Korean-owned Gardena Cinema scores national attention in Super Bowl trailer

The Gardena Cinema Super Bowl appearance has thrust a small Korean American–owned theater into the national spotlight. The single-screen theater in Gardena appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, capturing the attention of viewers across the country.

The interior of Gardena Cinema was featured in the first trailer for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a spinoff of director Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The trailer aired during the Super Bowl, one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States, drawing more than 100 million viewers annually.

Judy Kim, owner of Gardena Cinema, said she had no idea the theater would appear in the Super Bowl broadcast. In a phone interview on February 17, she said she learned of the appearance only after receiving messages from acquaintances asking whether the theater in the ad was hers.

“I was truly surprised and happy,” Kim said. “It is an honor that a local theater appeared on a national broadcast.”

According to Kim, few theaters with a classic atmosphere remain today. Therefore, she believes the production team selected the location because it matched the film’s period setting.

The production crew used the theater as a filming location in July and August of last year. Preparation and set installation took about two weeks, and filming lasted approximately four days. During that time, the crew repainted portions of the interior and adjusted the set design.

Gardena Cinema opened in 1946 as a single-screen theater. In 1976, Korean immigrants John Kim and Nancy Kim purchased the property. Since then, the family has operated it as a neighborhood cultural venue. Judy Kim, their daughter, now manages the theater.

The venue has hosted classic film screenings, community events and local gatherings. However, maintaining an independent theater has become increasingly challenging.

Currently, the theater is pursuing nonprofit status to support building repairs and long-term preservation. Through sponsorships and donations, the family hopes to secure a stable foundation to protect the historic site.

“Gardena Cinema is more than a commercial movie theater,” Kim said. “It is a symbolic space filled with the memories and spirit of the community. We will continue working to keep it a central cultural hub.”

The spinoff film is produced by Netflix and directed by David Fincher. Actor Brad Pitt reprises his role as Cliff Booth.

BY HANKIL KANG   [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]