Kristen Stewart Buys Historic Highland Theatre, Plans Community-Focused Revamp

The actress aims to transform the 100-year-old venue into a hub for the local community, not just "pretentious Hollywood cinephiles".

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kristen Stewart has purchased the historic Highland Theatre in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood, with plans to restore the 100-year-old venue and transform it into a community-focused space that goes beyond just serving as a cinema for "pretentious Hollywood cinephiles."

Why it matters

The Highland Theatre has struggled in recent years, including closing its doors in 2024 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stewart's plans to revive the space and make it a hub for the local community could help breathe new life into the historic theater and the surrounding neighborhood.

The details

Stewart says she "didn't realize [she] was looking for a theater until this place came to [her] attention," and that once she saw it, "it was like a gunshot went off and the race was on." She's fascinated by "broken-down old theaters" and the "mysteries they hold." For the Highland, she wants 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."

  • The Highland Theatre first opened its doors in 1925.
  • The theater operated as an adult movie theater in the early 1970s.
  • The Highland Theatre closed its doors in 2024 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players

Kristen Stewart

An Oscar-nominated actress who has recently added "cinema mogul" to her resume by purchasing the historic Highland Theatre in Los Angeles.

Lewis Arthur Smith

The architect who designed the Highland Theatre, as well as other Southern California theaters like the Vista, Rialto and El Portal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“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.”

— Kristen Stewart (Architectural Digest)

“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.”

— Kristen Stewart (Architectural Digest)

What’s next

Stewart plans to restore the historic details of the Highland Theatre while also bringing something new to the space and the surrounding community.

The takeaway

Kristen Stewart's plans to revive the Highland Theatre in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood represent an effort to transform a struggling historic venue into a community-focused hub that goes beyond just serving as a cinema for "pretentious Hollywood cinephiles." Her vision aims to breathe new life into the theater and the surrounding area.