A variety of multiscreen complexes around the city show first-run films. My favorite venue, from a sheer presentation standpoint, is Pacific's Gaslamp Stadium, Fifth Avenue at G Street, downtown (tel. 619/232-0400); the 15 theaters all offer stadium seating with large screens and great sound systems. The AMC chain operates swarming complexes in both the Mission Valley and Fashion Valley shopping centers (tel. 858/558-2AMC); both have free parking but popular films sell out early on weekends. Current American independent and foreign films play at Landmark's five-screen Hillcrest Cinema, 3965 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest, which offers 3 hours of free parking (tel. 619/299-2100); the Ken Cinema, 4061 Adams Ave., Kensington (tel. 619/283-5909); and the four-screen La Jolla Village, 8879 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla, also with free parking (tel. 858/453-7831).

The Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park (tel. 619/238-7559; www.mopa.org) has a well-chosen revival series featuring American and foreign classics, shown Friday and Saturday and some weeknights. The OMNIMAX theater at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (tel. 619/238-1233), also in Balboa Park, features IMAX movies in the early evening projected onto the 76-foot tilted dome screen (later screenings on weekends). Planetarium shows are held the first Wednesday of the month.