Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Open · verified by Lumina November 2026
A 1940 Santa Monica neighborhood theater run by the American Cinematheque, known for repertory double features, filmmaker Q&As and its annual October all-night horror marathon.
Quick facts
- Type
- Repertory, Historic, Regional independent, Single screen
- Address
- 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Area
- Los Angeles area
- Phone
- 323466FILM
- Screens
- 1
- Seats
- 427
- Opened
- 1940
What to expect
On screen
- Classics and revivals
- Cult and midnight movies
- Special events
- New independent releases
The story
The Aero was built in 1939 and opened on May 15, 1940, in a French Normandy style by architect P.M. Woolpert. Aviation manufacturer Donald Douglas commissioned it as a round-the-clock movie house for the workers at his nearby aircraft plant. The auditorium originally held 678 seats. By the late 1980s it was among the last repertory houses in Los Angeles, often running double features. After declining and closing in April 2003, it was rescued by the American Cinematheque, which renovated it and reopened it in January 2005 as the Max Palevsky Aero Theatre. That work added a new screen, seats and a concession stand, reducing capacity to roughly 427. Additional upgrades to projection and sound followed in 2019 and 2021. Since 2006 the Aero has hosted the Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorthon each October, and it shares programming staff with the Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre.
Good to know
- Who operates the Aero Theatre?
- The American Cinematheque operates it, and it has done so since the 2005 reopening.
- Does the Aero show only classics?
- No. Current listings mix a Beyond Fest Godzilla screening, a new-film Q&A and a concert documentary.
- How many seats does it have?
- About 427 after the 2005 renovation; the original house seated 678.
- Where is Aero Theatre?
- Aero Theatre is at 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403. Phone: 323466FILM.
- Is Aero Theatre open?
- Yes. Lumina verified Aero Theatre as open in November 2026. Check the theater's showtimes for today's schedule.
- How do I buy tickets for Aero Theatre?
- Buy tickets directly from the theater using the Showtimes & tickets button on this page. You can also call 323466FILM.
- What independent theaters are near Aero Theatre?
- Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica (1.1 mi), Laemmle Royal Theatre in Los Angeles (2.6 mi), and Billy Wilder Theater in Los Angeles (3.5 mi).
- Laemmle Monica Film CenterLaemmle Royal TheatreBilly Wilder Theater
Getting there
1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403 · Get directions · Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Independent cinemas near Aero Theatre
Laemmle Monica Film Center
Santa Monica, CA · 1.1 mi
A Laemmle arthouse in downtown Santa Monica focused on independent and international releases, many with English subtitles, and regular filmmaker Q&As. Captioning devices are available and the first 90 minutes of nearby garage parking are free.
Laemmle Royal Theatre
Los Angeles, CA · 2.6 mi
The West Los Angeles house of the Laemmle chain on Santa Monica Boulevard, showing independent and international releases.
Billy Wilder Theater
Los Angeles, CA · 3.5 mi
The 295-seat theater inside the Hammer Museum, home to UCLA Film & Television Archive screenings. Retrospectives, restorations, and talks, with public programs currently free on a first-come basis.
Cinemas Westwood
Los Angeles, CA · 3.6 mi
The Westwood location of The Cinemas, a small group that also runs a New York Seaport District theater. It has a culinary program and takes event bookings; the film lineup was not readable on the site fetch.
Lumiere Cinema
Beverly Hills, CA · 6.6 mi
A Beverly Hills art-house cinema on Wilshire Boulevard that bills itself as the city's only one. It plays independent films with filmmaker Q&As and hosts a monthly open screen for short films.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Los Angeles, CA · 8.0 mi
A film museum on Wilshire Boulevard with its own screening rooms. Film tickets are sold separately from museum admission, with low-priced matinees before 4 pm.
More repertory cinemas in California
Pacific Film Archive
Berkeley, CA
The film program of the Berkeley Art Museum, with retrospectives, restored classics and international cinema on a university-run schedule. Members get half-price tickets, and the 232-seat theater sits in a 2016 building on Center Street.
Brain Dead Studios
Los Angeles, CA
A cult and repertory cinema in the old Silent Movie Theatre space on Fairfax. The calendar mixes classics, midnight-style favorites, and themed event weeks, with a monthly membership that includes a free ticket per screening.
Egyptian Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood's 1922 Egyptian-themed movie palace, with retrospectives, 70mm presentations, and guest Q&As. American Cinematheque programs Friday through Sunday; Netflix, the owner, programs earlier in the week.
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Claim this pageIndependent listing by Lumina. Not affiliated with the theater. Facts verified from public sources in November 2026. How we verify
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