Spend a day with Jaws, Barbie, and Marilyn at the Academy Museum this summer

Jaws: The Exhibition

Continuing through July 26, 2026, ‘Jaws: The Exhibition’ is the museum’s first retrospective of this scale focused exclusively on a single film—and the largest exhibition ever for the Oscar-winning film from Universal Pictures.

The exhibit celebrates the original summer blockbuster’s 50th anniversary by diving into the film’s history (and its 50-year impact) through original props and costumes, behind-the-scenes stories, and interactive photo ops.

Side quest: All the way over in Orlando, you can sink your teeth into a “Jaws” inspired restaurant for this summer, as well as themed photo opportunities and more during Universal Orlando’s summer lineup.

Suspended just outside the exhibit’s exit is one of the most iconic objects from the museum’s permanent collection—and the only surviving full-scale shark model from the film.

Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer

The immersive look at the work of production designers Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, which debuted at the Academy Museum and continues through Oct. 25, 2026, highlights how they created the world of “Barbie” for the 2023 live-action movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

Through video interviews with the designers and the cast, the process of creating the pink world of Barbie (and later the “Kendom”) is reinforced through scale models of the movie’s sets, including Barbie’s perfect cul-de-sac, Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House, and, of course, “beach.”

Also on display are Barbie Land props, including Barbie’s problematic milk carton.

Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon exhibit

‘Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon’ opened on May 31, 2026 (one day before Marilyn Monroe’s 100^th birthday), and continues through Feb. 28, 2027. The museum’s newest exhibition includes hundreds of original posters, photographs, production documents, letters, and rarely seen personal materials—many of which are on display for the first time.

But what Marilyn fans most want to see are the screen-worn costumes, including the pink silk pajamas she wore in “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), a pair of sequined dresses Monroe wore as Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk in “Some Like it Hot” (1959), and the show-stopping red gown from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953).

You can see each of these costumes in the three photos below.

One notable replica in the exhibit is the iconic “white subway dress,” which was made by the original costume designer for publicity purposes.

But the highlight, of course, is the famous pink silk “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” dress, which was replicated for Madonna’s 1985 “Material Girl” video.

The exhibit also includes photographs, scripts, and even extremely personal items such as make-up—including a bottle of her signature scent, Chanel N°5—and Monroe’s Screen Actors Guild card dated May 22, 1962, just two and a half months before she died.

How To Visit The Academy Museum

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. Hours are Wednesday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 (closed Tuesdays).