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!

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 seven-story screen brings to life worlds as small as an atom and as vast as the universe. Experience an IMAX movie and get the big picture!

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SHOWTIMES

IMAX SCHEDULE View Details

NOW - APRIL 1

9:30 a.m.  Amazon Adventure 3D (45 mins.) — only available for weekday group reservations
10:30 a.m.  Under the Sea 3D (40 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Amazon Adventure 3D (45 mins.)
12:30 p.m.  Asteroid Hunters 3D (38 mins.)
1:30 p.m.  Amazon Adventure 3D (45 mins.)
2:30 p.m.  Under the Sea 3D (40 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Amazon Adventure 3D (45 mins.)
4:30 p.m.  Asteroid Hunters 3D (38 mins.) — only on Saturdays and Sundays

APRIL 2 - MAY 24

9:30 a.m.  Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.) — only available for weekday group reservations
10:30 a.m.  Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
11:30 a.m. Under the Sea 3D (40 mins.)
12:30 p.m.  Asteroid Hunters 3D (38 mins.)
1:30 p.m.  Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
2:30 p.m.  Under the Sea 3D (40 mins.)
3:30 p.m.  Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
4:30 p.m.  Asteroid Hunters 3D (38 mins.) — only on Saturdays and Sundays

OPENS APRIL 2Mystery of the Maya

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Pyramid background with sun radiating at the top. Mystery of the Maya title overlay.
Image attribution
K2 Studios
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Archaeologist shares her findings.
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K2 Studios

An archaeologist takes a young Maya descendant through spectacular ancient ruins as they unlock the secrets of the past.  

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Maya pyramid in Chichen Itza
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K2 Studios

The Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcan in the ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the tallest and most remarkable examples of Maya architecture.

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A view of Tulum from the sea
Image attribution
K2 Studios

A view of the Maya city of Tulum from the sea. Tulum was the only Maya city built on a coast. 

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Young Maya descendant sketches a Maya artifact.
Image attribution
K2 Studios

A young Maya descendant sketches a Maya glyph.

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Ancient Maya ruins
Image attribution
K2 Studios

The Maya had incredible architectural skills and built everything from simple dwellings to incredibly detailed palaces and temples. 

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Ancient Maya ruins
Image attribution
K2 Studios

An archaelogical site of ancient Maya ruins.

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Cave in ancient Maya civilization
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K2 Studios

Descendants of the ancient Maya pray to the gods that they have worshiped for more than 100 generations. 

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Pyramid background with sun radiating at the top. Mystery of the Maya title overlay.
Image attribution
K2 Studios
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Archaeologist shares her findings.
Image attribution
K2 Studios

An archaeologist takes a young Maya descendant through spectacular ancient ruins as they unlock the secrets of the past.  

Image
Maya pyramid in Chichen Itza
Image attribution
K2 Studios

The Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcan in the ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the tallest and most remarkable examples of Maya architecture.

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A view of Tulum from the sea
Image attribution
K2 Studios

A view of the Maya city of Tulum from the sea. Tulum was the only Maya city built on a coast. 

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Young Maya descendant sketches a Maya artifact.
Image attribution
K2 Studios

A young Maya descendant sketches a Maya glyph.

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Ancient Maya ruins
Image attribution
K2 Studios

The Maya had incredible architectural skills and built everything from simple dwellings to incredibly detailed palaces and temples. 

Image
Ancient Maya ruins
Image attribution
K2 Studios

An archaelogical site of ancient Maya ruins.

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Cave in ancient Maya civilization
Image attribution
K2 Studios

Descendants of the ancient Maya pray to the gods that they have worshiped for more than 100 generations. 

Slider info

NOW PLAYINGAmazon Adventure 3D

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Jaguar peers through the brush of the Amazon Rainforest with "Amazon Adventure 3D" logo overlay and "A True Story of Scientific Adventure" subtitle
Image attribution
SK Films
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Henry Bates reads a letter
Image attribution
SK Films

Always learning, always thinking. Explorer Henry Bates always asked why

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Potoo bird sits atop a tree trunk, disguising itself.
Image attribution
SK Films

The potoo bird matches the tree trunk it is resting on. Potoos are related to nightjars—the family that includes nighthawks and whip-poor-wills. 

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Amazon horned frog camouflages with the leaves on the Amazon Rainforest floor.
Image attribution
SK Films

This Amazon Horned Frog hides among leaves and brush on the Amazon Rainforest floor. 

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Flower or hunting spider? This spider uses mimicry to disguise itself.
Image attribution
SK Films

Flower or hunting spider? This hunting spider uses mimicry to disguise itself. 

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The leaf butterfly appears to look like a leaf on an branch.
Image attribution
SK Films

This leaf butterfly appears to look like a leaf on a branch. 

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A sloth swims in the Amazon Rainforest.
Image attribution
SK Films

Sloths are strong swimmers. They can swim three times faster than they can walk on land. And because of their ability to slow their heart rates to one-third its normal rate, they can also hold their breath for 40 minutes under water.

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Jaguar peers through the brush of the Amazon Rainforest with "Amazon Adventure 3D" logo overlay and "A True Story of Scientific Adventure" subtitle
Image attribution
SK Films
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Henry Bates reads a letter
Image attribution
SK Films

Always learning, always thinking. Explorer Henry Bates always asked why

Image
Potoo bird sits atop a tree trunk, disguising itself.
Image attribution
SK Films

The potoo bird matches the tree trunk it is resting on. Potoos are related to nightjars—the family that includes nighthawks and whip-poor-wills. 

Image
Amazon horned frog camouflages with the leaves on the Amazon Rainforest floor.
Image attribution
SK Films

This Amazon Horned Frog hides among leaves and brush on the Amazon Rainforest floor. 

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Flower or hunting spider? This spider uses mimicry to disguise itself.
Image attribution
SK Films

Flower or hunting spider? This hunting spider uses mimicry to disguise itself. 

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The leaf butterfly appears to look like a leaf on an branch.
Image attribution
SK Films

This leaf butterfly appears to look like a leaf on a branch. 

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A sloth swims in the Amazon Rainforest.
Image attribution
SK Films

Sloths are strong swimmers. They can swim three times faster than they can walk on land. And because of their ability to slow their heart rates to one-third its normal rate, they can also hold their breath for 40 minutes under water.

Slider info

NOW PLAYINGAsteroid Hunters 3D

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Delta IV Heavy Rocket in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

The Delta IV Heavy rocket, seen in the IMAX® movie Asteroid Hunters 3D, could transport a space probe to avert and redirect an asteroid on a path toward Earth.
 

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Asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

An asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere.

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Mark Boslough PhD in front of supercomputer screen in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

Planetary defense specialist Mark Boslough PhD demonstrates an asteroid impact using supercomputers to assess the effects.

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Marina Brozović PhD / interior of Goldstone radio dish antenna in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

Marina Brozović PhD of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory studies radar signals to understand the size, speed and location of asteroids. Data collected from the Goldstone radio dish antenna is used to track large, high - risk asteroids.

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Delta IV Heavy Rocket in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

The Delta IV Heavy rocket, seen in the IMAX® movie Asteroid Hunters 3D, could transport a space probe to avert and redirect an asteroid on a path toward Earth.
 

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Asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

An asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere.

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Mark Boslough PhD in front of supercomputer screen in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

Planetary defense specialist Mark Boslough PhD demonstrates an asteroid impact using supercomputers to assess the effects.

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Marina Brozović PhD / interior of Goldstone radio dish antenna in Asteroid Hunters 3D
Image attribution
© 2020 IMAX Corporation

Marina Brozović PhD of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory studies radar signals to understand the size, speed and location of asteroids. Data collected from the Goldstone radio dish antenna is used to track large, high - risk asteroids.

Slider info

NOW PLAYINGUnder the Sea 3D

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A Wunderpus phtogenicus doing a pinwheel-like somersault in the waters of Alotau in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, in the IMAX movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Michele Hall used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

An entertaining Wunderpus phtogenicus does a pinwheel-like somersault in the waters of Alotau in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.

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The dance of the jellyfish (Thysanostoma thysanura) draws the attention of several butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) in the cool waters of Clam Gardens in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, in the IMAX film Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Michele Hall used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

The dance of the jellyfish (Thysanostoma thysanura) draws the attention of several butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) in the cool waters of Clam Gardens in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

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One of the Under the Sea film crew, Stuart MacFarlane, poses for a photo next to a giant potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Image attribution
© 2008 Mark Spencer used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

One of the Under the Sea film crew, Stuart MacFarlane, poses for a photo next to a giant potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) as it shows off its potato-like markings in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

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Hundreds of glassy sweeper fish dart over the dizzying array of colorful Coral Bommie of Indonesia, within the movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Jeff Wildermuth used with permission of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Hundreds of glassy sweeper fish create visual chaos as they dart over the dizzying array of colorful coral bommie of Indonesia.

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A pair of Australian sea lions by the Hopkins Island in South Australia, in the IMAX movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
©2008 Jeff Wildermuth used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

A pair of Australian sea lions lazily cruise the waters around the Hopkins Island in South Australia.

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A Wunderpus phtogenicus doing a pinwheel-like somersault in the waters of Alotau in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, in the IMAX movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Michele Hall used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

An entertaining Wunderpus phtogenicus does a pinwheel-like somersault in the waters of Alotau in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.

Image
The dance of the jellyfish (Thysanostoma thysanura) draws the attention of several butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) in the cool waters of Clam Gardens in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, in the IMAX film Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Michele Hall used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

The dance of the jellyfish (Thysanostoma thysanura) draws the attention of several butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) in the cool waters of Clam Gardens in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Image
One of the Under the Sea film crew, Stuart MacFarlane, poses for a photo next to a giant potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Image attribution
© 2008 Mark Spencer used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

One of the Under the Sea film crew, Stuart MacFarlane, poses for a photo next to a giant potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) as it shows off its potato-like markings in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Image
Hundreds of glassy sweeper fish dart over the dizzying array of colorful Coral Bommie of Indonesia, within the movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
© 2008 Jeff Wildermuth used with permission of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Hundreds of glassy sweeper fish create visual chaos as they dart over the dizzying array of colorful coral bommie of Indonesia.

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A pair of Australian sea lions by the Hopkins Island in South Australia, in the IMAX movie Under the Sea
Image attribution
©2008 Jeff Wildermuth used with permission by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

A pair of Australian sea lions lazily cruise the waters around the Hopkins Island in South Australia.

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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 4info@californiasciencecenter.org; 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
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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!