Kristen Stewart Saves Historic Highland Theatre, Boosting LA Cinema Scene

It’s the kind of plot twist that makes you want to stand up and cheer in a crowded auditorium. Kristen Stewart—Oscar nominee, indie darling, and arguably one of the coolest people in Hollywood—has officially purchased the historic Highland Theatre in Los Angeles.

In a move that feels both surprisingly sudden and completely on-brand, the Love Lies Bleeding star is stepping in to rescue the nearly century-old venue in Highland Park, which shuttered its doors just last year. But if you think this is just a vanity project or a place to screen high-brow art films for the elite, think again. Stewart is on a mission to create something gritty, real, and undeniably communal.

Here is everything we know about the purchase, her passionate vision for the space, and why this might just be the coolest thing to happen to L.A. movie culture in years.

Kristen Stewart and the “Gunshot” Moment

Sometimes, you don’t find the real estate; the real estate finds you. According to Stewart, she wasn’t exactly scouring Zillow for a massive renovation project. The Highland Theatre, a Spanish Colonial Revival gem built in 1925, simply appeared on her radar, and the connection was visceral.

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

That intensity is classic Stewart. Whether she’s diving into a role like Princess Diana in Spencer or directing her upcoming debut, “The Chronology of Water,” she doesn’t do things by halves. The theater, which began its life in the Roaring Twenties as a vaudeville venue, has “good bones” but needs serious love. Stewart seems ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work, not just as an investor, but as a creator, seeing potential in the dust.

A “Political Act” Against Corporate Boredom

Let’s be honest: The movie-going experience has become a little… sterile lately. Between the endless stream of IP reboots and the $20 popcorn buckets, the magic can feel a bit manufactured. Stewart sees her ownership of the Highland as a direct counter-attack to that vibe.

Calling the project “an antidote to all the corporate bulls–t,” she emphasized that she wants to strip away the purely transactional nature of going to the movies. “Making films is a political act,” she said. “You have to decide how you want to wield your presence and your voice.”

For Stewart, wielding that voice means creating a space that isn’t just for the “pretentious Hollywood cinephiles.” She wants the Highland to be a place to “gather and scheme and dream together.” It sounds less like a multiplex and more like a community center with really, really good projection. It’s about bringing the neighborhood back into the cinema, making it a “family affair” rather than an exclusive club.

Restoring a 1925 Masterpiece

The building itself is Hollywood royalty. Designed by Lewis Arthur Smith—the same architect behind the stunning Vista Theatre in Los Feliz (recently saved by Quentin Tarantino) and the El Portal in North Hollywood—the Highland Theatre is a piece of Los Angeles history.

While it has undergone changes over the decades, Stewart acknowledges the massive scale of the renovation ahead. “There are so many beautiful details that need to be restored,” she noted. The goal isn’t to turn it into a shiny, modern box, but to “bring the building back to life in a way that embraces its history.”

This aligns perfectly with a growing trend of filmmakers stepping up to save the institutions that show their work. Stewart is joining a league of cinema saviors, ensuring that these architectural wonders don’t get turned into another chain pharmacy or luxury condo complex.

Why Kristen Stewart Loves L.A. (And Why It Matters)

There is a tired stereotype that Los Angeles is a city with no center and no soul. Stewart, a lifelong Angeleno, is absolutely over that narrative.

“I absolutely f**king love this city,” she declared with her trademark candor. “L.A. gets a bad rap for being unserious, but there’s so much art and culture here.”

By investing in Highland Park—a neighborhood that balances deep historical roots with a vibrant, modern artistic community—she is putting her money where her heart is. She sees the theater as a way to broaden the “narrow path” of current filmmaking and exhibition. “We can’t keep making the same movie over and over again,” she concluded. And apparently, we can’t keep showing them in the same soulless rooms, either.

What Comes Next for the Highland Theatre?

While there is no official opening date yet (restoring 100-year-old plaster and wiring takes time, folks), the buzz is already palpable.

We can expect a venue that reflects Stewart’s eclectic and bold taste. Will we see screenings of “Twilight” followed by obscure French New Wave? Will it host punk rock shows and community town halls? If her vision is anything to go by, the answer is likely “all of the above.”

For now, we just love knowing that the keys to one of L.A.’s oldest movie palaces are in the hands of someone who truly, deeply cares about the art form. Stewart isn’t just acting in movies anymore; she’s building the house they live in.