Los Angeles|Local Event
MWO Presents its first Matinees on the Mountain of 2026, screening Disney’s “Wall-E”
Event Details
Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history, presents its first Matinees on the Mountain screening set for Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 3:00pm.
Matinees on the Mountain will debut with Disney’s “Wall-E” (2008), the endearing story of a lonely trash-compacting robot on a deserted Earth, who discovers love and helps spark humanity’s return to the planet. Tickets are priced at $20 for general admission and $15 for children under 12. For more information and tickets, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie050926.
MWO's film series takes place in its 256-seat auditorium, screening classic science fiction, vintage silent films, and even a few family-friendly surprises. Moviegoers can enjoy lunch at the Cosmic Cafe or picnic on the grounds, explore the Observatory’s rich history, and then settle in for a unique cinematic experience 1-mile above the City of Los Angeles.
The Cosmic Cafe (www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe), located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Cafe offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.
UPCOMING MATINEES ON THE MOUNTAIN OF THE 2026 SEASON
June 13: “Our Heavenly Bodies” (1925) with Live Score: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie061326
A silent film exploring the motions and structure of the universe through early scientific visualization. The movie will be accompanied by a live score.
July 18: “The Right Stuff” (1983): www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie071826
Written and directed by Philip Kaufman, The Right Stuff is set in the early days of the U.S. space program, where test pilots and the Mercury Seven astronauts push the limits of human endurance and courage in the race to reach space.
August 15: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) + Bob Baker Marionettes: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie081526
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic sees a lonely boy befriend a stranded alien, together they embark on a magical adventure to help E.T. “phone home” before the grown-ups catch him. The Bob Baker Marionettes will also be visiting MWO, bringing a selection of puppets.
September 12: “Solaris” (1972): https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie091226
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris sees a psychologist travel to a troubled space station orbiting the planet Solaris, where a mysterious alien intelligence manifests human memories and forces the crew to confront their past.
October 10: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956): www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie101026
A small-town doctor discovers that people in his community are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates grown from mysterious space-borne pods, sparking a desperate fight to stop the silent invasion.
VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum. For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/visiting.