The Westwood Bruin Theater Eyes Mid-October Re-Opening As Toronto Based Exhibitor Takes Over Lease
Deadline
β’Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:30:12 +0000
π° What Happened
Toronto-based exhibitor Rui Pereira signed a lease to take over the historic Bruin Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles, with plans to reopen by mid-October. He will restore 70mm and 35mm film projectors while upgrading digital systems. The theatre closed in July 2024 when Regency Theaters' lease ended.
π The Backstory
The Bruin Theater opened in 1937 and has been a Westwood landmark for nearly 90 years. It closed alongside its sister theatre The Village in July 2024 after Regency Theaters' lease expired. The Skouras family, descendants of 20th Century Fox's former president, own the property. The closures left Westwood without its historic cinema hubs.
π― Why It Matters
The Bruin's revival represents a victory for film preservation and independent cinema exhibition. Its reopening will restore an important cultural venue for Los Angeles, provide a home for both film and digital screenings in Westwood, and demonstrate the viability of independent, preservation-focused cinema operations in the modern era.
Toronto-based exhibitor Rui Pereira signed a lease to take over the historic Bruin Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles, with plans to reopen by mid-October. He will restore 70mm and 35mm film projectors while upgrading digital systems. The theatre closed in July 2024 when Regency Theaters' lease ended.
The Bruin Theater opened in 1937 and has been a Westwood landmark for nearly 90 years. It closed alongside its sister theatre The Village in July 2024 after Regency Theaters' lease expired. The Skouras family, descendants of 20th Century Fox's former president, own the property. The closures left Westwood without its historic cinema hubs.
The Bruin's revival represents a victory for film preservation and independent cinema exhibition. Its reopening will restore an important cultural venue for Los Angeles, provide a home for both film and digital screenings in Westwood, and demonstrate the viability of independent, preservation-focused cinema operations in the modern era.