Regency Theatres’ historic Westwood Village and Bruin theaters are sadly closing their doors this week as their leases come to an end. After 14 years of operation, Regency Theatres President Lyndon Golin announced that July 25th will mark the last day of operation for these iconic theaters. The Hollywood community and patrons alike have shown tremendous support over the years, but the time has come for a new chapter in the story of these beloved Los Angeles landmarks.
The Westwood Fox Village, with its famous 170-foot Spanish Revival Art Deco tower, is set to undergo a renovation following a successful initiative led by filmmaker Jason Reitman earlier this year to save the 1931 cinema. While the future looks promising for the Fox Village, the fate of the Bruin theater remains uncertain. With no potential buyers stepping in to save the cinema, which first opened its doors in 1937 and boasts 670 seats compared to the Fox Village’s 1,400 seats, the future of the Bruin theater hangs in the balance.
Both the Fox Village and the Bruin theaters have long been go-to destinations for major Hollywood premieres, including recent blockbusters like “Challengers,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “It: Chapter Two.” The Fox Village, equipped with a 70MM projector, was a top-grossing venue for Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” in 2021 as the industry began to recover from the impact of the pandemic. As the curtains close on these iconic theaters, the Fox Village will finish its run with Apple’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” while the Bruin theater will wrap up with the weekend’s big blockbuster “Twisters,” which exceeded expectations with an $81.2 million nationwide box office haul.
As Regency Theatres bids farewell to the Westwood Village and Bruin theaters after 14 years of operation, the Hollywood community is left wondering what the future holds for these storied landmarks. While the Westwood Fox Village is set to undergo a renovation, the fate of the Bruin theater remains uncertain. What is certain is that the legacy of these theaters will live on in the memories of moviegoers and industry professionals alike, as they have played a significant role in the history of Hollywood premieres and cinematic experiences.
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