Kristen Stewart buys Highland Park movie theater in Los Angeles Monica Garske, USA TODAYFri, February 6, 2026 at 10:26 PM UTC 0 Kristen Stewart buys Highland Park movie theater in Los Angeles Oscar‑nominated actor and director Kristen Stewart has bought the Highland Theatre, the 1920s Los Angeles cinema that closed in 2024, with plans to bring it back to life for the neighborhood. In an Architectural Digest feature, the "Spencer" actress said that buying the onceHighland Park movie palace and nowdilapidated space just felt right.
Kristen Stewart buys Highland Park movie theater in Los Angeles
Monica Garske, USA TODAYFri, February 6, 2026 at 10:26 PM UTC
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Kristen Stewart buys Highland Park movie theater in Los Angeles
Oscar‑nominated actor and director Kristen Stewart has bought the Highland Theatre, the 1920s Los Angeles cinema that closed in 2024, with plans to bring it back to life for the neighborhood.
In an Architectural Digest feature, the "Spencer" actress said that buying the once-Highland Park movie palace and now-dilapidated space just felt right.
"I ran toward it with everything I had," Stewart told Architectural Digest. "I'm fascinated by broken-down old theaters. I always want to see what mysteries they hold."
Stewart said she hopes to turn the theater into a space for the community, and "not just for pretentious Hollywood cinephiles."
"It's an opportunity to make a space to gather and scheme and dream together," she added.
Where is the Highland Theatre?
The Highland Theatre is at 5604 N. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood.
The history of the Highland Theatre
The Highland Theatre was designed by prominent Southern California architect Lewis Arthur Smith, the mastermind behind dozens of L.A.-area theaters, including the famed Vista, El Portal, Brooklyn Theatre, and the Rialto.
The Highland was built in 1924 and opened to the public in early March 1925, with a screening of "Lady of the Night." In addition to films, the stage was used as a live performance space for vaudeville acts.
Over the decades, the Highland's ownership switched hands many times.
In 1991, the theater was designated Los Angele Historic-Cultural Monument No. 549.
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As with many entertainment venues in California, the theater shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to recover after reopening in 2021. It permanently closed in late February 2024, just shy of its centennial.
Where it goes under Stewart's watch remains to be seen, but she told Architectural Digest that she hopes to restore the space and "bring the building back to life in a way that embraces its history but also brings something new to the neighborhood and something new to the whole LA film community.
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Other filmmakers who have bought California theaters
Stewart isn't the only celebrity to go all in on a movie theater.
In December 2007, Quentin Tarantino bought the famed New Beverly Cinema on Beverly Boulevard to save it from redevelopment. In 2014, Tarantino became the theater's head programmer and decided to project only 35MM films.
In 2021, Tarantino bought the historic Vista Theatre on Sunset Drive in Los Feliz.
In 2024, filmmaker Jason Reitman led a group of 35 filmmakers — including Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Judd Apatow, Ryan Coogler, Seth Rogen, Bradley Cooper, and Guillermo del Toro — in the purchase of Westwood's historic Village Theater. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the group of celebrities united with a mission "to preserve the architectural gem and create a cultural landmark dedicated to the beloved experience of moviegoing."
Kristen Stewart's ties to California
Stewart was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the San Fernando Valley before moving to L.A.'s Eastside as a young adult. She began her Hollywood career at the age of 8.
Over the past two decades, she has starred in movies including "Panic Room," "Adventureland," "The Runaways," the "Twilight" franchise, "Snow White and the Huntsman," "Clouds of Sils Maria," "Charlie's Angels," "Underwater," and "Spencer," which earned her an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Fun Fact: Stewart made her mark in Northern California a couple of years ago — at least on the movie screen. She starred alongside Michael Cera and Michael Angarano in the 2025 road trip buddy comedy, "Sacramento."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Actress Kristen Stewart buys historic movie palace in Los Angeles
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Published: February 06, 2026 at 05:45PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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