Meg McClenahan 
After eight years shuttered, the Bellevue Theatre at 260 Bellevue Avenue in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, has finally re-opened its doors. Opening during the 14th annual Montclair Film Festival the theatre will be showing exclusively MFF films before switching to mainstream releases. Keep reading to learn about the Bellevue Theatre and its return to Montclair, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Montclair Film
About The Bellevue
In July 2025, Montclair Film announced via a press release that it had signed a multi-year agreement to operate the historic Bellevue Theatre. The Bellevue Theatre is now a non-profit theatre operated by the Montclair Film Festival and The Clairidge Cinema.
“We are so excited to be able to bring the movies back to The Bellevue Theatre,” said Evelyn Colbert, President of Montclair Film’s Board of Trustees. “Our community has been clear in sharing their desire to see The Bellevue Theatre thriving again, and we are counting on that passion and enthusiasm to help us re-establish The Bellevue as a destination for new memories and experiences.”
The Bellevue Theatre first opened in Montclair on May 13th, 1922. The first movie shown was Orphans of the Storm. The Bellevue maintains its Tudor-style facade to this day. NothJersey.com reports that, after Bow Tie Cinemas declined to renew its lease, the Bellevue Theatre closed in November of 2017. Since then, there have been many efforts to bring back the Bellevue, which have all proven to be unsuccessful until now. Montclair Film now owns The Bellevue and has recently opened its doors.
The Bellevue Theatre Opens
Tom Hall, the artistic director of Montclair Film, announced that the Bellevue will be a venue for the entirety of the Montclair Film Festival, October 17th-26th. The theatre officially opened on October 18th with a screening of The Sound Of Music. Movies including Merrily We Roll Along, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and The Balloonists will be showing at the Bellevue the week of October 20th.You can buy tickets to the film festival here.
After the end of the Film Festival, The Bellevue Theatre will be open again on October 31st for a Halloween showing of Rocky Horror Show. The Bellevue Theatre is now a full-time movie theater and is expected to be operating by early November. Stay tuned for news on future programming.
After asking community members, Tom Hall explained that Montclair Film would be screening the restored The Sound of Music as the first film. The community members recalled memories of seeing the film at the Bellevue, which had a multi-year run in Montclair in the 1960s.
The Space
In the three-screen theatre, the Bellevue now has roomy, reclining seats. The Bellevue also hopes to obtain a liquor license and serve alcohol.
Walking into the three-screen theatre, you can still see the old Bellevue bones that brought so many people great memories. Now, the theatre has adopted a sleeker look with black carpets and lighting. There is a lounge area to the right where patrons can hang out.
To the left is the concession stand containing the usual soda and popcorn. What is unique about this community theatre is the treats sold at concessions. You can purchase Sweet Home Montclair chocolates and Little Daisy brownies, and cookies. The Bellevue is a community theatre run by movie-lovers and Montclair-lovers, and we are so thankful to see the theatre open again.
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