Updating my review 'cause this place is a much, much better alternative for movie going! And here are the reasons why it's better than Cineplex: 1. It's cheaper. Adult tickets are $10, if you pre-order online it's +$1 which is worth it so you don't hafta get there early to save seats! Even the popcorn, concession is cheaper. 2. Staff are friendly. Yes, theatre has less and smaller screens, but it has a cozy feeling! 3. Normal sound levels. I don't feel as though I've suffered from hearing loss after watching a flick! 4. A/C isn't blasting, again, normal level. I didn't feel as though I needed a blanket/wrap. 5. Theatre goers are respectful and do not act like wild animals, leaving garbage everywhere, taking your assigned seats, and they keep quiet while movie is playing, etc. You know, normal things. 6. Clean. Theatres, hallway, restrooms were kept clean. 7. They have DOLE WHIP! So if you miss this not-super-sweet treat in Hawaii/Disneyland, it's here for $5.75 for a shareable portion. read more

amazing customer service, great deals! my favourite movie theatre as it has a smaller feel to it and isn't so overwhelming. I have severe anxiety and physical issues and I have never been uncomfortable at Film.ca. read more

Ok, I know I'm not the only one missing 'doing things' right now (dear future readers, I write to you from lockdown). One of my favourite things is going to the movies and obviously they are closed right now. So here I am writing to you about this great little cinema in the middle of Oakville. Film.ca is a locally owned movie theatre that plays the all the same mainstream movies as the other cinema brands. What's different about this place first and foremost, and I think other regular guests would agree on, is the price. An adult movie ticket is around $10, and adding popcorn, treats and beverages is reasonably priced. Speaking of snacks, I don't know what it is but nothing compares to the popcorn here. Ask for layered butter if that's your jam. All that aside, seeing a movie at film.ca honestly just makes me feel 'at home' because it's been in the neighbourhood for as long as I can remember. They are able to keep prices low because they don't advertise a lot, and rely on word-of mouth to keep afloat. It also gives off a retro vibe inside which I live for - not on purpose, it just has been maintained that way! Since I haven't been here in awhile, I've just checked their website to see they are doing snacks on various delivery apps as well as curbside pick up and well...I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend. read more

When I thought about what to write for Review #300, a whirlwind of suggestions flowed in my mind. Another thrift store? Any of the dozen or so restaurants I've visited since my last review? A building that had personal significance to me? My decision was unmade for quite some time until I finally had a chance to visit a place I'd been hearing about for months and had never seen in person -- and it suddenly became clear what needed to be discussed. There are hidden gems, and there are hidden gems. The Film.ca theatre on Speers Road is the latter. I can guarantee it's been a hot minute since you stepped into a movie theatre - or frankly, had the kind of experience that evokes cinemas of the 80s/90s - like this place. Not only for a host of aesthetic and business reasons, but because the story behind this place and who owns it is one of the most unique tales I've heard in a while. It would not surprise at all if I found out this was once a Famous Players or Cineplex Odeon theatre in the past, because it screams "dated". That's not a bad thing. You'll most likely drive past the place the first time you visit (it's way in the back of a complex and easy to miss), but when you step into the place, you'll feel like you've been transported to 1995. There are old-school concession stands with lamps that look like they haven't been swapped over for 20 years, gaming machines all over the place and theatres that, how shall I say it, are very "rustic". Old scuffs and stains on the floors, absurdly-small theatres and those gaudy print carpets you haven't seen since 1983. Yet, this place has all the touches of a modern theatre. They get first-run movies on opening day -- I came here along with my family to see Venom (2018), and was shocked that the place wasn't packed. The theatre hits just the right median between old-school charm and modern convenience, which is endlessly fascinating. It's really cheap ($8.50 general admission), and if you can put up with the dated decor, there's some huge value to be found here. What intrigued me even more, though, was the fact that this was owned by Jeff Knoll, the current (as of this writing) Ward 5 Councillor in Oakville. As I understand it, Knoll and a group of investors stepped up to save the theatre when it was in danger of closing in 2013, and have since turned it fully-digital. An ingenious man - the guy gets to play ads promoting himself every half-hour to captive audiences, thus showcasing his love of the business AND acting as an impromptu re-election campaign! There's a lot to love at Film.ca, and I've quickly come to understand why my family visits the theatre so much. It won't cost you an arm and a leg to see a movie on its opening weekend, the site has a lot of old-school charm, and there's a feeling that the owners love to give back to the community (both through keeping the space running and charitable endeavors that sponsor movie tickets for the less-fortunate). A well-deserved candidate for my #300th review, and a place I'm very much looking forward to visiting soon. read more

Film.Ca Cinemas - Cinema Near Me - Oakville, Ontario

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I think that this is one of those cases where I really wish that enjoyed the place more than I actually did. I went to see the latest Hobbit movie (it could have been a decent 90 minute movie, but I digress) here in January because we had put off seeing it for too long and this was the only place showing it in non-3D (my fiancée gets motion sickness from it). Immediately upon pulling in to the parking lot we wondered "is this the right address" but sure enough, there's a movie theatre there. Not one of those big Coliseum / Silvercity super mega, multiplex things but rather an old fashioned (read circa 1980s) movie theatre. Seriously I thought I had been thrust back to the time when I was a kid, which is probably the last time Encore Oakville Mews received a lick of paint. But still, it was pretty neat, this vestige of days gone by. The façade is neon and garish (I wish I had taken a better photo) and you actually buy your tickets OUTSIDE the theatre in this little alcove where the poor employee was largely exposed to the sub-zero January weather with only a space heater to keep her warm. So strange...was this how it used to be? I must be repressing my childhood theatergoing memories. So you walk inside and it's about what you'd expect having seen it from the outside. It's all carpeted, the concession counter looks as old as the theatre itself and even the little video game section they have looks as though it's stocked with games from the early 90s. Okay, I didn't actually check too closely but that's my guess. The actual theatre rooms are also unlike most of today's modern ones: no stadium seating, so everyone is at the same level. Woe is the shorty who is stuck behind the 6'8" dude. The screen is above your eyelevel so you have to tilt your head up a bit and the sound is okay, but not quite Dolby Digital super 5.whatever surround. So yeah, the place is certainly a bit of relic. Good old days? I guess. I've always been a traditionalist in most ways and am a huge classic cinema buff. But after seeing a recent blockbuster type movie at Encore, maybe there are some things that change for the better. Go if you want to support a nice local, independent cinema...I'm certainly in favour of that and if you want to, more power to you. It may not be super fancy but the prices are more reasonable both for tickets and snacks and the folks working there were really nice, especially the poor frozen girl in the ticket area. Me? I like the improved screen and sound and the comfy chairs with stadium seating and I don't think I mind that much having to pay twelve bucks versus eight to get that. Maybe I've just gotten soft and become spoiled over all these years. Even though I may not necessarily come back, I do hope other, more hardened folks do. read more

Love this place. Never too crowded. Comfy seats. Fantastic service. And their 12' pepperoni pizza is only $11.50 and DELICIOUS! Made for you on the spot. This place is classic, and a million times better experience than any cineplex. read more

What a great little gem. Found this cinema when I wanted to catch a screening of a popular movie without dealing with sold-out shows, too many teenagers in the audience and poorly focused projectors due to an untrained staff switching between 3-D and standard reels. Everything good I remembered about going to the movies when I was a kid was here. Inexpensive tickets (because they weren't trying to pay for stupid 3-D projectors or rumbling plastic Barco loungers), courteous service from box office to concession stand to ticket taking counter, a vivid picture from a well focused projector and clear sound from high quality speakers without rumbling bass playing music and sfx drowning out the dialog. The staff even wore delightful vests and bow ties. It's a little out of the way for me, but well worth the drive. The audience we shared the auditorium with left something to be desired, but that is in no way the cinema's fault, it's just the modern movie-going audience. Speaking of auditorium though, Film.ca only has five to show movies in, but they're clean, intimate and well maintained. As I mentioned earlier, the projection staff does a fantastic job with projecting a clear image. It doesn't even matter that the screen is a little smaller. Gigantic screens and 3-D movies don't mean a thing when the picture being shown is a smeary mess with dull colors and dim highlights. The price of admission was great too. They have levels of admission prices, I believe it's only $7 for children and seniors and it's an $8 ticket for general adults. Throw in a bag of popcorn some candy and a couple of sodas and you've got a movie night for two for about 35 bucks. That's a far cry from $60 - $90 you'd pay for a movie and snacks for two at the bigger chains. This is the place to go if you're either A, a purist who only needs a good picture and some snacks to make it a good evening or B, someone who thinks paying anywhere from $12 to $25 for a single movie ticket is outlandish. This place has become my new go-to cinema from now on and I challenge anyone to find a better maintained small cinema. read more

PLEASE READ. I'm often hesitant to write bad reviews but this is definitely needed for all people of colour deciding to go to this cinema. My sister and I went to go watch the latest men in black movie and as soon as we walked in, I noticed we were the only people of colour. I presume it was the manager, this middle aged guy with black hair, who had instantly directed us to a younger gentleman and said that he would serve us instead. This kid taking our order was obviously training and in need of serious assistance as he was not able to get our order down. He was seriously struggling and no one from the 6 people, including the manager that was working the shift, came to assist him. Instead, the rest of the team stood around talking amongst each other while this lost boy kept looking around for someone to come help. The other workers watched, laughed, ignored, and continued on with their conversation. But I assume that's okay because he's only dealing with brown customers, who cares? Not like we're human beings. While it took this kid 20 minutes to take our order, the manager served all the white guests and called to them as "sir" and "maam". Anyways, finally this kid gets our order down and the manager comes along and says he'd make the popcorn. The manager makes the batch and as he's about to hand it over to me, he drops it on the ground and smirked, instantly I looked at him and he knew, that I knew, exactly what he was doing. The other girl on the team, a light skin teen possibly, also smirked as her manager did this. I was extremely disappointed, I didn't realize we were still in the 1600s. We had also ordered a batch of fries, nobody made the fries and after another 10 minutes, the manager goes "oh let's put the fries in". I was super pissed off and asked why he didn't put them in as we placed our order. Instead of apologizing, the manager says that "we hardly ever get fries orders" uh? Sorry...are they that terrible that no one wants to order fries :/. I told him it's unfortunate that he doesn't have basic customer service skills. Finally we ended up getting our fries and going to the movie. But I was so shocked that there's individuals who think they have some sort of white privilege even though they're serving. I'm not degrading anyone for being a server, all I'm saying is that if you're not going to put in your full 100% while doing your job, no matter what it may be, DONT FUCKING DO IT. Especially if your directly dealing with customers. This is as much as my home as it is yours. DONT GO HERE. SERVICE IS SHIT AND IT MAKES YOU SO UNCOMFORTABLE. read more

Watched "beauty and the beast" here. Got free tickets through my sister's work at YMCA Not a bad theatre! Popcorn and drinks were included with our ticket so I didn't pay any attention to the cost of food there. The theatres are smaller than your typical cineplex theatres but the place is clean and comfortable. Screen was big enough, had good quality and audio was crisp. Honestly, can't really complain about anything. The movie and food was free. I mean...what else do you need in a movie theatre? It had everything it needed and the movie was great! read more

Love the 70's vibe and quaintness of this awesome place. Service is great prices are right and the love of movies permeates throughout..big fan read more

This theatre is a freaking hidden gem! This place not only offers CRAZY low prices, but the owner does hilarious pre-film skits for your viewing pleasure. Honestly the highlight of the night whenever I go. (Read below for the full story). The other night I went to see The Hateful Eight: - Tickets were $10 each - Popcorn, drink, candy all very* reasonably priced - comfortable seating, very cozy atmosphere - great picture quality + sounds There is one part to this whole experience that made it extra enjoyable. The owner (can't remember his name) stars in these HILARIOUS, quirky skits before the films start. Essentially he explains that Film.ca is a small business and instead of major advertising relies on word-of-mouth within the community. That's how they keep their prices so low. Either way, those little skits are a MUST SEE and one of the reasons I come back so consistently. To the owner- whatever you're doing, it's working. All I can say is keep 'em coming! I can't wait to bring my friends! read more

One of this things I miss most about Oakville. Don't get me wrong I love living in the city! I've just yet to discover a lil' theater as great as Oakville's Mews! Ticket prices are cheep as can be. I used to go almost every Tuesday because when it only cost $4 why not! The concessions are also not as pricey. Oh Oakville Mews. How I miss you so! read more

I came here with a frequent film.ca goer. He's a big fan of the theatre and explained it's evolution of funding and renovations. It seems to be a gem in this big city! We went to see the new Star Wars less than a week after it came out. The ticket price was $4 cheaper than cineplex, which was awesome! What shocked me was that I walked into the theatre and there was only about 18 people in the auditorium. THATS IT? Not sure what this means for the theatre, but for me it worked in my benefit. The chairs were nice, but I am short. So, this leaves me with my one complaint: if the theatre was in fact busy, I'd probably have to sit on my legs or a booster seat or something!! The slant in the floor was so gradual that sitting behind someone really obstructed my view. I was able to move over and find better seating, but it would worry me in a busy showing. read more

AMAZING CINEMA. This place is so cute- you buy your tickets outside of- very old school. A lot cheaper and nicer than Cineplex. Comfy seats too. read more

Old theater but well maintained. Very cheap as well. I am used to paying much more in the States and was pleasantly surprised that this place is so inexpensive. read more

Great local theatre, always drive by never tried. I watched Crazy Rich Asians, no less experience than any Cineplex but cheaper, isn't awsome! Support local small business Oakville read more

When it comes to taking a family to the movie, you can't beat Encore! No one wants to spend $120 just to see a movie with some snacks. To be honest, most movies these days are not worth the $12-$15 price tag, but an $8 movie here, you do not mind. Never a long line up, and a better concession stand than the average theatre, we never go anywhere else. Thank you Encore, for keeping movie night an event the family can enjoy!!! read more

My husband and I recently discovered this cute little theatre around the corner from where we live! We love that it is small and intimate, and they accept Cineplex gift cards, which is cool because I've collected a few during the holidays. We love coming here because it's close, convenient and much cheaper than the larger theatres.. And they play all current movies. Two tickets, a large popcorn and large drink costs less than 30 bucks... So awesome! It's short one star though because my only wish is that the theatre seats be on more of an incline.. But other than that everything's perfect! read more

okay this is my favourite theatre...love their little pizza restaurant and the prices are so good. Always friendly staff and you can even get really yummy desserts rather than standard chocolate bars. Dufflets at least they did the last time i was there. read more

Cant beat the price.. first time I went I handed over two $20 dollar bills thinking $20 wouldnt be enough for two. Pleasantly surprised to find that the tickets were only $8 each. read more

One of the best things about Oakville -- low movies prices and their new 3D theatre makes it Oakville movie destination.

Apparently management is extremely adverse to investing any money in modernizing this dated, run down theatre. We went to watch Bohemian Rhapsody based on the reviews on this site. What a disappointing place. read more

I've seen many movies at Encore. I like how they show 3D AND 2D for some movies while other other theatres only have it 3D. Other movie theatres volume is TOO DAMN LOUD it makes me uncomfortable and hurts my ears (even when I bring something to cover my ears). This is why I really prefer Encore over other movie theatres, they have a good volume so I can enjoy the movie and I don't have to cover my ears because of my sensitive hearing. Although, I wish the theatre had a steeper slope with the seating to really make sure everyone can see. I'm short and if someone sits in the row in front of me, short or tall, a piece of the movie is blocked from my vision. Prices are really good and staff are nice. I really like this theatre. read more

If you're tired of busy theatres with idiots on their smartphones throughout the movie, this place is for you. No unnecessary frills, cheap tickets, comfortable seats. It's a great spot to catch a movie. read more

The last time I came here was a year ago and was pleasantly surprised tonight. New signage, new carpet, much cleaner, better staff/service, digital projectors...would definitely go back for a movie might close to home. read more

Pretty decent. You can't go wrong for the price. Anytime I go for a movie I go here. Would recommend.

I love this theater but I can't give 5 stars for one reason. I saw that they use real butter on their popcorn in their ads and was excited as I have a food allergy and can't eat the oils most places use to pop their corn. I went in and was told they too use those oils.... My quest for movie and popcorn continues. read more

Just got back from seeing Avatar and aside from the film being FANTASTIC the Encore experience was outstanding!! The 3d was amazing!! I assumed that for $8 I was going to get a discount presentation and I was blown away by the sound and the picture! The popcorn was the best I have ever had and the kids who served me were friendly, interested and seemed to want to be there! I have been to Encore Burlington many times and love it too, but this is my first visit to their Oakville location and I am simply never going anywhere else again!! One (very) minor complaint, the ladies washroom was a bit chilly buy the young girl I mentioned it to at the counter said that they were in the process of installing new heaters this week. Encore... see you next week for Alice in Wonderland! read more

This little theatre is amazing. It's extremely family friendly and gets most of the popular movies out on the days they are released. My friends and I go here all the time. It's close by and tickets are $7 matinee, $8 evening, and their Tuesdays are $5 for everyone all day! I used to go to AMC and their tickets are normally $12, and 3D is $14. That is a total rip off when Encore is available. Encore is great and the customer service is awesome. read more

Really enjoyed my first visit there. Staff are amazing. The concessions are reasonably priced and the sound/video look great in the cinema. Ample free parking. Convenient location right near highway. Not much more you can ask for. read more

this place has $5 tuesdays! everyone should know this and come support this local theatre! best price and good experience!

You cannot beat the price and the movie experience was acceptable too. I saw the latest Bond (Sceptre) movie here last night and for $5 for a Tuesday night you cannot beat the value. A large popcorn and root beer was only $8.25. Normally I would visit an IMAX or ULTRA AVX so perhaps it is not a fair comparison but I thought the movie experience was quite good. Certainly, the seats are very comfortable (the movie was 2.5 hours long) and I think you actually have more leg room and room side to side than you might find in other theaters. I know the IMAX squishes people in. The other great thing, I arrived after the movie start time but the lineups were minimal and moved fast and I managed to find a seat mid-theater just as the main feature started. The only drawback... it was an older crowd and one patron had bathed herself in church lady perfume that made me quite nauseous. Keep up the great work FILM.CA definitely I am coming back again. read more

Before going to the movies, I check Encore (Film.Ca) first. By the way, it will always be Encore to me. Encore has been my theatre of choice for the last 14 years. My seven grandchildren were able to view first run movies without breaking the bank. They love going to the theatre and have been doing it since they were 2 years old. They loved the theatre and never made a sound throughout the movie. We usually go at least twice a month depending on what's playing. Where else can you get free refills for large drinks and large popcorn? With all these kids, it's actually affordable. I often drop into the theater alone on weekdays after I've left work just to chill out and enjoy a flick with some popcorn and a drink. I have heard criticisms based on the size of the screen and the whole viewing experience in a small cinema but I honestly love that about Encore. Now that it's been rennovated, I love it even more. The staff is friendly and it feels like home to me. Even better, I don't have to walk a mile just to get to the front door - big bonus in the winter. read more