Southern California's classic movie palaces are making a significant return, with Hollywood's Cinerama Dome set to reopen in 2028 and Westwood's Bruin scheduled for Fall 2026. This wave signals a potential revival for local cinema after years of industry shifts, offering a different experience than typical multiplexes.
The Cinerama Dome in Hollywood is one of the most anticipated comebacks. SONY Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse are overseeing its restoration and reopening, set for 2028. It closed in 2021 when Decurion Corporation ceased operations, also shuttering the ArcLight Hollywood. According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, the Dome, which opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1963, is the only geodesic-domed movie theater of its kind. Its curved, 86-foot-wide screen requires three projectors. Benjamin Steinberg’s "Save Your Cinema" campaign, launched in 2021, played a significant role, with tens of thousands of petition signatures. Steinberg noted that after he projected owners' faces onto the building in April, executives at Decurion began viewing his LinkedIn profile, followed by a public hearing. On July 22, Sony signed a lease for the Dome and adjoining ArcLight venues. Alamo Drafthouse will operate the Dome and 14 multiplex screens, though a Sony spokesperson told Eater that Alamo's food and drink will be exclusive to the multiplex.
Westwood is also seeing a return of its historic venues. The Bruin closed two years ago but will reopen this fall. KTLA reports that Toronto-based Riu Pereira leased the property from the Skouras family, planning to upgrade its projection system with 35mm and 70mm capabilities. The nearby Village Theater, originally the Fox Westwood Village Theater and opened in 1931, also closed in 2024. It will be renovated and reopened in 2027 by a collective of filmmakers, including director Jason Reitman, KTLA noted.
In Glendale, the 101-year-old Alex Theatre has already shown the potential of these venues. It became the country’s highest-grossing movie theater screening director Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey*. This success is notable because, as The Hollywood Reporter points out, the Alex had not typically offered a first-run movie for almost four decades. Less than two months before *The Odyssey* debuted, the Alex hired projectionist and IMAX consultant Taylor Umphenour to oversee the design and installation of a 70mm system. The Alex Theatre regularly hosts older films alongside music and dance performances, making its box office achievement for a blockbuster a delightful anomaly.
Los Angeles has a rich history of classic theaters like Hollywood’s El Capitan and TCL Chinese Theatres. Despite recent closures like iPic, and conversions such as the Studio City Theatre becoming a Barnes & Noble, the momentum behind these reopenings, coupled with a reported 15 percent increase in ticket sales and multiple films surpassing $1 billion globally, suggests a promising time for moviegoers seeking a grander cinematic experience.
