Stop Making Sense Live with Jerry Harrison in Malibu

Some concert films are good. Stop Making Sense is the one critics keep calling the greatest of all time, and on Sunday, October 25 it gets a rare night out on the big screen in Malibu. The newly restored 4K version, released to mark the film's 40th anniversary, plays at Smothers Theatre with co-star Jerry Harrison on hand to host. It is an easy pick if you are scanning things to do in Los Angeles this month and want something with real music history behind it.

When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Where: Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu Host: Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads keyboardist and guitarist

What the night looks like

The program is a public screening of the re-release, framed by Harrison himself. He opens with introductory remarks, then returns after the film for comments and an audience Q and A. That structure is the draw. Most people have seen the film on a laptop or a TV, if at all, and very few get to hear a band member talk about it right after the credits roll.

About the film

Jonathan Demme directed the 1984 concert film, shot at Hollywood's Pantages Theater. It follows David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth, along with their touring musicians, through some of Talking Heads' most memorable songs. The staging starts bare and builds, and the 4K restoration gives the picture and sound a sharpness that older prints and home video never quite had.

Planning your visit

Smothers Theatre sits on the Pepperdine University campus, off the Pacific Coast Highway. Leave extra time for the drive, since PCH traffic can slow down on a Sunday evening, and check the university's arts page for parking guidance before you go. The listing we found does not publish a ticket price, so confirm cost and availability through the official Pepperdine arts event page before you make the trip.

If you are building a list of LA events this weekend, this one rounds out a Sunday well: a drive up the coast, a landmark film and a conversation with someone who was there. Browse more picks in our arts and culture section, or see what else is happening in Los Angeles this week.

Details come from the Discover Los Angeles listing, so double-check the time and venue with the organizer closer to the date.