Kristen Stewart Acquires Highland Theatre to Offer a Space for the Community, Not Just Film Buffs

Kristen Stewart, known for her Oscar-nominated performances, has taken a significant step into the film industry as a cinema mogul by acquiring the historic Highland Theatre in Highland Park, Los Angeles. The actress aims to revitalize the century-old venue to create “something for the community.”

Stewart expressed her unexpected discovery of the theater’s potential in an interview with Architectural Digest, stating, “I didn’t realize I was looking for a theater until this place came to my attention. Then it was like a gunshot went off and the race was on. I ran toward it with everything I had. I’m fascinated by broken-down old theaters. I always want to see what mysteries they hold.”

Originally opened in 1925 and designed by architect Lewis Arthur Smith, the Highland Theatre has experienced various iterations, including a stint as an adult film venue in the early 1970s. However, it struggled to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately shutting down in 2024.

Stewart envisions the theater as more than just a space for “pretentious Hollywood cinephiles.” She plans to use it to engage and uplift the local community.

Alessandro Gentile and Danny Trejo attend the Highland Park International Film Festival Opening Night Screening Of ‘Machete’ at Highland Theaters on Oct. 3, 2019 in Highland Park, California. (Araya Doheny/Getty Images)

Describing her vision, Stewart remarked, “It’s an opportunity to make a space to gather and scheme and dream together. This project is about creating a new school and restructuring our processes, finding a better way forward. We want to make it a family affair, something for the community. It’s not just for pretentious Hollywood cinephiles. I see it as an antidote to all the corporate bullshit, a place that takes movie culture away from just buying and selling. I think there’s a huge desire and craving for what this kind of space can offer.”

Stewart further emphasized the theater’s historical significance, stating, “There are so many beautiful details that need to be restored. I think there’s a way to 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. That’s the point—new ideas.”