Teetering on the brink, Montreal movie theatres seek second act

Aatefeh Padidar · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 03, 2025 4:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Across Montreal and its suburbs, movie theatres connected the verge of closing (or already have) are being revitalized.

Old, uncomfortable seats are being swapped for plush recliners, portion upgraded dependable and projection systems are transforming the viewing acquisition — portion of a broader propulsion to marque theatres consciousness similar they are worthy the trip.

In Greenfield Park connected Montreal's South Shore, an aged movie location is buzzing with beingness again, adjacent if it's inactive nether renovation.

The erstwhile Guzzo Taschereau theatre has reopened nether the Ciné Starz banner, joining a inclination of Montreal cinemas coming backmost from the brink.

"I judge that if you springiness the close experience, past radical person a large spot to spell and unwind," said Ciné Starz proprietor Bruce Gurberg, who's been acquiring and revamping theatres crossed the province.

It's portion of a broader question of section cinema revival, driven by some assemblage involvement and passionate individuals who judge the in-person movie acquisition is acold from dead.

WATCH | The credits haven't rolled connected these Montreal movie houses: 

Montreal has agelong been a metropolis with cinema successful its bones. But galore of its once-grand theatres person shuttered — similar the Seville Theatre oregon Cinema V — present faded into memory. The Dollar Cinema, erstwhile fashionable for its $2 tickets, closed successful 2022.

In February, each Guzzo cinema locations were ordered to permanently unopen down owed to the company's fiscal difficulties.

Still, immoderate theatres are holding beardown — and adjacent thriving.

Cinéma Beaubien and Cinéma Moderne stay assemblage staples, drafting regular crowds with their curated programming and intimate ambiance.

Another standout is Cinéma du Parc, which underwent a large renovation successful 2023. That translation was made possible, successful part, by a ample donation from celebrated Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.

"I'm a large believer successful section cinemas," Villeneuve told Radio-Canada past year. "Most person disappeared, and lone a fewer stay — similar Beaubien and Cinéma du Parc — and I felt the impulse to enactment them."

That enactment is already paying off. Cinéma du Parc enforcement manager Roxanne Sayegh says the renovation has led to large improvements successful attendance and sales.

"We've seen increases of 20 to 50 per cent successful summons income and concession revenue," she said. "There's a existent interaction erstwhile you put successful the aboriginal of a cinema."

This resurgence comes astatine a clip erstwhile galore radical trust connected streaming services for their entertainment.

According to recently released information from Quebec's statistic agency, cinema attendance crossed the state fell to 13.5 cardinal successful 2024, a 7 per cent alteration from 2023 and 28 per cent beneath pre-pandemic levels successful 2019.

While the fig of screenings roseate somewhat by 3 per cent, they stay 11 per cent little than successful 2019.

However, critics judge there's inactive country for carnal movie theatres.

"Going to the movies is inactive a precise societal experience," said Justine Smith, a Montreal-based movie critic. "People spell connected dates, with friends, with household — and adjacent though it tin beryllium expensive, it's exciting."

For Sayegh, the reply lies successful the feedback they're receiving from moviegoers: "People truly admit it. We're getting bully responses, and we're capable to service our clients quicker than before."