Landmark Cinemas


Landmark Cinemas Canada LP. is a Canadian cinema chain. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Landmark operates 36 theatres with 299 screens, primarily in Ontario and western Canada. Its holdings include much of the former Empire Theatres chain which it acquired in late 2013, and some Famous Players locations divested as part of that chain's purchase by Cineplex Entertainment. Landmark is the second-largest cinema chain in Canada after Cineplex. It was acquired by Belgian company Kinepolis in 2017 for $123 million.

History

Landmark Cinemas is the umbrella name originally covering the holdings of Towne Cinemas, Rokemay Cinemas, and occasionally May Theatres. It was adopted in 1974 after the purchase of Rothstein Theatres, which was the first big expansion for the company, adding about 15 locations.
Another expansion took place in 1984, when it purchased most of the Alberta and British Columbia assets of Canadian Odeon Theatres as part of that chain's merger into Cineplex Odeon Corporation, now Cineplex Entertainment.
In late 2013, Landmark Cinemas announced the purchase of 23 theatres in Ontario and Western Canada from Empire Theatres. It later added the Kanata and Whitby locations that were to be sold to Cineplex Entertainment, plus Ottawa's World Exchange Plaza. This transaction made Landmark the second-largest cinema chain in Canada with 54 locations and 359 screens. The sale also included five IMAX screens, one in Calgary, Alberta, and four in Ontario. Empire promotional offers such as Reel Deal Tuesdays and University/College Student Combo were carried over by Landmark, but only some locations offer these discounts.
Empire Theatres in Ontario and Western Canada closed on October 31, 2013, after the evening shows which also closed Empire Theatres permanently. The sale closed on October 31, 2013, and on November 1, 2013, the theatres reopened as Landmark Cinemas. Branding name changes occurred in late 2013 at the former Empire Theatres locations. Landmark Cinemas operated the World Exchange Plaza theatre on a management contract from November 1 to December 31, 2013, after which its lease expired.
In September 2017, Landmark announced its sale to the Belgian exhibitor Kinepolis for $123 million, pending regulatory approval. On December 8, 2017, Landmark announced the completion of the sale to Kinepolis Group.

Operations

Seating

Selected locations offer auditoriums with free reserved seating with leather recliners, which were manufactured by the Winnipeg-based Palliser Furniture. Selected locations also offer auditoriums with a row of "Premiere Seats" for an additional fee. These are sets of two or three seats each that include privacy screens, coat hooks, side tables, adjustable headrests, and heating.

Premium screens

Landmark Cinemas features several premium large format screens. These require an additional cost compared to a regular admission and offer reserved seating.
  • IMAX digital screens are available at five locations. One is in Calgary, Alberta, and four are in Ontario at the Kingston, Waterloo, Kanata, and Whitby locations. All of these were previously owned by Empire Theatres and, with the exception of Kingston, were in turn previously owned by AMC Theatres or Famous Players. In 2023, as part of an agreement with Kinepolis, it was announced that the locations would be upgraded to IMAX with Laser
  • Extra Experience is a premium large format available at two locations. Extra theatres use a Barco 2K projector, a custom-designed 7.1 surround sound system and faux leather seats. It was introduced as Empire Extra at the Waterloo location on November 19, 2010, and at the Calgary and Ottawa locations following an announcement on May 16, 2011. Landmark opened an Extra auditorium in Winnipeg in May 2015. Landmark has replaced two former Extra auditoriums with Laser Ultra, including Shawnessy in 2021 and Waterloo in 2023.
  • Xtreme is a premium large format at the West Kelowna location; it is similar to Extra Experience, but uses Dolby Atmos instead of 7.1 surround sound.
  • Laser Ultra is Kinepolis's premium large format, which uses a Barco laser projector and Dolby Atmos. It first opened at the Shawnessy, Calgary location in 2019.

    Locations

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

Ontario

Saskatchewan

Former theatres

Alberta
  • Roxy, Airdrie
  • Gaiety Theatre, Grande Prairie
  • Globe Theatre, Calgary
  • Jan Cinema, Grande Prairie
  • Jasper Cinema Centre, Edmonton
  • Clareview, Edmonton
  • Lux Cinema, Banff
  • Lyric Theatre, Grande Prairie
  • Prairie Cinema Centre, Grande Prairie
  • Towne Cinema Centre, Edmonton
  • Wapiti Drive-In, Grande Prairie
  • Landmark Six, Fort McMurray
  • Oasis, Brooks
British Columbia
  • Armond Theatre, Cranbrook
  • Bay Theatre, Nanaimo
  • Caprice Showcase Theatres, Campbell River
  • Coronet Theatre, Prince George
  • Centre Cinema, Dawson Creek
  • Crest Theatre, Dawson Creek Northland Theatres Ltd.
  • Esplanade, North Vancouver
  • Galaxy Theatre, Campbell River
  • Grand 6 Cinemas, Abbotsford
  • Lido Theatre, Fort St. John
  • Mission Theatre, Mission
  • Paramount Theatre, Chilliwack
  • Paramount Theatre, Kamloops
  • Paramount Theatre, Kelowna
  • Paramount Theatre, Port Alberni
  • Penmar Cinema Centre, Penticton
  • Royal Theatre, Trail
  • Towne Cinema, Vernon
  • Towne Cinema Centre
  • Vic Theatre, Victoria
  • Westbank Drive-In, West Kelowna
Manitoba
  • Garry, Selkirk
  • Globe Theatre, Winnipeg
  • Towne 8, Winnipeg
Ontario
  • Kitchener
  • Square One, Mississauga
  • World Exchange Plaza, Ottawa
Saskatchewan
  • C & H Drive-In, Lloydminster
  • Cinema 6 Drive-In, Regina
  • Roxy Theatre, Saskatoon
  • Soo Theatre, Weyburn
  • Tower, Yorkton
Yukon
  • Qwanlin Mall, Whitehorse
  • Yukon Cinema Centre, Whitehorse