Westwood Village Theater returns in 2027 with a film-loving group at the helm – NBC Los Angeles

What to KnowThe Westwood Village Theater, a historic cinema located in Westwood, will be programmed by American CinemathequeThe organization programs films at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, the Los Feliz Theatre, and the Egyptian Theatre in HollywoodFilmmaker Jason Reitman and the Village Directors Circle, which vowed to save the beloved movie theater, will work with American Cinematheque on the shuttered venue’s reopeningThe renovated Westwood Village Theater is expected to reopen in 2027

Any lauded location that is approaching its centennial has a way of shining brightly at the center of the spotlight, as fans, supporters, and those who grew up visiting the venue pay respectful homage to its history.

The Westwood Village Theater can proudly occupy this long centennial-approaching history: The celebrated cinema will turn 100 in 2031, and it will do so with after a fresh start courtesy of a passionate film-loving organization.

That group? It’s American Cinematheque, which programs screenings and series at the Los Feliz Theatre, the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, and the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

American Cinematheque will now be at the programming helm of the Westwood Village Theater thanks to a dynamic new partnership with Village Directors Circle.

With filmmaker Jason Reitman at the lead and several moviemaking icons on its roster, the VDC was formed in 2024 to help revive the important movie palace.

With this new pairing, the Westwood Village Theater, which shuttered in 2024 when the cinema’s Regency Theatres lease ended, will flicker into a fresh future, one that will arrive when American Cinematheque begins showing films in 2027.

“Partnering with the brilliant and virtuoso Village Directors Circle to renovate the Village Theater is an exciting milestone for the American Cinematheque,” said Rick Nicita, American Cinematheque Chair.

“We are thrilled to bring our expertise in film programming to Westwood, breathing new life into this iconic venue.”

“Our goal is to create a vibrant cultural hub that not only celebrates cinema but also enriches the community and welcomes audiences from all over Los Angeles and the world.”

American Cinematheque is also anticipating “active participation” from the filmmakers in the management of the venue, which has over 1,000 seats.

For more on this major team-up, and what is ahead for the theater, visit American Cinematheque.