The Westwood Bruin Theater Eyes Mid-October Re-Opening As Toronto Based Exhibitor Takes Over Lease
The historic Bruin Theater in Los Angeles's Westwood neighbourhood is set to reopen in mid-October after Toronto-based exhibitor Rui Pereira signed a lease with the Skouras family, who own the building. The venue, which first opened in 1937, closed in July 2024 alongside its sister cinema The Village when Regency Theaters' lease expired, leaving Westwood without two of its most storied screens. Pereira's takeover offers a path back for a cinema with strong ties to Hollywood history, and comes amid a broader wave of renewed interest in classic Los Angeles movie theatres.
Pereira, who ran Toronto's Kingsway Theatre for 18 years and previously operated the 1948-built Humber Cinema, says the Bruin is in good condition, with plans to restore its 70mm and 35mm projectors, upgrade digital equipment, and preserve its original character rather than modernise it away. He is also considering adding two small upstairs screening rooms and has already fielded interest from studios about premieres and events, meaning some limited openings could occur before the official mid-October date. The news follows other recent revivals in the city, including Sony's plans to reopen the Cinerama Dome in 2028 and reports of a separate group acquiring The Village theatre.
In short
- Westwood's Bruin Theater to reopen mid-October under new operator Rui Pereira.
- Closed since July 2024; Pereira restoring 35mm/70mm projectors and original character.
- Part of wider revival of classic LA cinemas, including the Cinerama Dome.
Explained simply
The Westwood Bruin Theater is a historic cinema that opened in 1937 and has been a cultural landmark in Los Angeles. The venue closed in July 2024 when its operator's lease ended, leaving the neighbourhood without one of its most prominent movie houses.
Rui Pereira is a Toronto-based cinema operator who has taken over the lease from the Skouras family, the building's owners. Pereira previously ran historic cinemas in Toronto for nearly two decades and plans to restore the Bruin's projection equipment whilst preserving its original character.
The reopening reflects a broader trend of classic Los Angeles cinemas being revived. Other notable venues are also in the process of being restored, showing renewed interest in preserving the city's theatrical heritage.
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