[9] In January 2005, the theater reopened (now technically named the Max Palevsky Aero Theatre), after renovations were made by the nonprofit organization American Cinematheque.

[5] The Cinematheque had previously overseen a $12.8 million renovation of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood in 1998, and the organization schedules programming for both theaters.

[1] The Aero Theatre has made appearances in a variety of feature films throughout the years, including 10 to Midnight (1983),[12][13] Masquerade (1988),[14] Sleepwalkers (1992),[15] Get Shorty (1995)[16] and Donnie Darko (2001).

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo resides in Santa Monica and wrote the song in 2017 about a typical date he would go on with his wife Kyoko.

[18] Since 2006, the Aero Theatre has been home to the annual "Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorthon", a popular event held every October, featuring an all-night marathon of six to seven horror films (usually projected in 35 mm), as well as free food, candy and giveaways for patrons.