Kristen Stewart Takes a Chance on a Dilapidated L.A. Movie Theater: Her Inspiring Journey

Kristen Stewart on Jan. 9.
Credit:

Olivia Wong/FilmMagic

NEED TO KNOW

• Kristen Stewart has purchased the dilapidated Highland Theatre in Los Angeles.
• The actress-director stated her mission is to create “a place that takes movie culture away from just buying and selling.”
• Stewart “ran toward” the restoration project “with everything I had.”

Kirsten Stewart is taking significant steps to revitalize the moviegoing experience by acquiring the historic Highland Theatre in Highland Park, Los Angeles. The actress, now 35, aims to transform this dilapidated venue into a community-centered cultural hub.

In a recent interview with Architectural Digest, Stewart shared her enthusiasm for old theaters, commenting on their potential to harbor untold stories and mysteries. “I’ve always wanted to see what mysteries they hold,” she remarked.

The Highland Theatre, which closed on February 29, 2024, almost reaching its centenary, is a notable Los Angeles landmark designed by architect Lewis Arthur Smith. It first opened its doors on March 2, 1925, featuring a screening of Lady of the Night.

“I didn’t realize I was looking for a theater until this place came to my attention,” Stewart reflected. “Then it was like a gunshot went off and the race was on. I ran toward it with everything I had.”

Kristen Stewart in October 2025.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Stewart envisions the restoration project as an opportunity to create a gathering space. “We want to make it a family affair, something for the community,” she emphasized. “It’s not just for pretentious Hollywood cinephiles. I see it as an antidote to all the corporate bulls—, a place that takes movie culture away from just buying and selling.” She expresses a belief in the community’s desire for such a cultural space.

The Highland Theatre is filled with “so many beautiful details that need to be restored,” Stewart noted, illustrating her commitment to preserving its historical significance while simultaneously creating something fresh for the neighborhood and the broader Los Angeles film community.

Stewart is part of a growing movement among filmmakers to enhance Los Angeles’s cinematic landscape. Notable figures such as Quentin Tarantino, who owns the New Beverly Cinema and the Vista Theatre, are also contributing to this effort. Additionally, a group of filmmakers including Jason Reitman, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Bradley Cooper have acquired the historic Fox Village Theatre in Westwood.

“I absolutely f—ing love this city,” Stewart said of Los Angeles, describing it as a collection of neighborhoods that embody both diversity and unity. “You can decide how you want to fill it.”

Currently, Stewart’s film The Chronology of Water, which she directed and stars Imogen Poots, is in theaters. In the pipeline is another project, The Wrong Girls, which her wife, Dylan Meyer, is directing. Stewart co-wrote the screenplay and stars in the film.