Cinemas Across Canada
Four types of cinema define Canadian film-going. The multiplex giant, the Western challenger, the Ontario boutique and the stubborn, wonderful indie. Here's the map.
Cineplex
Founded in 1979. Headquarters in Toronto. Operates 168 theatres as of 2026 — including Cineplex Odeon, Scotiabank, SilverCity, Colossus, VIP and Cineplex Cinemas brands. Showtimes, SCENE+ loyalty, online ordering, ticket pre-purchase, assigned seating and pick-your-seat at almost every location. Major presence in every province. IMAX, UltraAVX, ScreenX, D-Box and VIP formats.
Landmark Cinemas
Canada's second-largest chain. 41 locations, with the heaviest presence in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Yukon. Known for recliner seats in nearly every auditorium. Owned by Belgian exhibitor Kinepolis since 2017. Tends to arrive later with blockbusters, but the seating and staff culture are widely considered superior to the national average.
Imagine Cinemas
Toronto-based boutique chain. 19 locations, mostly in Ontario, with a flagship at the restored Carlton Cinema on Yonge Street. Runs a mix of first-run and carefully curated arthouse programming. The Carlton itself is a historic 1948 movie palace and worth a visit regardless of what's playing.
Independent Theatres
The stubborn heart of Canadian cinema. The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, Paradise Theatre, Revue, Royal, Fox, The Rio in Vancouver, The Broadway in Saskatoon, Mayfair in Ottawa, The Film Barn in Kingston. Each has a programming personality — you go because you trust the curators. TIFF Bell Lightbox is adjacent to this world too, though technically operated by the Toronto International Film Festival.