Historic Glendale Cinema Revives with Nolan’s 70mm Epic, Sparking L.A. Film Renaissance
The Alex theater in Glendale has reopened for first-run movies, now showing Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in 70mm and becoming the format’s top-grossing venue in the U.S.
Glendale’s century-old Alex theater, dormant for first-run films since 1991, reopened after a half-million-dollar upgrade timed with its 100th anniversary. Under artistic director Miles Williams, the venue now screens Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in 70mm three times daily, making it the highest-grossing U.S. location for that format. Williams enlisted Taylor Umphenour of Film Leader to design a new ground-floor projection booth with viewing windows, enhancing the audience’s connection to the filmmaking process.
This local revival mirrors a city-wide trend, as Sony restores the Cinerama Dome, Amazon leases the Culver Theatre, and Netflix purchases the Egyptian and partners on the Bay theater. Independent efforts include Jason Reitman’s Village, Quentin Tarantino’s Vista, and Kristen Stewart’s Highland Theatre project, all reflecting renewed public enthusiasm for theatrical experiences.
Why it matters
The theater’s comeback signals a broader revival of movie-going culture and investment in historic cinema venues across Los Angeles.
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