Popcorn, Champagne and Classic Film: Cartier’s Cinema Club Turns a Historic Theater Into a Glamorous Screening

On a Friday afternoon, the French jeweler Cartier transformed Santa Monica’s historic Aero Theatre into a vintage‑Hollywood setting for the Los Angeles debut of its Cartier Cinema Club. The event invited actors, filmmakers and friends of the brand to enjoy a curated film experience, with Jacob Elordi selecting John Cassavetes’s 1977 drama Opening Night as the featured title.

The atmosphere was relaxed yet elegant. An Airstream parked outside offered croissants, sliders and caviar‑topped treats in red boxes, while ushers punched movie tickets for guests entering the theater. Inside, traditional concessions provided popcorn, candy, soda and fresh fruit, and ice‑filled champagne buckets added a touch of sparkle to the nostalgic setting.

Actors Cailee Spaeny, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Karen Pittman, Sepideh Moafi and Chloe East attended, along with artist‑writer Alex Israel, Duke Nicholson, Delfin Finley and Kohshin Finley. Elordi and Oscar‑winning director Sean Baker joined the crowd for a live jazz performance and a fireside conversation moderated by screenwriter Kim Morgan.

“I’ve always been a huge admirer of John Cassavetes,” Elordi told Vogue. “His fight for what is real and true against the constraints of an industry focused on easy‑to‑digest entertainment has always inspired me. From the first time I saw Opening Night, it has stayed with me. I love that I get to share a film like this with people who may be discovering it for the first time.”

Baker, known for highlighting stories and characters often overlooked by Hollywood, echoed the sentiment. “I am thrilled to sit down with Jacob to discuss this film we both deeply admire, and I am grateful to Cartier for making this conversation possible,” he said. “Jacob is a standout talent of his generation, and I look forward to diving into this masterpiece with him.”

The gathering also highlighted Cartier’s long‑standing ties to cinema. A century ago, Rudolph Valentino kept his Cartier Tank watch on while filming The Son of the Sheik, and the brand’s pieces later appeared in classics such as Sunset Boulevard and High Society. More recently, Cartier partnered with Wes Anderson on a custom piece for The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Presented in collaboration with the American Cinematheque, the Cartier Cinema Club set a high standard for future movie outings, proving that champagne and caviar can sit comfortably alongside popcorn and soda for a memorable film experience.