The scent of popcorn, vibrating-in-your-chest sound, a huge screen taking up most of your vision – nothing beats seeing the film you’ve long anticipated in a good theater.
Fortunately for all of us theater-lovers, Calgary has a plethora of great cinema houses. Today, we’re going over the theaters with the most recommendations and choosing the top ones for us to rate and review!
Table of Contents
How We Picked the Best Movie Theaters in Calgary
But first, here are the criteria we used to evaluate our entries:
1. Canyon Meadows Cinemas
| Venue | 4/5 |
| Ticket price (A higher score means better value) | 5/5 |
| Customer service | 5/5 |
| Film selection | 4/5 |
If it’s a friendly local movie theater you’re looking for, we recommend Canyon Meadows Cinemas. Sure, their place is very much like your ordinary movie house, but they sure know what great films to show.
They screen the latest foreign movies and never fail to show the most anticipated ones. As a matter of fact, they always make it possible to feature Oscar-nominated motion pictures, especially during their season, which honestly works in our favor.
To top that, this cinema offers widescreen viewing of second-run films. In our opinion, this is actually what sets them apart from other movie theaters on our list in terms of selections and immersive experiences.
Canyon Meadows Cinemas is also big when it comes to special offerings.
Their gift certificates and cards are appropriate for any occasion, not just regular movie viewing. So, if you’re looking for the ideal gift for your cinephile loved ones, this might be a good option.
Another favorable thing about them is that they’re pretty cheap with their flat-rate regular film showings. They charge $5 admission to all ages: seniors, adults, teens, and children.
To add to that, children under the age of two are free of charge.
The only disadvantage we see is that Canyon Meadows Cinemas does not pay close attention to detail when it comes to showing other film quality options. They mostly show movies in 2D and, on occasion, in 3D for more cinematic images.
Pros
- Local movie theater
- Screens latest foreign and award-winning movies
- Offers widescreen viewing of second-run films
- Generous certificates and cards
- $5 flat rate for regular showing
- Children under the age of two are free of charge
Cons
- Only shows movies in 2D (no other high-tech viewing)
One of the best, great movie selection
This is one of the best theaters in Calgary. The movie selection is great, and they often bring in ‘retro’ films (Big Lebowski, Dark Crystal, etc). – Alyssa Morrell
Has its own charm, awesome price
You have to appreciate this place for what it is. No, it’s not Cineplex, but it has a charm all of it’s own! The price is awesome. The seats are comfortable enough. I brought my 3 kids to a movie and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly! – Lucero Young
2. Landmark Cinemas Country Hills
| Venue | 5/5 |
| Ticket price (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
| Customer service | 4/5 |
| Film selection | 4/5 |
Landmark Cinemas is Canada’s second-largest motion picture theater company. This means that all of their cinema locations (including this one in Calgary), aren’t just your ordinary movie theater – they’re one of the premiere ones.
They’re among the best for a variety of reasons.
For instance, the movie theater can provide cutting-edge film quality ranging from digital 2D and IMAX 3D to Laser Ultra 3D. This obviously one of the factors we considered and which they’ve passed.
They also cater to any seating requests, like reservations, and provide premiere seats for those who want more personal space. Additionally, they have amenities like heated seats with adjustable headrests and armrests to cozy watchers up.
Moreover, the place is a baby-friendly environment, which means it could also be a go-to place for families. Stroller parking is available, and they do things like raise the house lights and lower the volume of the movie to ensure a baby-friendly experience.
Food and drinks are not a problem at Landmark Cinemas Country Hills as they have snack concessions. Although, this one right here is the least liked aspect of the movie theater when we talked to some of the customers.
Turns out, clients didn’t like lining up twice for snacks and again for drinks, as well as the limited food options (despite their pride in having a variety of selections). The good news is, this is the extent of the poor things about Landmark Cinemas, at least that we know of.
Pros
- Provides cutting-edge film quality
- Digital 2D, IMAX 3D, and Laser Ultra 3D viewing options
- Free reserved seatings
- Recliner and premiere seats available
- Baby-friendly movie theater
- Caters to private and group screenings
- Food concessions available
Cons
- Inconvenient lineup for food concessions
Very safe, modern atmosphere
My favourite movie theatre. Great prices for what you get. The recliner seats are super comfortable, it’s great when you get stuck with it for a long movie. The theatre is very safe with covid, and the theatre has an amazing modern atmosphere. Definitely a top priority to be here if your watching a new release. – Dash 8 400 Aviation
Comfortable, go-to theater
One of the most comfortable theaters I have been in with its oversized double recliners. Some nice simple options for food, hot dogs and pizza. Popcorn, soda, candy are also on the menu. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Will be making this our new go to theater. – Carolyn Brucker
3. Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP
| Venue | 5/5 |
| Ticket price (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
| Customer service | 4/5 |
| Film selection | 4/5 |
In terms of facilities, Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP have a lot to offer moviegoers. Their movie theaters range from 11 big screens to 7 3D screens, making them an excellent choice for showing popular films that will undoubtedly draw a large crowd.
With the range of venues they offer it’s not surprising that they live up to their name, accommodating VIP treatments (VIP lounge available). They can reserve certain movie theaters to your liking for special events like private screenings or parties.
Besides that, they also accord special privileges like providing customers with comfy reclining seats and reserving tickets online. However, we found customer complaints about the accessibility of their online bookings, as their website is frequently down.
When it comes to the quality of the movie experience, Cineplex doesn’t disappoint. They’re actually a pretty ideal place to watch cinematic films, as they can cater to high frame rate projections, making the experience more dramatic and ultra-realistic.
Having said that, some may find their ticket pricing to be prohibitively expensive at some point, which we understand, as a quality viewing of that caliber truly sounds luxurious.
On the plus side, they can be very generous in providing discounts to customers with their promos and coupons.
Overall, Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP is an excellent choice for a variety of moviegoing experiences. As noted previously, online booking can be difficult at times, but once you get past that, everything will be fine.
Pros
- Specializes in VIP movie experience
- Various cinema rooms to choose from
- Special and private event rental available
- Comfy reclining seats
- Online booking available
- Has discounts and promos
Cons
- Ticket prices can be expensive (for high-quality film viewing)
- Can be difficult to book online tickets
Highly recommended for parties
I did my son’s bday at the seton location and had Kaitlyn helping me with the birthday set up. She was amazing and we had so much fun. I highly recommend doing your kids bday at this location and ask for Kaitlyn:) – Nada Khalifa
Comfy chairs, cool and fun experience
Nice place. Friendly staff. Upscale restaurant / lounge. Theater had the comfy leather reclining chairs. And had like a little tray table so you can bring your food and drinks in. If you get into the theater early enough you can order one last time and have it delivered to your seat. Overall really cool and fun experience. – PS 316
4. Globe Cinema
| Venue | 3/5 |
| Ticket price (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Customer service | 5/5 |
| Film selection | 4/5 |
For independent movie enthusiasts, there’s no other suitable movie theater for you than Globe Cinema – at least in our opinion. They’re a classic movie house dedicated to bringing Calgarians quality movies of all varieties for all ages.
When we say they’re the best for screening independent films, we mean it. They’ve been in business since 1995, and as of writing, they’re run by seasoned theater managers who have a lot of experience with this type of entertainment.
This movie theater is even known for participating in the many film festivals that the city has to offer. So their ability extends not only to showing films but also being behind the camera – quite impressive if we’re being honest.
Obviously, their selection of movies is of excellent taste, but they appear to have mixed reviews when it comes to their facility. There has been some feedback about how they can be inaccessible to people with disabilities due to steep and narrow seating.
Despite this, they still provide some convenient amenities such as ample parking (free except every weekday after 4:00 PM and weekends), gift cards, event rentals, and concessions.
All in all, Globe Cinema met our expectations of what the best movie theaters should be like. It’s also because they’re distinct from the other cinemas on our list in that they’re proudly independent.
Pros
- Specializes in showing independent movies
- Screens latest and old independent films
- Run by seasoned theater managers
- Gift cards available
- Available for rent
- Ample parking space
Cons
- Only accepts debit and credit cards
- Limited showtime
- Steep and narrow seating – not wheelchair friendly
Diverse films, knowledgeable staff
Cool indie cinema. I’m a cuff member so I’m glad cuff and the glove work together so well. Varied selection of films throughout the year. Knowledgeable staff. Support local! – Andrew Buchan
Fun movie nights, inexpensive
If you’re looking an inexpensive unique movie night I would highly recommend the Globe. Cheap parking after 4 in the area, unique movies you won’t find anywhere else in the city and real butter on your popcorn!! They also host lots of fun movie nights – sadat haroon
5. Scotiabank Theatre Chinook
| Venue | 3/5 |
| Ticket price (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Customer service | 4/5 |
| Film selection | 4/5 |
Due to Scotiabank Theatre Chinook’s wide variety of offerings, they’re considered one of the best movie theaters in Calgary. Their amenities also contribute to it, earning them a spot on our list.
If you’re the kind of moviegoer who randomly picks movies to watch at theaters, we believe that they’re the best fit for you. You’ll have a great selection of motion pictures to choose from since they’re known to showcase contemporary Hollywood films as well as independent films.
On top of that, the multiscreen facility has a total of 17 screens. This includes one IMAX screen, two DBOX screens, two UltraAVX screens, nine 3D screens, and two additional movie rooms for rentals.
Obviously, with many different theater rooms come many different experiences. The most popular of all is their 4DX room, which provides an ultra-realistic experience thanks to rumble seats and practical effects.
Many people also mentioned arriving early, not because of the movie, but because of the large selection of food and games available prior to the start of each movie. It’s actually so unique of them that we gave them extra points on our scoresheet.
Though there was some negative feedback about that, as we’ve come across complaints about seats covered in popcorn stains and drinks spilled. This, of course, will reflect negatively on our rating, as we truly value cleanliness in public places such as movie theaters.
Other than that, Scotiabank Theatre Chinook is alright, especially for 4D movie viewing.
Pros
- Showcases contemporary Hollywood films and independent films
- Solid 4D movie viewing option
- 17 movie rooms in total
- Has parkade under the theater
- Large selection of food and games for moviegoers
- Online ticket purchase available
Cons
- Minor complaints regarding uncleaned seats and other sanitation issues
Great selection of movies playing
This theater is fast becoming my favorite theater. The seats are good, and the best part about it is that it would stage international films from time to time, allowing oversea audiences to watch homeland movies on big screen. I watched 4? Hong Kong movies this year alone. – Timothy Yue
Best 4DX experience
4DX – that was great! Don’t even hesitate- just buy tickets and go. Every one should experience that at least once in a lifetime. – Elena
