Peephole Cinema

Hidden in an alley in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District lies a literal hole in the wall theater. Peeking inside the small peephole reveals a cinema that plays a constant stream of silent film vignettes.

Those willing to crouch down and crane their necks to peer into the small hole will be rewarded with an endless loop of short films. These short films and animations run all day and night, so come any time and enjoy this little gem the Mission District has to offer.

Peephole Cinema is easy to miss — there is no sign or marker. Most people stumble across the peephole by chance or find it via word of mouth.

The small theater is the work of Laurie O’Brien, who created the Peephole Cinema in 2013 as a novel way to showcase films. O’Brien, who was originally trained as an animator, wanted to find a way to bring animations to a wider audience. She has also installed other similar cinemas in the Brooklyn and Los Angeles. She recently put one in San Francisco’s airport.

Update as of July 2024:  Still running, even though accompanying plaque says they’re on hiatus due to COVID.