Program Series: Works of Enduring Importance: 35 Years of the National Film Registry

Zoot Suit in 70mm

Added to the National Film Registry in 2019.

Thu, Dec 14, 2023

Zoot Suit

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 P2

    Petersen 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 P1

  • Accessibility

    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.