SanFranciscoTRVLR
Jun 2024
What an absolutely incredible waste of potential.
This could be an iconic highlight for Los Angeles.
It could be an absolute must-do, and even a reason for people to visit LA.
Instead it is a blase second or third rate museum in an ugly retrofitted building lacking any style.
We were so so so disappointed in the Academy Museum. From the time it was announced we were looking forward to it. We had heard so-so to bad things about it but still it was a must do for us on one of our frequent trips to LA.
First, the building itself is a former May's department store. Huh? What? What does this have to do with anything? I GUESS the sphere is cool but it's a movie theater that is not even open. Overall the building is very blah.
You enter and it's an industrial open space with oscar statues, some of which are missing letters on the signs. It looks very very janky and unprofessional. The only thing that's nice is the restaurant and cafe which are WAY too fancy and upscale for their surroundings.
Then you go upstairs- feels like a 1970s office building. The JAWS shark is somewhat cool, but really- this should be an incredible experience entering this museum.
There are multiple small exhibits- certainly with some cool artifacts and facts. the Boyz N The Hood was cool, the Godfather. Multiple other ones of lesser know (which is fine) directors and stars.
Then... the piece d'resistence- the Oscars area. WHAT a letdown. A few tiny rooms with awards and videos playing. This really really does not honor what the Oscars are all about. Yes, I know it's an Academy museum and not an Oscars museum, but still.
The best exhibit was the temporary John Waters exhibit, which I visited solo as it was inappropriate for the kids. This was BY FAR the best thing in the building and the only one even worthy of such a museum.
All in all just a very very sad situation. We will absolutely not be back. I'd encourage anyone visiting LA to skip this place. If you don't love movies, it won't hold your attention. If you love movies like we do, it might just depress you too much. LA still doesn't have any great attractions for movie lovers. So unfortunate.