Share Drop Off
Roddenberry Lane, entrance on Fairfax Ave.
LACMA's Pritzker Parking Garage
6000 W 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on 6th St.
5am–10pm
$20 ($12 after 8pm entry)
Accessible spots on P1, adjacent to elevators
EV charging stations on P1 and P2Petersen Automotive Museum Garage
744 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on Fairfax Ave. or 8th St.
6am–11pm
$24 (first 15 min. free)
Accessible spots on P1 only; no garage elevator
EV charging stations on P1Accessibility
Audio Description
For visitors who are blind or partially-sighted, audio description devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis.
Real-time audio descriptions are available for some performances upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of describers. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.
Closed Captioning
For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, in-seat closed captioning or descriptive audio-devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm availability at academymuseum@oscars.org before planning your visit.
Real-time captioning is available for programs upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of captioners. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.
Please see our Accessibility page for complete information, including details on our Visual Description Tours, Calm Mornings, and Covid-19 policies.