Good news all around from the world of theatrical exhibition.
My beloved Fox Village Theater in Westwood Village reopened on Wednesday for the premiere of Billie Eilish’s concert documentary from director James Cameron — and as I found out in a conversation with American Cinematheque artistic director Grant Moninger, public screenings will be back at the historic venue sooner than expected.
“It’s going to undergo a renovation, but during this summer, we are allowed to program some special events,” Grant told me on this week’s episode of Rushfield Lunch. “There are going to be some special events as a sort of fundraiser before the renovation takes place. There’ll be both premieres and some American Cinematheque screenings that are open to the public.”
It was Jason Reitman who led an ownership group to purchase the legendary L.A. movie palace in 2024. Last fall, it was announced that American Cinematheque — the independent nonprofit founded in 1985 that’s dedicated to public theatrical screenings in Los Angeles — would take over programming duties for the venue upon its official reopening in 2027. The Fox Village Theater will join other historic theaters on the organization’s roster — including the Egyptian, Aero and Los Feliz Theatre. “We often like to think of movie theaters as churches,” Reitman said last year. “If so, the Village is a cathedral, and with the American Cinematheque, we found our congregation.”
Grant couldn’t reveal any details about the summer lineup, which jumps ahead of the 2027 official relaunch. Still, he suggested L.A. residents interested in American Cinematheque’s bespoke programming should sign up for their mailing list or keep an eye on social media.
“It will remain the largest in-use theater in Los Angeles,” Grant said of the Fox Village Theater, which holds roughly 1,400 people. Grant estimates the renovations could take up to 12 months.
“It’s very exciting what Jason has planned — but it will keep the balcony,” he adds. “So if there’s any diehards out there, we’re keeping that balcony. It’s a historic, historic theater.”
Grant is at ground zero of Los Angeles’ revival screening revival, programming movies across the city to rapt and engaged audiences. “The fact that everyone’s saying cinema’s dying, I don’t quite believe it,” he said to me. “I think it needs to be course-corrected.”
Since 1985, American Cinematheque has been programming festivals and events around Los Angeles, and in these dire times over the past few years, the work of Grant and the organization has provided one of the most hopeful and uplifting trends for all those who care about the future of the cinematic art form. Do watch our full conversation above and keep an eye on the Fox Village Theater for more details on programming.
