The Bay Theater at Palisades Village reopens to the public on Friday, nearly two years after the January 2025 Palisades fire shuttered the five-auditorium multiplex, according to a Tuesday press release reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Skydance's Paramount Pictures took over the theater's long-term lease last month, displacing Netflix, which had leased the venue since 2021 and used it for special events, classic screenings and showcases of its own theatrical releases.

Developer Rick Caruso, whose company owns Palisades Village, called the comeback a signal for all of Los Angeles, telling the Times the city will show the country it can bounce back from a terrible disaster.

The Hollywood Reporter notes the timing is no accident: the Bay reopens just as Paramount releases 'Ebenezer,' the studio's buzzy bet on Johnny Depp's A-list rehabilitation and a potential Hollywood comeback.

The opening weekend slate isn't limited to Skydance titles — the Times reports first-run bookings include 'The Cat in the Hat,' 'Wild Horse Nine,' 'You Can See Everything' and 'Godzilla Minus Zero.'

THR adds that Paramount plans a mix of first-run releases, classics and experiential events, and speculates the studio could make the Bay its central screening hub given David Ellison's proximity to the location.

The Los Angeles Times describes a five-auditorium multiplex operated by La Jolla-based luxury dine-in chain The Lot, featuring new laser projection, immersive surround sound and adjustable seating with personal dining tables and service buttons.

The Hollywood Reporter details adjustable foot, back and head rests, USB charging, custom lighting and a full-service bar with a video wall in the lobby.

Ellison framed the venue as more than a cinema, saying it is 'woven into the fabric of this neighborhood' and should be a place for the community to gather around the shared experience of cinema.

Both outlets place the reopening inside a broader resurgence of Los Angeles exhibition during this year's strong box office run.

The Hollywood Reporter lists Sony's planned restoration of the Cinerama Dome and the adjacent ArcLight, Amazon's lease of the Culver Theater, Netflix's purchase of the Egyptian, Jason Reitman's return of the Village in Westwood, Quentin Tarantino's Vista takeover and Kristen Stewart's Highland Theatre revival.

The Times adds context on the neighborhood itself: Palisades Village reopened in August after more than $100 million in renovations to eliminate fire contaminants.