Charlotte wanted her birthday party at a movie theater this year — her own private screening, her pick of the movie, the full concession experience. We booked a private event at the Bay Theater in Palisades Village, the Netflix-owned five-screen theater in Pacific Palisades. We liked it enough that we booked the same thing again a few months later for her sister Madeline’s birthday. Here’s exactly how it worked, what it cost, and what I’d tell another parent before they book.
Why It Worked
The big draw is built-in entertainment — the movie holds a room of eight-year-olds for ninety minutes without anyone needing to referee a game, and there’s no décor or activity planning beyond picking a film and a time. Compared to a party we’d have to run ourselves for two hours, this was the easiest one we’ve hosted, twice.
Booking a Private Screening at the Bay Theater
We booked by emailing the theater directly and asking about a private event. They emailed back with options for room size and a list of movies to choose from — since the Bay Theater is owned and operated by Netflix, the catalog is Netflix titles only, not whatever happens to be in wide release that week. That mattered for us, since Charlotte had a specific movie in mind.
The theater has five screening rooms ranging from 30 to 77 seats, so there’s room to size the party to your guest list — we had about 18 kids. These days the theater books private events through an online rental inquiry form rather than a cold email, though you can still reach them by phone. Either way, plan on confirming room size and available titles before you lock in a date.
Cost for our party — room rental, food, cake, and setup all included — ran a little over $1,000, closer to $1,500 by the time everything was added up. There was no cleanup on our end; the theater’s staff handled it, and we just packed up the gifts and went home.
A quick update for anyone planning ahead: the Bay Theater’s building survived the January 2025 Palisades fire, but Palisades Village was closed for repairs and only held its full public reopening on August 15, 2026. As of this update, the Village and theater are open again, so private events should be bookable — just confirm current details when you inquire, since a lot in the area has changed.
The Day Of: Pajamas, Popcorn, and In-Seat Ordering
We had the kids arrive about 10 minutes before the movie started. Parents signed each child in on a sheet with a phone number in case of an emergency — this was a drop-off party, so that list mattered. My one piece of advice: take your child to the restroom before they get settled into their seat. Once a kid is buckled into a reclining chair with popcorn and a blanket, nobody wants to get back up.
We made it a pajama party so the kids would be comfortable curled up in the reclining seats, and since it was just us, there was no reason not to. Each seat got popcorn and one of the goodie-bag blankets we ordered — the kind that folds up to look like a stuffed animal — which the kids used the whole movie. Once they were seated, they ordered their own kids’ meals and drinks right from their chairs, which they thought was the best part of the whole day.
Charlotte’s group watched Matilda the Musical, and since the room was entirely ours, it didn’t matter how loud they sang along — or that a few of them got up out of their seats to dance in front of the screen mid-movie. That’s the real advantage of a private screening over a regular showing: nobody’s disturbing another paying moviegoer, so the kids can be as loud and as wiggly as an eight-year-old birthday party actually is.
Cake, Singing, and a Fast Goodbye
As soon as the movie ended, we brought out cupcakes, sang a quick happy birthday, and handed them out right there in the theater. We built in about 15 minutes for that and set the pickup time for 15 minutes after the movie ended — it was exactly enough time, no rushing and no standing around waiting for parents either.
Is It Worth It?
For us, yes — both times. It took the entire party off my plate: no house to clean, no games to plan, no two hours of open-ended playtime to supervise. If you’re weighing a theater package against a DIY movie night at home with a projector and blankets in the backyard, the home version is cheaper and more flexible, but it’s also work you have to do yourself. The theater version is the one to pick when you want the whole thing handled. We liked it enough to do it twice, and at least two or three other families we know booked their own kids’ birthdays at the Bay Theater after seeing how ours went.
FAQ
How do you book a private party at the Bay Theater?
Reach out directly — currently that’s through an online rental inquiry form on the theater’s website, or by phone. They’ll follow up with available room sizes and a list of Netflix titles to choose from.
What movies can you watch?
Only titles from the Netflix catalog — this is a Netflix-owned and -operated theater, not a regular multiplex, so you won’t have access to whatever’s currently in wide release.
Is it a drop-off party?
It can be. We had parents sign kids in with an emergency contact number and picked everyone up 15 minutes after the movie ended.
What does it cost?
Our all-in cost for about 18 kids, including the room, food, cake, and setup, was a little over $1,000 — closer to $1,500 total.
Do you have to clean up?
No. Theater staff handled cleanup; we packed up the gifts and left.
Can you bring your own cake?
Yes, we brought cupcakes both times. Policies can vary, so it’s worth confirming when you book.
Is the Bay Theater open?
Yes, as of this update. The building survived the January 2025 Palisades fire, and Palisades Village fully reopened on August 15, 2026.
