Cineplex Entertainment#Premium formats

{{Short description|Canadian entertainment company}}

{{About|the movie theatre company formerly known as "Galaxy Entertainment"|the Chinese entertainment group|Galaxy Entertainment Group|other topics|Galaxy (disambiguation)}}

{{about|the Canadian movie exhibition company|its pre-2003 predecessor|Cineplex Odeon Corporation|other topics|Cineplex (disambiguation)}}

{{redirect|Famous players|other uses|Famous Players (disambiguation)}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Cineplex Inc.

| logo = File:Cineplex logo.svg

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{Plainlist|

}}

| former_name = {{Plainlist|

  • Galaxy Entertainment
    (1999–2003)
  • Cineplex Galaxy (2003–2005)
  • Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund (2003–2011)

}}

| genre =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1999|10|04}} (Galaxy Entertainment)
{{start date and age|2003|11|26}} (Cineplex-Galaxy){{Cite web | url=http://ir.cineplex.com/investors/FAQs |title = Investors | FAQ's}}

| founder = Gerry Schwartz, Ellis Jacob and Stephen Brown

| predecessors = {{Plainlist|

}}

| location = {{Plainlist|

}}

| locations = {{Plainlist|

  • Theaters: 158
  • Screens: 1,631{{cite web|title=Q3 2024 Investor Presentation |url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/investor-relations/presentations/Q3%202024%20Investor%20Presentation.pdf|publisher=Cineplex Corporate|date=November 6, 2024|page=4|accessdate=December 11, 2024}}

}}

| area_served = Canada

| industry = {{Plainlist|

}}

| products = {{Plainlist|

}}

| services =

| revenue = {{increase}} {{CAD|656.66 million|link=yes}} {{small|(2021)}}{{cite web|title=CINEPLEX INC. 2021 Annual Report: Management's Discussions and Analysis |url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/investor-relations/management-investment-circulars/Cineplex_AR2021_digital.pdf |publisher=Cineplex.com |date=2022-01-12|access-date=2020-09-18|page=33}}

| operating_income = {{decrease}} –{{CAD|84.29 million|link=yes}} {{small|(2021)}}

| net_income = {{increase}} –{{CAD|248.72 million|link=yes}} {{small|(2021)}}

| assets = {{decrease}} {{CAD|2.11 billion|link=yes}} {{small|(2021)}}

| equity = {{decrease}} –{{CAD|219.72 million|link=yes}} {{small|(2021)}}

| owner =

| num_employees = Over 13,000 {{small|(2019)}}{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=CA;CGX.UN&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund (CA;CGX.UN) |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830064436/http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=CA;CGX.UN&page=quotesearch |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

| parent =

| divisions = {{Plainlist|

}}

| subsid = {{ubl

| Cineplex Entertainment LP

: Famous Players LP

: Galaxy Entertainment Inc.

: Cineplex Media

: Cineplex Digital Media Inc.

: Cineplex Pictures

: Canadian Digital Cinema Partnership (78.2%)

: SCENE LP (50%)

| Cineplex Entertainment Corporation

| Alliance Cinemas

}}{{Cite web|url=http://irfiles.cineplex.com/reportsandfilings/home/AIF_2017_03_27_final.pdf|title=Cineplex Annual Information Form|date=March 31, 2017|website=Cineplex|page=4}}

| homepage =

| footnotes = {{cite web |title=Cineplex 2018 Annual Report |url=http://irfiles.cineplex.com/Cineplex_AR_2018_online_version.pdf |website=Annual & Quarterly Reports |publisher=Cineplex |access-date=12 July 2019}}

| intl =

}}

Cineplex Inc. (formerly Cineplex Entertainment and Cineplex Galaxy) is a Canadian operator of movie theater and family entertainment centers, headquartered in Toronto. It is the largest cinema chain in Canada; as of 2019, it operated 165 locations, and accounted for 75% of the domestic box office.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-16 |title=Cineworld To Acquire Canada's Cineplex In $2.1B Deal, Making Regal North America's Largest Exhibition Circuit |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/cineworld-acquires-cineplex-canada-regal-largest-north-american-exhibition-circuit-1202809965/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

The company was formed in 2003 via the acquisition of Loews Cineplex's Canadian operations (which included the assets of the former Cineplex Odeon chain) by Onex Corporation and Oaktree Capital Management, and its subsequent merger with Onex's Galaxy Entertainment—a chain of cinemas that was established in 1999 by former Cineplex Odeon executives, and operated primarily in smaller markets. The company subsequently acquired Famous Players from National Amusements in 2005, went public in 2011, and acquired Empire Theatres' operations in Atlantic Canada and parts of Ontario in 2013. In December 2019, Cineplex agreed to be acquired by British exhibitor Cineworld Group for $2.8 billion, pending regulatory and shareholder approval, but Cineworld abandoned the sale in June 2020 due to unspecified breaches of the sale terms.

The company operates cinemas across Canada, primarily under the brand Cineplex Cinemas. Some flagship locations operate as Scotiabank Theatre, while some locations use brands carried over from its corporate predecessors (such as Famous Players, SilverCity, Odeon, and Galaxy, although some of them have since been converted to the Cineplex banner). The company also owns Family entertainment centers under the brands the Rec Room and Playdium, the rewards loyalty program Scene+ (in partnership with Scotiabank and the Empire Company), the e-commerce Cineplex Store, film distributor Cineplex Pictures and the digital advertising business Cineplex Media.

History

=1912–1998: predecessors=

{{Main|Famous Players|Cineplex Odeon Corporation}}

Cineplex stakes a partial claim to the history of the Famous Players Film Company (later Paramount Pictures), founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor, as Cineplex's earliest predecessor;{{Cite web|title=Cineplex.com {{!}} Information|url=https://www.cineplex.com/Corporate/Information|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.cineplex.com}} however, that company did not have any operations in Canada until 1920, when it bought Nathan Nathanson's Paramount Theatre chain, which Nathanson had established four years earlier.{{cite web|url=http://www.cineplex.com/News/Cineplex-Celebrates-100-Years-of-Movie-Memories.aspx|title=Cineplex Celebrates 100 Years of Movie Memories|author=Cineplex Entertainment|date=January 18, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2013}}The Canadian "Paramount Theatre" chain was not affiliated with the American chain with the same name. Nathanson, the 5th richest person in the world, became the first president of the resulting entity, Famous Player Canadian Corporation. In 1923, Famous Players bought out rival Allen Theatres, acquiring many buildings in the process.{{cite web|title=The Allen Family|url=http://www.cinemamuetquebec.ca/content/bio/34?lang=en|work=Silent Cinema in Quebec|access-date=June 8, 2013|archive-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113062859/http://www.cinemamuetquebec.ca/content/bio/34?lang=en|url-status=dead}}

Odeon Theatres of Canada was established in 1941, before merging with the Canadian Theatres chain in 1978, becoming Canadian Odeon Theatres.{{Cite web |title=Cineplex Corporate {{!}} undefined |url=https://corp.cineplex.com//about/history |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Cineplex Corporate |language=en}}

In 1979, Garth Drabinsky and Nat Taylor created the Cineplex Corporation and opened its first "Cineplex" theatre complex, in the Toronto Eaton Centre. Odeon merged with Cineplex in 1984 to form Cineplex Odeon Corporation, before being acquired by Loews Theatres in 1998, thereby becoming Loews Cineplex Entertainment.

=1999–2004: early years=

File:Cineplex Galaxy.svg

Galaxy Entertainment Inc. was established in 1999 by Ellis Jacob, a former chief operating officer of Loews Cineplex Entertainment, and Stephen Brown, a former Cineplex chief financial officer. With investments from Onex Corporation and Famous Players, the new company focused on smaller markets that were usually served by smaller theatres and old equipment, opening large, major chain-style locations under the Galaxy Cinemas banner. By 2003, Galaxy Entertainment had grown to 19 theatres and $75 million in box office revenue.

In 2001, Loews Cineplex Entertainment (a 1998 merger of Universal Pictures' Cineplex Odeon and Sony's Loews Theatres) underwent bankruptcy due to the economic recession of the early 2000s. In June 2001, Onex Corporation announced its intent to acquire Loews Cineplex; as part of the deal, Loews Cineplex would close 46 cinemas (including 25 in Canada), and Onex would acquire the company for $1.3 billion with Oaktree Capital Management as a partner.{{Cite web |date=2001-06-13 |title=Onex-led investors buy beleaguered Loews Cineplex |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/onex-led-investors-buy-beleaguered-loews-cineplex-1.272867 |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=CBC News}}

In November 2003, Loews Cineplex Entertainment's Canadian operations merged with Galaxy Entertainment as Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund.{{Cite web |title=CINEPLEX GALAXY INCOME FUND 2003 ANNUAL REPORT |url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/investor-relations/reports/CGIF%202003%20Income%20Fund.pdf |access-date=2022-09-30 |publisher=Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund }} The U.S. operations of Loews Cineplex were divested in 2004 to several investors including The Carlyle Group.

=2005–2012: purchase of Famous Players, Cineplex Entertainment=

File:SilverCityCineplex2.JPG

On June 13, 2005, Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund announced its acquisition of Famous Players from Viacom for CA$500 million (about US$397 million). This deal was completed on July 22, 2005. To satisfy antitrust concerns, on August 22, 2005, the group announced the sale of 27 locations in Ontario and western Canada to Empire Theatres.{{Cite web|url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/_att/0cee5299-d78a-434e-8ed8-61179e4df807/2005-08-22--%20Cineplex%20Galaxy%20Announces%20Sale%20of%20Theatres%20to%20Empire%20Theatres%20Limited--.pdf|title=CINEPLEX GALAXY ANNOUNCES SALE OF THEATRES TO EMPIRE THEATRES LIMITED}} On June 21, Loews Cineplex announced that it would merge with AMC Theatres.{{Cite web |date=2005-06-21 |title=AMC Entertainment, Loews Cineplex to merge |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amc-entertainment-loews-cineplex-to-merge/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} While AMC Theatres also operated in Canada and was ranked third behind Cineplex Galaxy and the enlarged Empire Theatres, Cineplex Odeon and AMC Theatres remained competitors.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-22 |title=Cineplex buys 4 AMC theatres in Canada, including Yonge-Dundas location |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2012/06/22/cineplex_buys_4_amc_theatres_in_canada_including_yongedundas_location.html |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}

In October 2005, Cineplex Galaxy changed the name of its operating subsidiary Cineplex Galaxy LP to Cineplex Entertainment LP, to reflect their expanded operations.{{Cite web |date=2005-10-03 |title=INTRODUCING CINEPLEX ENTERTAINMENT A NEW NAME FOR CINEPLEX GALAXY LP |url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/_att/fd77c06c-e232-4dde-baf9-085ef3e77c26/2005-10-03--Introducing%20Cineplex%20Entertainment%20a%20New%20Name%20for%20Cineplex%20Galaxy%20LP--.pdf |access-date=2022-09-30 |publisher=Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund }} On March 31, 2006, Cineplex sold seven more theatres in Quebec to Chelsea-based Fortune Cinemas. On June 29, 2007, Cineplex Entertainment announced its purchase of three Cinema City theatres in western Canada, consisting of two theatres in Winnipeg and one in Edmonton.

As Cineplex no longer held the rights to the branding, the Paramount Theatres locations were rebranded as Scotiabank Theatre as part of a joint venture with Scotiabank to launch a new loyalty program.{{Cite web |title=Scotiabank Replaces Paramount As Name Of One Of The City's Biggest Movie Theatres |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2007/01/24/scotiabank-replaces-paramount-as-name-of-one-of-the-citys-biggest-movie-theatres/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=toronto.citynews.ca|date=January 24, 2007 }}{{Cite web |last=Lostracco |first=Marc |date=2007-01-25 |title=Now Playing at the Scotiamount, er, Parabank |url=https://torontoist.com/2007/01/now_playing_at/ |access-date=2021-12-21 |website=Torontoist}}

With the bankruptcy of Fortune Cinemas, Cineplex Entertainment acquired (or in this case, re-acquired) some of Fortune Cinemas theatres. The Starcité Gatineau (Starcité Hull) and the Cavendish theaters were reopened as Cineplex Entertainment theatres.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In June 2012, as part of its exit from the Canadian market, AMC sold four of its Canadian cinemas to Cineplex, including the Yonge Dundas 24 at 10 Dundas East (Cineplex's original location and namesake), and the Forum in Montreal. The company also earlier acquired the Tinseltown Movies 12 theatre from another American chain, Cinemark, in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Over the subsequent years, Cineplex expanded into advertising, events programming and a new concept, The Rec Room, amusement venues with live entertainment that serve food and drink.{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6301027/cineplex-cineplex-takeover-deal/ |title=Cineplex to be bought by U.K.-based Cineworld in $2.8B deal |date=16 December 2019 |publisher=Global News|access-date=16 December 2019 }}

=2013–2018: expansion, VIP Cinemas=

File:Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne & VIP.JPG & VIP in Ottawa opened in 2015.]]

In the 2010s, Cineplex began to deploy "VIP Cinemas" featuring reclining seats, in-seat meal services, and a licensed lounge. On August 15, 2014, Cineplex opened a dedicated VIP Cinemas Don Mills location, the first to be devoted solely to the format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/08/15/cineplex_vip_cinemas_don_mills_canadas_first_adultsonly_multiplex_opens_friday.html|title=Cineplex VIP Cinemas Don Mills: Canada's first adults-only multiplex opens Friday|work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2012/10/16/first_standalone_vip_cinema_in_canada_for_don_mills.html|title=First standalone VIP cinema in Canada for Don Mills|work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en}} By 2017, the company had also begun to retrofit selected non-VIP auditoriums to feature reclining seating.{{cite web|last1=Daniszewski|first1=Hank|title=Cineplex plays catch-up with Landmark|url=http://www.lfpress.com/2017/06/27/cineplex-plays-catch-up-with-landmark|website=The London Free Press|access-date=December 19, 2017|date=June 27, 2017}}

On June 27, 2013, the Empire Company announced that it would divest its Empire Theatres operations in order to focus on its real-estate assets and grocery chain Sobeys. Cineplex acquired 24 former Empire locations in the Atlantic provinces as well as 2 in Ontario, for around $200 million (Landmark Cinemas acquired the remainder, predominantly in Western Canada and Ontario).{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/empire-sells-theatre-business-cineplex-gets-26-locations-landmark-gets-20/article12853451/|title=Empire to focus on Sobeys, sells theatres to Cineplex, Landmark|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2020-02-05}} In February 2014, Cineplex announced that it had acquired Empire's planned Lansdowne Park location in Ottawa, and would construct a new 10-screen cinema at the site with three VIP screens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cineplex-plans-to-open-10-screen-lansdowne-park-theatre-1.2549106|title=Cineplex plans to open 10-screen Lansdowne Park theatre|date=February 24, 2014|website=CBC News|access-date=February 5, 2020}}

=2019–present: attempted acquisition by Cineworld=

File:Cineplex Cinemas Fairview Mall - 20200115.jpg (formerly SilverCity)]]

On December 16, 2019, Cineplex announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by the British cinema operator Cineworld Group, the second-largest film exhibitor worldwide,{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/cineworld-set-to-create-worlds-second-largest-cinema-group-after-36bn-regal-acquisition/5124736.article|title=Cineworld set to create world's second-largest cinema group after $3.6bn Regal acquisition|last=Grater|first=Tom|website=Screen|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}} pending shareholder and regulatory approval. Cineworld would be paying $34 per-share—a 42% premium over Cineplex's share price prior to the announcement, valuing the company at CDN$2.8 billion. Cineworld planned to pay US$1.65 billion, and to fund the remainder by taking on debt.

Combined with its ownership of the 564-location Regal Cinemas chain in the United States (which it had acquired the previous year), the sale would have made Cineworld the largest cinema chain in North America. Cineworld stated that it planned to integrate Cineplex's operations with those of Regal, while maintaining Cineplex's banners for its Canadian operations. The company also stated that it planned to reach $120 million in cost efficiencies and revenue synergies (including the adoption of a subscription service scheme similar to Regal and Cineworld) by the end of fiscal year 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cineworld-acquire-cineplex-1262868|title=Regal Owner Cineworld to Acquire Canada's Cineplex for $2.1 Billion|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 15, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}}

The sale was approved by Cineplex shareholders in February 2020.{{cite news|title=Cineworld's $2.8B takeover of Cineplex may lead to job losses|date=10 February 2019|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/02/12/cineplex-q4-profit-down-from-year-ago-due-in-part-to-cineworld-deal-costs.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=14 February 2020}} Activist shareholder Bluebell Capital Partners called for the Canadian government to block the sale due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/cineworld-dives-after-cineplex-activist-urges-rejection-of-deal-1.1406768|title=Cineworld dives after Cineplex activist urges rejection of deal|agency=Bloomberg News|date=2020-03-16|website=BNN|access-date=2020-03-17}} which in turn led to the temporary closure of all Cineplex properties for several months starting on March 16.{{Cite web|last=Friend|first=David|date=2020-03-16|title='The time has come': Cineplex closing all theatres across Canada|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/the-time-has-come-cineplex-closing-all-theatres-across-canada-1.4855764|access-date=2020-06-13|website=CTV News|language=en}} In May, Cineplex stated that Cineworld planned to complete the sale by June 2020, provided that it received federal approval under the Investment Canada Act, and that it met the terms of the sale agreement (including its debt not exceeding $725 million).{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2020-06-12|title=U.K. Exhibitor Cineworld Terminates Deal To Buy Cineplex Of Canada|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/u-k-exhibitor-cineworld-terminates-deal-buy-cineplex-canada-1202958229/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Deadline|language=en}}

On June 12, 2020, Cineworld abandoned the purchase, alleging that Cineplex had engaged in conduct that breached unspecified terms of the sale, and that the company had experienced a "material adverse effect" of an unspecified nature. Cineplex denied the claims and made counter-allegations. The agreement with Cineworld included a condition that the latter would pay a penalty in case it decided to cancel the deal.{{Cite web|title=Cineworld Calls Off Cineplex Movie Theater Deal|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cineworld-calls-cineplex-acquisition-1288894|access-date=2020-06-13|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 12, 2020|language=en}} In February 2021, CEO Ellis Jacob offered to temporarily convert Cineplex facilities into COVID-19 vaccination sites.{{Cite web |last=Friend |first=David |date=2021-02-11 |title=Cineplex willing to turn movie theatres into coronavirus vaccine sites: CEO |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7635048/cineplex-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221111103320/https://globalnews.ca/news/7635048/cineplex-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution/ |archive-date=2022-11-11 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} In July, Cineplex started legal action against Cineworld claiming financial damages and Cineworld counter-sued.{{Cite web|title=Canada's Cineplex Sues Regal Cinemas Owner Cineworld Over Aborted Acquisition Deal|url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/cineworld-cineplex-deal-1234698760/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=Variety|date=July 6, 2020|language=en}}

In December 2021, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cineplex, and ordered Cineworld to pay US$1 billion in damages for breach of contract. The company planned to appeal the ruling; Cineworld's shares fell by 40% in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.{{Cite news|title=Cineplex awarded $1 billion in damages over aborted Cineworld takeover|language=en-CA|work=|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://financialpost.com/fp-finance/cineworld-plummets-on-prospect-of-1-billion-canadian-damages|access-date=2021-12-16}} In September 2022, it was reported that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas blocked the Canadian appeal due to Cineworld's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{Cite web |title=U.S. court ruling in Cineworld bankruptcy proceedings halts Cineplex case in Ontario |url=https://kitchener.citynews.ca/national-business/us-court-ruling-in-cineworld-bankruptcy-proceedings-halts-cineplex-case-in-ontario-5884613 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=CityNews Kitchener |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2022-09-28 |title=Cineworld Sets Timing Of Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan; Cineplex Denied Hearing Over Scuttled Merger But May Be Eyeing Regal |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/regal-cineword-cineplex-bankruptcy-chapter-11-reorganization-1235129662/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} It was also reported by The Wall Street Journal that Cineplex was exploring the possibility of a separate merger with Regal.{{Cite news |last=Scurria |first=Alexander Saeedy, Alexander Gladstone and Andrew |date=2022-09-28 |title=Cineplex Seeks to Revive Regal Merger After Cineworld Bankruptcy |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cineplex-seeks-to-revive-regal-merger-after-cineworldbankruptcy-11664357404 |access-date=2022-09-28 |issn=0099-9660}}

Operations

=Theater chains=

{{Further|Famous Players#Assets}}

Cineplex Entertainment operates 158 theaters as of Q4 2024.{{cite web |title=CINEMA & ENTERTAINMENT LOCATION LIST |url=https://mediafiles.cineplexmedia.com/pages/cinema/Location%20List%20-%20Cinema%20-%2006.04.24.pdf |website=Cineplex Media |access-date=December 11, 2024 |date=June 4, 2024}} These locations use several brand names:

{{div col}}

  • Cineplex Cinemas and Cineplex Odeon (94 locations combined)
  • Cineplex Junxion (2 locations)
  • Cineplex VIP Cinemas (4 standalone locations)
  • Famous Players (3 locations)
  • Galaxy Cinemas (30 locations)
  • Scotiabank Theatre (10 locations)
  • SilverCity and StarCité (14 locations combined)

{{div col end}}

Cineplex Cinemas ({{langx|fr|Cinémas Cineplex}}) is the company's main banner. Many locations use the older Cineplex Odeon branding, but otherwise operate in the same manner. Among the two brands, 21 locations also feature a VIP Cinemas section. The Scotiabank Theatre brand operates in partnership with Scotiabank, and it represents premium theatre locations. The Galaxy Theatres brand is primarily used by small and medium-market locations, although some have since been converted to the Cineplex Cinemas banner.

The Cinema City brand is used at one location in Winnipeg's Garden City area that predominately shows second-run films. In 2012, the former Cinema City McGillivray in Winnipeg was renamed to Cineplex Odeon McGillivray and VIP Cinemas, and its lineup was changed to first-run films. The Cinema City Movies 12 in Edmonton closed on January 8, 2023, due to age and unpopularity, and the Cineplex Cinemas Manning Town Centre up north outperformed it as well.

Other acquisitions from Cineplex include The Beach Cinemas from Alliance Cinemas. This location was rebranded to Cineplex Cinemas Beaches. In 2013, Cineplex acquired two Festival Cinemas locations (Fifth Avenue Cinemas and The Park Theatre) that were previously owned by Alliance. The Fifth Avenue location operates similarly to a VIP Cinemas location. These locations retain their original name.

Selected banners originating from Famous Players are still used by some locations: Famous Players, SilverCity and StarCité. However, many former Famous Players and SilverCity locations have been replaced by Cineplex Cinemas. This is also true for the Coliseum ({{Langx|fr|Colisée}}) and Colossus brands, although these brands' unique architectural features have been preserved.

=Premium formats=

Selected Cineplex locations offer including large-screen formats, motion seats, and VIP for a higher ticket price. Following the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, Cineplex reported that at least 80% of customers watched the film with one of its premium formats, and 40% of the company's overall box office revenue came from premium formats.{{Cite news|url=http://financialpost.com/technology/cineplexs-premium-seating-options-providing-big-boost-to-box-office-revenue|title=Cineplex's premium-seating options providing big boost to box office revenue|date=December 29, 2015|work=Financial Post|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US}}

  • Prime Seats are reserved seating rows in selected auditoriums, near the middle of the audience. They were first piloted in Ontario in 2014, before receiving a wider roll-out.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/11/23/why-dont-movie-theatres-eliminate-the-front-row.html|title=Why don't movie theatres eliminate the front row? |work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.macleans.ca/economy/two-thumbs-up-for-premium-priced-movie-theatre-seats/|title=Cineplex's premium-priced seats get two thumbs up|date=May 24, 2014|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US}}
  • IMAX digital screens are available at 30 locations.{{cite web | url=http://cineplex.com/experiences/imax | title=IMAX Locations | author=Cineplex | date=December 19, 2014 | access-date=June 21, 2023}} While most of these were acquired from other theatre chains, Cineplex opened several of its own digital IMAX screens, with the most recent being in Moncton in 2024. The screen size is from about 73{{cite web|title=SilverCity Windsor Cinemas & IMAX|url=http://www.lfexaminer.com/searchResults.asp?SearchType=Theater&sname=Windsor+Cpx|website=LF Examiner|publisher=Cinergetics, LLC|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017002808/http://www.lfexaminer.com/searchResults.asp?SearchType=Theater&sname=Windsor+Cpx|archive-date=October 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} to 119{{cite web|title=Cinema Cineplex IMAX aux Galeries de la Capitale|url=http://www.lfexaminer.com/searchResults.asp?SearchType=Theater&sname=Quebec+Cpx|website=LF Examiner|publisher=Cinergetics, LLC|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017002800/http://www.lfexaminer.com/searchResults.asp?SearchType=Theater&sname=Quebec+Cpx|archive-date=October 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} feet diagonally, depending on the venue. Among the Cineplex locations, Scotiabank Theatre Toronto is the only one that offers IMAX with Laser projections.
  • IMAX 70 mm film screenings are available at five locations {{as of|2017|07|lc=y}}: both Scotiabank Theatre locations in Alberta, the Langley location (former Colossus) in Metro Vancouver, and the Mississauga and Vaughan locations (former Coliseum and Colossus, respectively) in the Greater Toronto Area.{{cite web|title=EXPERIENCE DUNKIRK IN IMAX 70MM FILM AND IMAX WITH LASER|url=https://www.imax.com/news/experience-dunkirk-imax-70mm-film-and-imax-laser|website=IMAX.com|access-date=December 7, 2017|date=June 27, 2017}} These locations, along with the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, are the only locations in Canada to screen the Christopher Nolan films Dunkirk and Oppenheimer in the IMAX 70 mm format.{{cite web |title=Experience Oppenheimer in IMAX 70mm Film at Select Locations for a Limited Time |url=https://www.imax.com/news/oppenheimer-in-imax-70mm |website=IMAX Corporation |access-date=June 21, 2023 |date=May 31, 2023}}
  • ScreenX features a 270-degree panoramic screen, and is available at 15 locations.[https://www.cineplex.com/theatres/ScreenX ScreenX]
  • Cineplex previously offered Barco Escape, a similar panoramic format, at several locations. This format premiered in Canada on July 22, 2016, with Star Trek Beyond, featuring 20 minutes of the film optimised for this format.
  • UltraAVX is Cineplex's in-house premium large format, referring to auditoriums with larger "wall-to-wall" screens and 4K projectors, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and reserved seating.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-29 |title=How Premium Large Format Auditoriums Are Helping Welcome Audiences Back to the Movies |url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/giants-premium-format-2021/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Boxoffice |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Going Big: More and more circuits invest in Premium Large Format brands |url=http://fj.webedia.us/features/going-big-more-and-more-circuits-invest-premium-large-format-brands |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Film Journal International |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001003057/http://fj.webedia.us/features/going-big-more-and-more-circuits-invest-premium-large-format-brands |url-status=dead }} Several UltraAVX auditoriums also feature a ScreenX panoramic screen or optional D-Box motion seating.
  • D-Box seats are available at selected locations, which offer motion effects synchronized with the film.{{Cite news|url=http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/new-motion-seats-add-excitement-to-movies-at-cineplex-odeon-windsor|title=New motion seats add excitement to movies at Cineplex Odeon Windsor|date=June 23, 2016|work=Windsor Star|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://financialpost.com/technology/how-montreal-based-d-box-technologies-seats-are-rumbling-their-way-into-more-cinemas|title=How Montreal-based D-BOX Technologies' seats are rumbling their way into more cinemas|date=December 29, 2015|work=Financial Post|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US}}
  • VIP Cinemas are a premium concept catering to adults, which debuted around 1998 at the Varsity location. The concept features a VIP Lounge area with a licensed bar, while the cinemas offer reserved seating, leather reclining seats with tables, and in-seat meal services offering snacks and other premium menu options. Access to VIP Cinemas are restricted by the legal drinking age; depending on local laws, some locations also allow consumption of alcoholic beverages inside the auditorium. VIP Cinemas are offered at selected flagship locations, and Cineplex has also constructed some locations devoted exclusively to the format.{{Cite news|url=http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-reviews/lansdowne-vip-cinemas-an-adults-only-experience|title=Lansdowne VIP Cinemas: An adults-only experience|date=April 13, 2015|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/01/07/cineplex_opens_new_adultsonly_vip_theatres_at_queensway.html|title=Cineplex opens new adults-only VIP theatres at Queensway|work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/cineplex-vip-theatres-coming-to-saskatoon-1.1301273|title=Cineplex VIP theatres coming to Saskatoon |work=CBC News|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en-US}}
  • 4DX, a 4D film format, first launched at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas on November 4, 2016. It debuted alongside the premiere of Doctor Strange as Canada's first cinema screen to feature the technology. 4DX includes stereoscopic 3D, as well as seat motion and other practical effects such as wind, strobes, and smell among others.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2016/11/04/effects-you-can-see-feel-and-smell-at-canadas-first-4dx-cinema.html|title=Effects you can see, feel and smell at Canada's first 4DX cinema|work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 1, 2018|language=en}} A second 4DX screen opened at Scotiabank Theatre Chinook Centre Calgary in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/4dx-theatre-opens-at-chinook-centre-1.4545919|title=4DX theatre opens at Chinook Centre|date=2019-08-12|website=CTV News Calgary|language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}
  • Clubhouse is an auditorium concept designed primarily for children, featuring family films, multi-colored seats and a play structure.{{Cite web|url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/kid-friendly-theatre-and-more-5-things-to-know-about-saskatoon-s-revamped-cineplex-cinemas-1.4655604|title=Cineplex Cinemas in Saskatoon: Kid-friendly theatre and more |website=CTV News Saskatoon|date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=2019-10-27}}

=Arcades and amusement=

{{main|Player One Amusement Group}}

Arcades at Cineplex locations are primarily operated under the branding Xscape Entertainment Centre; the brand was first introduced in June 2009, and has since been deployed at 83 locations as of September 2024.{{cite web |date=February 6, 2023 |title=CINEPLEX INC. 2022 ANNUAL REPORT |url=https://mediafiles.cineplex.com/investor-relations/reports/CineplexMD_A%20(2022%20Annual)%20(Year%20end%20template).pdf |access-date=February 20, 2023 |website=Cineplex |page=18}}{{cite web |title=The XSCAPE factor: Cineplex offers even more fun with entertaining centres |url=http://www.filmjournal.com/content/xscape-factor-cineplex-offers-even-more-fun-entertaining-centres |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329202720/http://www.filmjournal.com/content/xscape-factor-cineplex-offers-even-more-fun-entertaining-centres |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=March 27, 2017 |website=Film Journal International}} Early Xscape locations (such as SilverCity CrossIron Mills near Calgary) were also built with licensed lounges and party rooms, but most of the later builds have been designed as redemption-oriented refurbishments or conversions of existing space. In 2017, Cineplex began to expand the Xscape brand internationally, beginning with two standalone Xscape arcades at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.{{Cite web|url=https://www.replaymag.com/p1ag-opens-at-mall-of-america/|title=P1AG Opens at Mall of America|work=RePlay Magazine|date=June 16, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-31}} Cineplex arcades in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, and at other locations that have not adopted the Xscape format, use the brand Cinescape Games.{{cite web|title=Cinescape Games|url=https://www.cineplex.com/search-2015?search-query=%22CINESCAPE+GAMES%22|website=Cineplex|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=en|date=December 6, 2017}}

In January 2015, Cineplex announced The Rec Room, an entertainment restaurant chain similar to the U.S.-based chain Dave & Buster's. The Rec Room targets a young adult demographic, with its locations featuring restaurants and bars, arcade and recreational game areas, simulators, and an auditorium equipped with a cinema-style screen.{{cite web|title=Roundhouse to get Cineplex 'social destination' for dining, entertainment|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/02/23/roundhouse-to-get-cineplex-social-destination-for-dining-entertainment.html|website=Toronto Star|date=February 23, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2016}} Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob explained that the chain is meant to help the company diversify beyond its core cinema business in the wake of the growing streaming industry,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/07/01/entertainment-and-eats-emporium-the-rec-room-opens-in-toronto.html|title=Entertainment and eats emporium the Rec Room opens in Toronto|date=July 1, 2017|website=Toronto Star|access-date=July 1, 2017}} The first location opened in Edmonton, Alberta on September 19, 2016, at the South Edmonton Common. A second location in Toronto, Ontario at Roundhouse Park opened in June 2017,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/06/30/be-a-virtual-ghostbuster-at-torontos-new-cineplex-rec-room.html|title=Be a virtual Ghostbuster at Toronto's new Cineplex Rec Room|website=Toronto Star|date=June 30, 2017|access-date=July 3, 2017}} followed by a third location at the West Edmonton Mall.{{Cite news|url=http://edmontonjournal.com/business/commercial-real-estate/new-rec-room-location-underway-in-west-edmonton-mall|title=Second Rec Room location almost ready to go in West Edmonton Mall|date=July 6, 2017|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=August 29, 2017|language=en-US}} The chain consists of 10 locations across Canada since the end of 2021.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Cineplex owns Playdium, an arcade and family entertainment centre chain focused on children and teens. The chain first launched in 1996 in Mississauga, Ontario. In 1997, Playdium partnered with Famous Players to operate arcades at its locations under the brand TechTown.{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Meg |date=1998-05-04 |title=Special Report on Distribution and Exhibition: Exhibitors in expansive mood |url=https://playbackonline.ca/1998/05/04/21598-19980504/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Playback}}{{Cite web |date=1997-02-03 |title=For the Record: Playdium signs TechTown deal |url=https://strategyonline.ca/1997/02/03/13070-19970203/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Strategy}} It expanded to four locations by June 1999, including Toronto, Edmonton and Burnaby. The Toronto location closed in 2002, and by the end of 2004, only the Mississauga location remained, which permanently closed on November 1, 2020. The chain was relaunched with two Ontario locations in 2019: Brampton on September 16, retrofitting the Cineplex Odeon Orion Gate theatre,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob-magazine/article-cineplexs-bold-plan-to-battle-streaming-giants-like-netflix/|title=Cineplex's bold plan to battle streaming giants like Netflix|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2020-03-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.narcity.com/things-to-do/ca/on/toronto/canadas-new-playdium-complex-just-opened-in-ontario-and-its-gigantic|title=Canada's First-Ever Upgraded Playdium Just Opened In Ontario And It's Absolutely Huge (PHOTOS)|website=www.narcity.com|date=September 16, 2019|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-03-14}} and Whitby on November 4. A third Playdium location opened in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on February 20, 2021. Cineplex aims to have 10 to 15 Playdium locations across Canada.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In 2022, Cineplex launched Cineplex Junxion, a new cinema banner incorporating elements from The Rec Room's concept. The first Cineplex Junxion opened at Kildonan Place in Winnipeg in December 2022, succeeding the existing Famous Players location at the same site.{{Cite web |last=Toneguzzi |first=Mario |date=2023-01-29 |title=Cineplex Launches New 'Junxion' Entertainment Concept with Additional Canadian Locations Planned [Interviews] |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2023/01/cineplex-launches-new-junxion-entertainment-concept-with-additional-canadian-locations-planned-interviews/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}} Another location at Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga opened on May 17, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Longwell |first=Karen |date=2023-05-16 |title=Huge movie theatre and entertainment complex opens in Mississauga |url=https://www.insauga.com/huge-movie-theatre-and-entertainment-complex-opens-in-mississauga/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=insauga {{!}} Local Online News |language=en-US}}

==Virtual reality==

File:Xscape at Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa.jpg

In November 2017, an IMAX VR centre opened at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto as IMAX VR's first location in Canada. The following month, a D-Box VR experience launched at the Ottawa location.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/17/16669894/imax-vr-scotiabank-theatre-toronto|title=Toronto's new IMAX VR arcade shows how virtual reality can shape your local theater|work=The Verge|access-date=May 3, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/features/virtual-cineplex-canadas-leading-circuit-unveils-new-entertainment-reality|title=Virtual Cineplex: Canada's leading circuit unveils a new entertainment reality|website=Film Journal International|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010717/http://www.filmjournal.com/features/virtual-cineplex-canadas-leading-circuit-unveils-new-entertainment-reality|archive-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=dead}} The IMAX VR centre closed in 2019, as part of the discontinuation of the IMAX VR pilot project.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/imax-vr-is-dead-1203089351/|title=Imax Is Shutting Down Its VR Business, Closing Remaining Three VR Centers in Q1|date=December 13, 2018|website=Variety|access-date=September 10, 2019}}

In July 2018, after having opened such an attraction at The Rec Room at Roundhouse Park, Cineplex Entertainment announced that it had reached an agreement to be the exclusive Canadian franchisee of The Void — a chain of mixed reality entertainment attractions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cineplex-virtual-reality-1.4740584|title=Cineplex to add at least 5 more Void virtual-reality experience centres|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-07-11|language=en-US}}

On September 13, 2018, Cineplex announced that it would acquire a stake in VRStudios—a Seattle-based provider of virtual reality installations, and utilize its equipment for as many as 40 VR centres across the country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-cineplex-signs-deal-to-open-30-to-40-vr-installations-across-canada/|title=Cineplex signs deal to open 30 to 40 VR installations across Canada|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2018-09-13}}

=Scene+=

{{Main|Scene+}}

Launched in 2007, Scene+ is an entertainment rewards program jointly owned by Scotiabank and Cineplex Entertainment.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Food and beverages

File:Cineplex Cinema Mississauga Lobby 2022.jpg

Cineplex has an Outtakes ({{langx|fr|Restoplex}}) restaurant in many of its theatres, some which replace previous restaurant partners (Burger King, KFC Express, Pizza Pizza/Pizza 73, Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express and New York Fries) and others which introduce restaurants at locations which did not previously feature one. VIP Cinemas and some Xscape locations feature a licensed lounge with more premium offerings compared to Outtakes.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Poptopia is a flavoured popcorn restaurant offered in a full-service format at 22 locations. Other Cineplex theatres may feature Poptopia at the concession stand, but only in the caramel corn and/or kettle corn flavours.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Ice cream at Cineplex locations debuted with Baskin-Robbins and TCBY. Beginning in December 2007, Yogen Früz became the preferred partner.[http://www.yogenfruz.com/2007/12/yogen-fruz-goes-to-the-movies/ Yogen Fruz Goes to the Movies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904185938/http://www.yogenfruz.com/2007/12/yogen-fruz-goes-to-the-movies/ |date=September 4, 2013 }} YogenFruz.com On January 1, 2014, Cineplex acquired a 50% stake in Yoyo's Yogurt Café.{{cite web |url=http://mediafiles.cineplex.com/_att/76dc45f2-a2c5-4a47-9b33-5768591eef14/YoYo_acquisition_FINAL.pdf | title=Cineplex acquires 50 per cent stake in YoYo's Yogurt Cafe | author=Cineplex |date=January 9, 2014 | access-date=January 3, 2014}} As of January 2017, 77 Cineplex theatres feature Yoyo's restaurants, while Yogen Fruz is still available in 23 Cineplex theatres while TCBY is available in 16 locations.{{cite web | url=http://www.yoyosyogurtcafe.com/locations | title=Locations | author=Yoyo's Yogurt Cafe | access-date=January 5, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403041505/http://www.yoyosyogurtcafe.com/locations | archive-date=April 3, 2015 | url-status=dead }}

Beverages are available in both cold and hot formats. Cold beverages include the Coca-Cola lineup, which replaced the Pepsi lineup used at locations formerly owned by Famous Players. 12 locations feature Coca-Cola Freestyle.{{cite web|last1=Li|first1=Anita|title=Building a better movie theatre|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2012/07/20/building_a_better_movie_theatre.html|website=TheStar.com|publisher=Toronto Star|access-date=January 24, 2016|date=July 20, 2012}} Hot beverages include Starbucks as the incumbent provider with 105 locations,{{cite web|title=Starbucks|url=http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/FoodAndDrink/Starbucks|publisher=Cineplex Entertainment|access-date=January 24, 2015}} all which offer Pike Place Roast coffee (regular or decaf) and Tazo tea. Select locations also offer premium drinks such as caffè mocha or caramel macchiato. Tim Hortons is available as a full-service restaurant in five locations,{{cite web|title=Tim Hortons|url=http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/FoodAndDrink/Tim-Hortons|publisher=Cineplex Entertainment|access-date=January 24, 2016}} with Brossard being the only location to offer both Tim Hortons and Starbucks.{{cite web|title=Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Brossard et VIP|url=http://www.cineplex.com/Theatre/cinema-cineplex-odeon-brossard-et-vip|publisher=Cineplex Entertainment|access-date=January 24, 2016}}

In most theatres, Cineplex offers sale of alcohol to 19+ patrons in Ontario (18+ in Alberta) similar to the VIP theatres albeit from a selection of beer or cider beverages.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Corporate governance

{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2018}}

The current{{When|date=February 2018}} Chief Executive Officer and President of Cineplex Entertainment is Ellis Jacob. Alongside with Jacob are Jordan Banks who serves as a Facebook executive, Robert Bruce, Joan Dea, Ian Greenberg, the founder of Astral Media, Sarabjit S. Marwah, Anthony Munk, Edward Sonshine, Christopher Medlock, Robert J. Steacy and Phyllis Yaffe, who serves as its chair.

Criticism and controversy

The Motley Fool described Cineplex as having a "virtual monopoly" over the cinema market in Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fool.ca/2018/01/30/this-canadian-monopoly-is-a-falling-knife-thats-plunged-40-peak-to-trough/|title=This Canadian Monopoly Is a Falling Knife That's Plunged ~40% Peak to Trough|date=2018-01-30|website=The Motley Fool Canada|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-09-11}}

In 2012, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Cineplex over locations refusing to honour the company's "Cheap Tuesdays" promotion. The company agreed to a $7,000 settlement, plus a $20,000 charitable donation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/life/cineplex-faces-lawsuit-over-discount-ticket-policies-1.6444|title=Cineplex faces lawsuit over discount ticket policies|agency=Canadian Press|website=Times Colonist|date=November 22, 2012 |access-date=2020-02-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://mediafiles.cineplex.com/Corporate/Information/2015/Settlement_Notice.pdf|title=Notice of Certification and Settlement CURRENT AND FORMER CUSTOMERS OF CINEPLEX "CHEAP TUESDAYS"|access-date=2020-02-23}}

In 2019, the producers of the anti-abortion film Unplanned criticized Cineplex for initially declining to pick up the film after securing a Canadian distributor. They felt it amounted to an effective "ban" of the film from Canada due to the company's scale. The film's co-director Cory Solomon also, along with other anti-abortion activists and religious groups, called for a boycott of Cineplex. The company later announced that it would— joining competitor Landmark Cinemas and a handful of independent cinemas — screen Unplanned with a one-week limited release at 24 Cineplex locations. The decision was praised by opponents of abortion, but did lead to criticism from abortion-rights (pro-choice) groups due to disputes over the film's content (with the Alberta Pro-Choice Coalition stating that it planned to hold a peaceful protest outside Scotiabank Theatre Chinook Centre). The film itself had already attracted criticism from groups, such as the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, over its factual accuracy, with the Coalition describing it as "American propaganda".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-movie-goers-celebrate-cineplex-screening-of-anti-abortion-film-1.5210862|title=Edmonton movie-goers celebrate Cineplex screening of anti-abortion film|date=July 12, 2019|website=CBC News|access-date=September 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5471878/anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-canada-theatres/|title=Anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' to play in more than 24 Canadian theatres|date=2019-07-08|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-controversial-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-heading-to-canadian/|title=Controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned heading to Canadian theatres|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=June 12, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 17, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/cineplex-theatres-in-saskatoon-regina-to-screen-controversial-anti-abortion-film-unplanned|title=Cineplex theatres in Saskatoon, Regina to screen controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned|last=Deibert|first=Dave|work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix|date=2019-07-09|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/three-calgary-venues-to-screen-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-1.4500076|title=Three Calgary venues to screen anti-abortion film 'Unplanned'|date=2019-07-09|website=CTV News Calgary|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}

During the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, festival organizers stated that Cineplex would no longer allow films distributed by an online video service (such as Prime Video or Netflix) to be screened at the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (which has been considered the "primary" venue of the event for major screenings) due to company policy, as the services do not adhere to industry-standard theatrical windows. ScreenDaily stated that this was "believed to be the first time an exhibitor’s position on theatrical windowing has affected scheduling at a major film festival".{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/netflix-amazon-streaming-theater-operators-tiff-1202171757/|title=TIFF Confirms Cineplex Policy Banning Netflix and Amazon From Primary Screening Venue|last=Lindahl|first=Chris|date=2019-09-07|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/tiff-confirms-scotiabank-theatres-new-rules-on-netflix-and-amazon-titles/5142695.article|title=TIFF confirms Scotiabank Theatre's new rules on Netflix and Amazon titles|date=September 8, 2019|website=ScreenDaily|access-date=September 11, 2019}}

On September 23, 2024, the Competition Tribunal ordered Cineplex to pay a $38.9 million fine for deceptive marketing practices. Cineplex added a $1.50 surcharge on all online ticket orders since June 2022, but used dark patterns to hide this fee from listed ticket prices until the end of the transaction.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Cineplex ordered to pay $38.9M by Competition Tribunal in ticket fee case |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/cineplex-ordered-to-pay-38-9m-by-competition-tribunal-in-ticket-fee-case-1.7049445 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-27 |title=Cineplex has made almost $40 million from online booking fees in competition case |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/cineplex-has-made-almost-40-million-from-online-booking-fees-in-competition-case-1.6785383 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} In October 2024, Cineplex appealed the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal.{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2024 |title=Cineplex officially files appeal of $38.9M fine for drip pricing |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cineplex-appeal-competition-tribunal-1.7361898 |access-date=November 7, 2024 |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press}}

See also

Notes

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

References

{{Reflist|1=2|refs =

{{cite journal| url = http://www.filmstudies.ca/journal/pdf/cj-film-studies122_Moore_Nathanson_g.pdf| title = Nathan L. Nathanson Introduces Canadian Odeon: Producing national competition in film exhibition| last = Moore| first = Paul S.| journal = Canadian Journal of Film Studies| volume = 12| number = 2| date = Fall 2003| pages = 22–45| doi = 10.3138/cjfs.12.2.22| access-date = November 11, 2010

}}

{{cite journal| url = http://0-find.galegroup.com.gigcat.midhudson.org/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A76497135&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=nysl_se_mhls&version=1.0| title = From The Editor| last = Wise| first = Wyndham| journal = Take One| date = May 2001| volume = 10| number = 32| page = 7| publisher = Canadian Independent Film & Television Publishing Association| issn = 1192-5507| access-date = November 11, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/230888|title=Cineplex adds to theatres portfolio|newspaper=Toronto Star| location = Toronto|date=June 29, 2007|access-date=August 31, 2010| agency = Canadian Press}}

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