A group of Hollywood filmmakers is stepping up to make sure that one of LA’s most famous movie theatres remains open. The Westwood Village is a single-screen movie house that first opened its doors nearly 100-years ago. For decades, this location in LA’s Westwood neighborhood has been a go-to location for movie premieres and a mecca for cinephiles.
However, in 2024, both Westwood Village and its neighboring Bruin Theatre were closed by Regency Theatres, the LA-based theatre chain that had been operating them. The future seemed uncertain for both theatres, with many fearing they would share the same fate as the iconic Cinerama Dome.
With great relief, a group of local filmmakers known as the Village Directors Circle has announced its purchase of the Westwood Village Theatre. The directors group led by Jason Reitman has also tapped into support from 35 high-profile filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, and Guillermo del Toro. They plan to invest $25 million in the restoration and renovation, which will open up an on-site restaurant and bar, art gallery, and event space to host film premieres.
The operation of the theatre will be managed by American Cinematheque, a non-profit that manages a number of other art-house movie theatres in Los Angeles. While the theatres are still not open for daily screenings, American Cinematheque has scheduled several special events at the Westwood Village Theatre to build excitement for its upcoming reopening. These events include a premiere for Billie Eilish’s concert film HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR and an upcoming three-week run of Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY with projection using 70mm film.
