Santa Monica has plenty of movie nights, but none that feel quite as cozy or cinematic as an evening inside the Aero Theater. Its marquee lights, old-school charm, and loyal crowd create the perfect backdrop for a celebration of one of Hollywood’s most distinct and enduring presences: Meg Ryan. A retrospective of her work wouldn’t just draw nostalgic movie lovers, it would honor a performer who defined romantic storytelling for decades. Her filmography has range, heart, and a rare kind of sincerity that Los Angeles could use a bit more of right now.
When Harry Met Sally
You can’t start a Meg Ryan retrospective without the movie that made her a cultural icon. When Harry Met Sally is witty, emotionally layered, and endlessly rewatchable. Watching it on the big screen again would remind everyone why the 1980s romantic comedy boom had staying power. The film’s dialogue holds up beautifully, the chemistry between Ryan and Billy Crystal still crackles, and that deli scene is as famous as any piece of movie history. At the Aero, it would be less of a nostalgia trip and more of a live reminder that timing, writing, and subtle humor can do more for romance than special effects ever could.
You’ve Got Mail
The Aero’s art deco interior could practically become part of the story for You’ve Got Mail, a love letter to books, conversation, and the early days of the internet. It’s a movie that feels both quaint and modern in hindsight. While people now swipe through dating apps, this film captures the curiosity and optimism of connection before algorithms got involved. Meg Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly is sharp yet tender, hopeful yet grounded, and every scene glows with Nora Ephron’s New York charm. Including this in the lineup would bring the audience back to a time when waiting for an email felt like waiting for fate. And if Aero wanted to nod to Ryan’s later work, they could follow with a sneak preview of her movie What Happens Later, her return to directing and starring in a mature, quietly funny take on love’s unfinished business. That would make for a full-circle evening worth dressing up for.
Sleepless in Seattle
Romantic longing doesn’t get more cinematic than Sleepless in Seattle. It’s sentimental without slipping into syrupy, and the cityscapes practically hum with emotional resonance. The story, told through missed connections and radio waves, would hit differently in a theater full of people watching it unfold together in real time. The Aero could even host a pre-show featuring love letters from locals or a short montage of famous film couples to set the mood. But the heart of it is Meg Ryan’s Annie Reed, a character who makes romantic risk feel believable. Her hope isn’t naive, it’s brave, and seeing that play out on the Aero’s screen would remind audiences that courage often looks like showing up for love.
When a Man Loves a Woman
Meg Ryan’s dramatic turn in When a Man Loves a Woman showed that she wasn’t confined to romantic comedy archetypes. The Aero’s audience deserves to see this side of her, vulnerable, raw, and quietly fierce. The film tells the story of a woman confronting her dependence on alcohol with honesty and compassion. It’s When a Man Loves a Woman, a movie in which Meg Ryan clearly needs addiction treatment, yet the performance avoids clichés and stereotypes. Instead, it’s human and deeply empathetic, revealing how recovery and relationships intertwine in complicated ways. In a world where public conversations around mental health and addiction have become more open, this movie feels newly relevant. The Aero’s curation could introduce it to a younger audience that might only know Ryan for her rom-com sparkle, showing them the power of stillness and vulnerability on screen.
City of Angels
Then there’s City of Angels, a film that aches with melancholy and beauty. Nicolas Cage plays the angel who falls for Ryan’s Dr. Maggie Rice, and their chemistry is ethereal, tragic, and haunting. It’s not a light movie, but it belongs in a retrospective because it captures something that defined Ryan’s career, her ability to hold the camera with quiet emotion. She doesn’t overact or reach for tears; she simply lets the moment live. Watching this on the Aero’s big screen would be almost meditative, especially paired with a post-film conversation about the late 1990s shift in Hollywood storytelling toward spiritual romantic dramas. The audience would likely leave in reflective silence, the kind that only happens after a movie truly lands.
Joe Versus the Volcano
Every film series needs one wildcard, and Joe Versus the Volcano fits perfectly. It’s weird, whimsical, and philosophical, pairing Ryan with Tom Hanks long before they became the quintessential movie couple. She plays three different women, each representing a different kind of awakening, and somehow makes them all distinct yet connected. The film didn’t get the credit it deserved upon release, but time has revealed it as one of the more daring comedies of its era. The Aero’s audience would appreciate its mix of absurd humor and existential depth, not to mention the rare chance to see a cult classic in its full theatrical glory. It’s proof that Meg Ryan could hold her own in any genre and that her charm had ranged far beyond meet-cute scenarios.
Wrapping Up
A Meg Ryan retrospective at the Aero Theater wouldn’t just be entertainment. It would be an act of celebration. She helped define what modern romance looked like on screen, but she also reflected the complexities that live beneath it—the insecurity, courage, and self-discovery that come with real connection. The Aero could curate the experience like a love letter to film itself, turning a Santa Monica evening into something that feels timeless and deeply personal. Watching those movies again, surrounded by laughter, sniffles, and applause, would remind everyone why people fell in love with the movies in the first place.
