The Lower Mainland is home to dozens of movie venues. In Vancouver there are Cineplex and Landmark theatres, an IMAX Theatre and independent cinemas.
Information in this article includes the following topics:
What Theatres Are Open? | What Movies are in Town? | Theatre Locations | Saturday Movie Deals | Summer Outdoor Movies | Movie Tips | Other Information
Click on any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about movies, cinemas and film-viewing opportunities in the Lower Mainland.
Movie Theatres in the Lower Mainland
There are dozens of places to see films in the Vancouver area including the Vancity Theatre which is home to the Vancouver International Film Festival. There are also various chain and independent theatres, as well as numerous places to see Free Outdoor Movies in the summer.
What Theatres Are Open?
Most Lower Mainland theatres are open. For the most up-to-date details about the status of major Lower Mainland cinemas, click Cineplex, Landmark Theatres and Hollywood 3 Cinemas.
Recommended Movies and What’s in Town?
Movies are always coming and going. Some are in town for a long time, and others are gone before you know it!
Below are some of the recommended movies in Lower Mainland Theatres as of November 12th. Most of the movies we list have generally pretty good reviews.
- Conclave – a dramatic thriller about a man uncovering big secrets after being tasked with selecting a new Pope. (PG)
- Smile 2 – this horror sequel follows a pop star who experiences scary and inexplicable events. (18A)
- Venom: The Last Dance – the trilogy of action movies comes to an end with Eddie and Venom on the run. (PG)
- We Live In Time – a surprise encounter leads to an unconventional love story in this romantic drama. (PG)
To check out movie reviews and see how different films are doing at the box office, see Rotten Tomatoes.
Saturday Movie Deals at Cineplex Theatres
Family Favourites Movies cost just $3.99 at select Cineplex movie theatres at 11 o’clock on select Saturday mornings. Upcoming movies include the following:
- Paddington 2 – November 16th, 2024
- The Polar Express – November 23rd, 2024
- Elf – December 7, 2024
Note: Film details may vary. Click Family Favourites Movies for the most up-to-date details.
Lower Mainland Cineplex theatres that usually participate in the Family Favourites Movies program include the following (and current details might or might not be the same):
- Cineplex Cinemas Abbotsford – at 3122 Mt. Lehman Road.
- Galaxy Cinemas Chilliwack – at 8249 Eagle Landing Parkway.
- Cineplex Cinemas Coquitlam – at 170 #20090 91A Avenue.
- Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas – at 88 West Pender in Vancouver.
- Cineplex Cinemas Langley – at #20090 91A Avenue in Langley.
- Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas – at #410 19800 Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows.
- Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis – at 4700 Kingsway in Burnaby.
- SilverCity Riverport Cinemas – at 14211 Entertainment Way in Richmond.
- Cineplex Cinemas Strawberry Hill – at 12161-72nd Avenue in Surrey.
Click Family Favourites Movies for tickets and further details.
Lower Mainland Theatre Locations
There are movie theatres in or near virtually every major community in the Lower Mainland including (but not limited to) the following locations:
Vancouver | Burnaby | Richmond | Surrey | North Shore | Fraser Valley | Other Communities
(Note: Theatre details are subject to change.)
Vancouver Movie Theatres
- Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas – at 88 West Pender in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
- Parking in the mall is free while watching a movie
- Cineplex Cinemas Marine Gateway and VIP – at 452 South West Marine Drive.
- This theatre has 11 screens including 3 VIP ones featuring reserved and extra-comfy seating for adults as well as delivery of food and beverages to your seat.
- The Cinematheque – at 1131 Howe Street.
- Dunbar Theatre – at 4555 Dunbar Street.
- Fifth Avenue Cinemas (Cineplex) – at 2110 Burrard Street.
- This theatre is for ages 19+ which means valid photo ID is required.
- FlyOver Canada – a multi-dimensional “flying experience” theatre at Canada Place where you get to soar over the country from coast to coast.
- OMNIMAX Theatre – the giant IMAX Theatre at Science World.
- Films here are on a giant screen and typically last for about 45 minutes. Admission excluding access to Science World exhibits costs about $12 per person.
- The Park Theatre (Cineplex) – at 3440 Cambie Street.
- Rio Theatre – at 1660 East Broadway (by Commercial Drive).
- Scotiabank Theatre (Cineplex) – at 900 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver.
- Vancity Theatre – at 1181 Seymour Street and home to the Vancouver International Film Festival with films playing all year.
Burnaby Movie Theatres
- Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis – at 4700 Kingsway in Burnaby at the Metropolis Metrotown mall.
Richmond Movie Theatres
- SilverCity Riverport Cinemas – at 14211 Entertainment Way in Richmond.
Surrey Movie Theatres
- Cineplex Cinemas Strawberry Hill – at 12161-72nd Avenue in Surrey.
- This massive 12-screen theatre features reserved luxury seats that recline (which is awesome)!
- Landmark Guildford – at 15051 101st Avenue in Surrey.
- Hollywood 3 Surrey – at 7125-138 Street in Surrey.
- Note: General admission here is only about $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and children, and $4 at Matinees and on Tuesdays.
North Shore Movie Theatre
- Cineplex Cinemas Park Royal – a modern movie theatre with various premium options at Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver.
Fraser Valley Movie Theatres
- Cineplex Cinemas Abbotsford – at 3122 Mt. Lehman Road.
- This 11-screen theatre features 3 screens with extra-comfy seats that recline and are reserved for adults only.
- Galaxy Cinemas Chilliwack – an 8-screen theatre at 8249 Eagle Landing Parkway.
- Cineplex Cinemas Langley – a massive 19-screen theatre (including one IMAX theatre) at #20090 91A Avenue in Langley.
- SilverCity Mission Cinemas – a large 12-screen theatre at the Junction Plaza at 32555 London Avenue in Mission.
- Twilight Drive-In – at 3350 260 Street (at the Fraser Highway) in Langley. This is Metro Vancouver’s only drive-in theatre (and 2024 is likely the last year it’ll be around).
Movie Theatres in Other Communities
- Cineplex Cinemas Coquitlam – a massive 20-screen theatre at 170 #20090 91A Avenue.
- The theatre includes VIP screens with extra-comfy seats for adults.
- Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas – a 10-screen theatre at #410 19800 Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows.
- Hollywood 3 Cinemas – at 19190 Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows.
- Note: General admission here is only about $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and children, and $4 at Matinees and on Tuesdays.
- Caprice White Rock – at 2381 King George Boulevard in Surrey.
- Rialto White Rock – at 732 152 Street White Rock.
- Landmark Cinemas New Westminster – at 390-800 Carnarvon Street by the New Westminster SkyTrain Station.
Summer Outdoor Movies
In July and August numerous outdoor movies take place at Metro Vancouver parks, community centres and municipal plazas.
Free summer films take place at Canada Place, Stanley Park and various other venues. Click Summer Movies for details.
Outdoor movies also take place at the Twilight Drive-In Theatre in Langley during most months of the year. They aren’t free though, and most people watch from their cars.
Movie Tips
Below are some suggestions to help you make the most out of your cinema movie-watching experience.
TIP #1: If you can avoid it, never sit in the very front row (or even the first couple of rows at most theatres) unless you don’t mind getting a strained neck and eyeballs. Even at cinemas with fancy seats that recline, the very front seats aren’t so nice to watch from.
TIP #2: The best place to sit when watching a 3D movie is in the centre of the theatre in the back half of the movie theatre.
TIP #3: Movies are nice to watch on the big screen, and usually the bigger the screen the better. Many venues though have multiple theatre rooms with some being smaller than others. At cinemas where you can reserve your seat in advance, you can get a rough idea of the screen size by the number of seats available in the room. The more seats you see in the theatre layout, the bigger the screen will likely be.
TIP #4: Try not to have high expectations, especially with films that you have heard good things about. If you go with low expectations, you’ll more often than not be pleasantly surprised. If you go expecting a film to be 4 stars and excellent, and it turns out to only be “good”, you might feel slightly disappointed.
Dollar-Saving Advice
Below are some suggestions on how to save money when watching movies on the big screen.
TIP #5: Go on a Tuesday if you can because on cheap Tuesdays you can save as much as 40% off regular ticket prices.
TIP #6: Most years, starting in mid to late November until towards the end of December, Cineplex offers bonuses to people buying gift cards. In a typical year if you purchase a $50 gift card you get coupons for a couple of free movies and free popcorn, which is a great deal worth stocking up on. Note though that the coupons for free stuff usually have to be used between January and February of the following year, but the gift cards are good indefinitely.
TIP #7: Some movie theatres, like Hollywood Cinemas in Surrey and Pitt Meadows, cost half the price or less than some of the big chain movie theatres. They aren’t as fancy as some places, but the price is right!
Other Information
Check out the following for other related information and things to do in the Lower Mainland:
- Vancouver Rainy Day Activities
- Festivals & Events Calendar
- Lower Mainland’s Top 100 Places
- Vancouver for Children
- Entertainment in Vancouver
- Shows & Entertainment Calendar
- Vancouver International Film Festival
- Vancouver Drive-In Theatres