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You are here: Home / Contests

Top Ten Films of 2021: Read Greg Laemmle’s and tell us your favorites for a chance to win amazing prizes (gift cards)!

January 5, 2022 by Jordan Deglise Moore 2 Comments

Tell us your favorite ten films of 2021 for a chance to win a Gift Card valid at all eight Laemmle locations and at home on watch.laemmle.com!

The deadline for submission is February 21, 2022.

Here’s Greg Laemmle’s Top 10 list:
#10 – SHIVA BABY – This true indie gem came out just as theatres were reopening in April, and got a little lost in the shuffle.  I understand that director Emma Seligman and star Rachel Sennott are teaming up on another project, and can’t wait to see the results.
#9 – THE CARD COUNTER – Writer-director Paul Schrader is again at the top of his game with this meditation on the collective guilt arising from our country’s adventures in nation building and the ensuing crimes against humanity.  Oscar Isaac is terrific as Schrader’s scapegoat, and Tiffany Haddish and Tye Sheridan provide excellent support.
#8 – THE VELVET QUEEN – We wonder if patience will be rewarded as the subjects of the documentary wait for a glimpse of an elusive Himalayan snow leopard.  But either way, the audience’s patience is rewarded in this quiet and contemplative documentary.
#7 – JOCKEY – Clifton Collins Jr. has always been a welcome presence on screen.  But also such a chameleon that even the most astute moviegoer may miss his presence.  But he’s hard to miss as the aging jockey at the center of this quietly powerful story.  If there is any justice in Hollywood, he will be remembered when nominations for Best Actor are announced.
#6 – C’MON C’MON – Writer-director Mike Mills may only have four films to his credit (previously THUMBSUCKER, BEGINNERS, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN), but he has yet to deliver a bad film.  Anchored by strong performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann and young newcomer,Woody Norman, this is worth searching out.
#5 – tick, tick…BOOM! – I’m not a fan of RENT.  And although I was familiar with the songs from this earlier Jonathan Larson musical, I wasn’t particularly a fan of the music.  But I loved what director LIn-Manuel Miranda did to blend Larson’s musical within a documentary framework to create something that goes above and beyond the source material.  And in a year when he also delivered amazing performances in MAINSTREAM and THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, Andrew Garfield is beyond fabulous in the lead.
#4 – DRIVE MY CAR – Adapted from a short story by Murakami Haruki, this breakthrough film from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi is the foreign language sleeper of the year.
#3 – DUNE – It should come as no surprise that Denis Villeneuve delivers a visual feast in this epic telling of the first part of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi novel.  But the emotional and philosophical aspects of the tale are given equal attention, and the result is that rare Hollywood blockbuster that satisfies on all fronts.  How often does one get to say that they eagerly look forward to the sequel to a Hollywood blockbuster.
#2 – BELFAST – Too sentimental? Who cares.  It was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.  And like Dickens, writer-director Kenneth Branagh shows us both the beauty and terror of his youth in Belfast in this elegiac tale.  The cast is uniformly excellent, from old pros like Judy Dench and Ciaran Hinds to newcomer Jude Hill.
#1 – THE POWER OF THE DOG – I beg you.  Please find a way to see this on the big screen.  Or if you must stream it, put your phone in another room and commit yourself to giving this film the same level of care and attention that director Jane Campion and her cast and crew clearly delivered in bringing this into existence.  This may be Ms. Campion’s finest work yet and coming from the director of AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE, THE PIANO and BRIGHT STAR, that is saying a lot.  I sincerely hope that she does not take off for another 12 years (the span between BRIGHT STAR and THE POWER OF THE DOG) from making feature films, but if that kind of break is needed to produce a movie as perfect and complete as THE POWER OF THE DOG, I will patiently wait.  This film is that good.
A couple other top ten lists from people who know their stuff and see pretty much everything:

Manohla Dargis’ top ten:

1. DRIVE MY CAR
2. THE POWER OF THE DOG
3. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
4. SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
5. PASSING
6. AZOR
7. THE CARD COUNTER
8. THE DISCIPLE
9. WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY
10. SPENCER

Justin Chang’s top ten:

1. DRIVE MY CAR
2. THE SOUVENIR: PART II
3. PROCESSION
4. MEMORIA
5. DAYS
6. PARALLEL MOTHERS
7. PETITE MAMAN
8. THE DISCIPLE

9. THE GREEN KNIGHT
10. THE POWER OF THE DOG
11. PASSING

2 Comments Filed Under: Claremont 5, Contests, Glendale, Newhall, News, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7, Royal, Theater Buzz, Town Center 5

2020 Oscar Contest Results!

February 14, 2020 by Lamb Laemmle 7 Comments

It was an unprecedented Oscars for foreign language cinema, with “Parasite” taking not only Best International Film but Best Director and Picture. Laemmle Oscar Contest participants who correctly guessed the Academy would break with tradition and choose a foreign film over an English-language film won our contest. First place garnered a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $150 and the two second place winners get Laemmle Premiere Cards worth $100. The winners’ prizes are on the way.

23 correct: 1st Place) Jared N. of Pasadena.

22 correct: (205 mins) 2nd Place tie) So Jin C. of L.A.

22 correct (205 mins) 2nd Place tie) Megan M. of Pasadena.

We had a sole first place winner this year with 23 out of 24 categories correctly selected! The first place winner only missed one category, Best Director, by incorrectly selecting Todd Phillips from “Joker” instead of eventual winner Bong Joon Ho from “Parasite.”
The two 2nd place winners missed two categories out of 24, both choosing “1917” to win Best Sound Editing instead of eventual winner “Ford v Ferrari.” One incorrectly chose “Parasite” for Best Editing instead of eventual winner “Ford vs. Ferrari,” and the other chose  “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” instead of eventual winner “Little Women” for Best Costume. They both chose the exact same and closest to actual run-time of 205 minutes on the tie-break question resulting in two 2nd place winners!
Best Picture winner “Parasite” was selected by only 18% of entries but nearly 90% for Best Foreign Film. “1917” received nearly 50% of the votes for Best Picture. No one picked “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” to win Best Picture. Sam Mendes had 50% of the Best Director votes for “1917,” no doubt because he won the DGA award. “American Factory” had 50% of the votes for Best Documentary. “Toy Story 4” had 50% of the vote for Best Animated Feature. Best Adapted Screenplay winner “Jojo Rabbit” and fellow nominee “LIttle Women” both received a good portion of the votes at 35% each. Joaquin Phoenix did not receive a unanimous vote for Best Actor but he did receive the second highest vote tally, after Parasite for Best Foreign Film, at 84%.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all for playing!

2020 Oscar Contest Results!

7 Comments Filed Under: Contests, News

The 2019 Laemmle Oscar Contest Results!

February 26, 2019 by Lamb Laemmle 2 Comments

More than 1200 people participated in this year’s contest and no one could correctly guess all 24 winners. In fact, the winner only succeeded in guessing 21 of the 24! Eighty-seven percent right is only a B+ but that’s understandable. Some of the Academy’s choices were, shall we say, surprising.

Unlike last year, when multiple people tied for the top spot, this year we have a clear winner, Stefan K of Los Angeles. Best Picture, Editor and Costume Design, were some of the difficult categories for our contestants this year. There was a three-way tie for 2nd and 3rd place, so the tiebreaker — the closest guess to the broadcast running time, which turned out to be 199 minutes — came into play. First place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $150, second place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $100, and third place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $50.

21 correct: 1st Place) Stefan K. of L.A.

20 correct: (195 mins) 2nd Place) William H. of L.A.

20 correct (220 mins) 3rd Place) Timothy M. of Burbank.

Other fun facts:

*The average correct categories guessed was 11. A full 10 below the 1st place winner.

*The top three winners had their differences in a few categories such as Costume Design, with The Favourite and eventual winner Black Panther as the top choices; Production Design, with Roma and eventual winner Black Panther as the the top choices; Sound Editing, with First Man, A Quiet Place, and eventual winner Bohemian Rhapsody as the top choices there.
*Using the tie-breaking question (the length of the telecast in minutes) 3rd and 4th place were separated by only 1 minute! A gap as small as possible without being a tie!
*For Best Picture, only 20% picked the winner Green Book, with Roma garnering 50%.
*There were clear winners in both Animated categories. Animated Feature winner Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse gathered nearly 70% of the vote while Animated Short winner Bao grabbed nearly 60%.
*Not so clear in both Documentary categories. Documentary Feature winner Free Solo grabbed 35% of customers while the majority, at 40%, choose RGB to win. For Documentary Short: Winner Period. End of Sentence. got 30% of the vote with the other nominees evenly split.

The 2019 Laemmle Oscar Contest Results!

2 Comments Filed Under: Contests

It’s Time for Our Annual Predict the Oscars Contest!

January 31, 2019 by Lamb Laemmle Leave a Comment

It's Time for Our Annual Predict the Oscars Contest!With the 91st Academy Awards right around the corner, it’s time for our annual Predict the Oscars Contest! The person who most accurately predicts the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s choices in all 24 categories, from the shorts to Best Picture, will win fabulous prizes (free movies and concessions at Laemmle)!

First place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $150. Second place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $100. Third place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $50. Entries are due by 10AM the morning of the awards ceremony on February 24th.

prem-blogNot sure what a Laemmle Premiere Card is? Think of it like a prepaid gift card for yourself! Use it to pay for movie tickets and concessions. Plus, Premiere Card holders receive $3 off movie tickets and 20% off concessions. To find out more, visit www.laemmle.com/premiere-cards.

We’ve got some smart cookies for customers so we have a tie-breaker question: you also have to guess the show’s running time. Take the tie-breaker seriously! In 2016, the running time question broke a tie between five entrants who correctly predicted 19 out of 24 categories!

We’ll announce the winners right here on our blog by February 26th. Good luck!

*One entry per person. One winner per household.

Click Here to Enter

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Contests, Ahrya Fine Arts, Claremont 5, Featured Post, Films, Glendale, Music Hall 3, News, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7, Premiere Cards, Press, Royal, Santa Monica, Town Center 5

Win tickets to see Buster Keaton in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. at the Orpheum Theatre with Last Remaining Seats

June 11, 2018 by Lamb Laemmle Leave a Comment

Win tickets to see Buster Keaton in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. at the Orpheum Theatre with Last Remaining SeatsEach year, our friends at the Los Angeles Conservancy screen classic films in L.A.’s historic theatres at their Last Remaining Seats series. Enter our drawing to win a pair of VIP tickets to their screening of Steamboat Bill, Jr. at the Orpheum Theatre! Enter below!

Buster Keaton stars in this 1928 silent as William “Steamboat Bill” Canfield, the owner of a paddle steamer who hopes to teach his son the family trade. The son, however, falls in love with the daughter of Steamboat Bill’s biggest rival, much to Bill’s dismay.

Will this father and son be able to sort out their differences before a hurricane destroys Bill’s steamboat?

This entertaining slapstick comedy features one of Keaton’s most famous stunts: the entire front side of a house falls on top of him, but he is untouched due to standing in the perfect spot to pass through an open upper floor window.

Live accompaniment on the Orpheum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Before the screening enjoy live entertainment from Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys. On stage before the screening: Keaton Talmadge, great-granddaughter of Buster Keaton will introduce the film. A free Q&A session about the theatre will follow the screening. Stay in your seat to learn more about the history and architecture!


Last Remaining Seats: Buster Keaton in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. Drawing

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Around Town, Contests, Repertory Cinema

2018 Laemmle Oscar Contest Results!

March 5, 2018 by Lamb Laemmle 4 Comments

Unlike last year, where there was only one person who picked the most correct winners, this year we had nine contestants with the highest score of 22 out of 24 categories correctly selected. So the tie-break broadcast running time question (closest to 230 minutes) determined the winners this year. Best Original Screenplay, Animated Short, Live Action Short, and Visual Effects were the difficult categories this year. The rest of the categories seemed easier to pick accurately than last year.
So, congratulations to:
Tristan K., who correctly predicted 22 Oscar winners: (236 run-time): 1st Place.
Kelly K., 22 correct:  (238 run-time): 2nd Place.
David K., 22 correct: (217 run-time): 3rd Place.
We’ll be in touch to get your mailing addresses for Laemmle Premiere Card delivery.
2018 Laemmle Oscar Contest Results!

4 Comments Filed Under: Contests

Laemmle’s Umpteenth Annual Oscar Contest, 2018 Edition!

February 5, 2018 by Lamb Laemmle 2 Comments

Laemmle's Umpteenth Annual Oscar Contest, 2018 Edition!It’s time for our annual Predict the Oscars Contest! The person who most accurately predicts the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s choices in all 24 categories, from the shorts to Best Motion Picture, will win fabulous prizes (free movies and concessions at Laemmle)!

First place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $150. Second place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $100. Third place wins a Laemmle Premiere Card worth $50. Entries are due by 10AM the morning of the awards ceremony on March 4th

prem-blogNot sure what a Laemmle Premiere Card is? Think of it like a prepaid gift card for yourself! Use it to pay for movie tickets and concessions. Plus, Premiere Card holders receive $3 off movie tickets and 20% off concessions. To find out more, visit www.laemmle.com/premiere-cards.

We’ve got some smart cookies for customers so we have a tie-breaker question: you also have to guess the show’s running time. Take the tie-breaker seriously! In 2016, the running time question broke a tie between five entrants who correctly predicted 19 out of 24 categories!

We’ll announce the winners right here on our blog by March 5th. Good luck!

Click Here to Enter

 

 

 

 

2 Comments Filed Under: Contests, Ahrya Fine Arts, Claremont 5, Films, Music Hall 3, News, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7, Premiere Cards, Royal, Santa Monica, Town Center 5

Enter to Win a BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL Poster Signed by Legendary Director Takashi Miike

November 8, 2017 by Lamb Laemmle 4 Comments

Takashi Miike’s 100th feature film, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL screens November 10th – 16th in Pasadena, NoHo, and Beverly Hills. To celebrate we’re giving away two BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL posters signed by the legendary filmmaker himself!

Enter for a chance to win by sharing a picture of your movie tickets on Instagram, checking-in at one of our theaters, and/or retweeting us (you’ll find full entry details below).

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the film. Enter the giveaway below.

Signed BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL poster giveaway

Two winners will be selected at random and announced on November 17th, 2017. Giveaway open to California residents only. No purchase necessary.

4 Comments Filed Under: Contests, Films, Music Hall 3, News, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7

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🚀 PROJECT HAIL MARY, AN EPIC PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY! 🚀 PROJECT HAIL MARY, AN EPIC PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY!
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#ProjectHailMary — starring Academy Award® nominee Ryan Gosling and directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. Based on Andy Weir's New York Times best-selling novel.

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For the 21st consecutive year, Laemmle will be scr For the 21st consecutive year, Laemmle will be screening the Oscar-Nominated Short Films, opening on Feb. 20th. Showcasing the best short films from around the world, the 2026 Oscar®-Nominated Shorts includes three feature-length programs, one for each Academy Award® Short Film category: Animated, Documentary and Live Action.

ANIMATED SHORTS: (Estimated Running Time: 83 mins)
The Three Sisters
Forevergreen
The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Butterfly
Retirement Plan
 
LIVE ACTION SHORTS (Estimated Running Time: 119 minutes)
The Singers
A Friend Of Dorothy
Butcher’s Stain
Two People Exchanging Saliva
Jane Austin’s Period Drama

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS (Estimated Running Time: 158 minutes)
Perfectly A Strangeness
The Devil Is Busy
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud
All The  Empty Rooms
Children No More: “Were And Are Gone”

Please note that some films may not be appropriate for audiences under the age of 14 due to gun violence, shootings, language and animated nudity.
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Laemmle Theatres

Laemmle Theatres
Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/artfully-united | Subscribe: http://bit.ly/3b8JTym | ARTFULLY UNITED is a celebration of the power of positivity and a reminder that hope can sometimes grow in the most unlikely of places. As artist Mike Norice creates a series of inspirational murals in under-served neighborhoods in and around Los Angeles, the Artfully United Tour transforms from a simple idea on a wall to a community of artists and activists coming together to heal and uplift a city.

Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/artfully-united

RELEASE DATE: 10/17/2025
Director: Dave Benner
Cast: Mike Norice

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ABOUT LAEMMLE: Since 1938, Laemmle [Theatres] has been showing the finest independent, arthouse, and international films.

Subscribe to Laemmle's E-NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3y1YSTM
Visit Laemmle.com: http://laemmle.com
Like LAEMMLE on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/3Qspq7Z
Follow LAEMMLE on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/3O6adYv
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Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/brides | Subscribe: http://bit.ly/3b8JTym | Nadia Fall's compelling debut feature offers a powerful and empathetic look into the lives of two alienated teenage girls, Doe and Muna, who leave the U.K. for Syria in search of purpose and belonging. By humanizing its protagonists and exploring the complex interplay of vulnerability, societal pressures, and digital manipulation, BRIDES challenges simplistic explanations of radicalization.

Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/brides

RELEASE DATE: 9/24/2025
Director: Nadia Fall

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ABOUT LAEMMLE: Since 1938, Laemmle [Theatres] has been showing the finest independent, arthouse, and international films.

Subscribe to Laemmle's E-NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3y1YSTM
Visit Laemmle.com: http://laemmle.com
Like LAEMMLE on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/3Qspq7Z
Follow LAEMMLE on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/3O6adYv
Follow LAEMMLE on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/3y2j1cp
Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/writing-hawa | Subscribe: http://bit.ly/3b8JTym | Afghan documentary maker Najiba Noori offers not only a loving and intimate portrait of her mother Hawa, but also shows in detail how the arduous improvement of the position of women is undone by geopolitical violence. The film follows the fortunes of Noori’s family, who belong to the Hazaras, an ethnic group that has suffered greatly from discrimination and persecution.

Tickets: http://laemmle.com/film/writing-hawa

RELEASE DATE: 10/8/2025

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ABOUT LAEMMLE: Since 1938, Laemmle [Theatres] has been showing the finest independent, arthouse, and international films.

Subscribe to Laemmle's E-NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3y1YSTM
Visit Laemmle.com: http://laemmle.com
Like LAEMMLE on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/3Qspq7Z
Follow LAEMMLE on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/3O6adYv
Follow LAEMMLE on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/3y2j1cp
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