It is no secret that Toronto is a hub for movie lovers, not only because it hosts one of the most recognized film festivals in the world but also for the amount of places available to watch recent releases and cult classics. 

With summer almost over, outdoor screenings and drive-ins will soon come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that film buffs can’t watch similar programming elsewhere. With the number of independent movie theatres around the city, many of which need support from the public to continue running, there are plenty of options to attend for retro viewings and indie releases. 

Although the Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema is temporarily closed, there are several other long-running theatres that are worth the visit. From the Revue Cinema to the Fox Theatre, here are some notable recommendations. 

Photo by Isabella Soares

The Royal

608 College St. wasn’t always called The Royal. Originally named The Pylon, this venue located at the heart of Little Italy was built between 1938 and 1939. 

After Theatre D. Digital bought the place in 2006, it was fully restored to resemble its original look from the ‘30s. With a 400-seat capacity, a state-of-the-art soundboard, and four editing suites, The Royal welcomes the public for stand-up comedy shows, private screenings, film festivals, and concerts. Next month, The Who? Weekly Podcast will make a stop at the venue as part of their tour.

More on The Royal’s upcoming events.

Photo by Alex Laney via Wikimedia Commons

Revue Cinema

A “theatorium” since 1912, Revue Cinema is a historical landmark in the city and a home for various types of programming. Throughout the years, this venue with an Art Deco aesthetic has become a hub for the film community and was named the Best Independent Film Venue in Toronto by NOW magazine for three consecutive years. The Revue is run by the Revue Film Society (a non-profit organization) and connects audiences through film, art, and culture, usually screening a blend of classics, documentaries, Canadian indies, and recent releases. This month, the theatre is hosting several summer-themed viewings, including anniversary screenings of 500 Days of Summer and Purple Rain.

Despite holding much significance to filmmakers and film lovers in Toronto, this year has proven to be difficult for The Revue. Although it was granted an extension from eviction last month, its future will be determined by the court at the end of October. In order to support The Revue throughout this period, a donation campaign is taking place to raise funds for future expenses and legal fees.

More on The Revue’s upcoming events. 

Photo by Isabella Soares

Imagine Cinemas: Carlton 

Before Imagine Cinemas Carlton was established, the luxurious Odeon Theatre used to be located at 20 Carlton Street. The first theatre-restaurant in the city operated from 1949 to 1973, with high-profile moviegoers stopping by. Since then, the venue was renovated in the ‘80s, with few alterations made after that, which is why it has a more simplistic and old-fashioned structure nowadays. Imagine Cinemas Carlton is known for its art-house content, luxury seating, and its 5-dollar deals for select screenings. 

Throughout the month of August, Harry Potter fans can watch the franchise on the big screen at the theatre. Other classics that will be on in the coming days include Grease and Jaws. As for recent films, Kinds of Kindness and Longlegs are currently available to watch at the location. 

More on Imagine Cinemas Carlton’s upcoming events.

Photo by AdamJanS via Wikimedia Commons

TIFF Lightbox

With the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival around the corner, it would be impossible to disregard one of the festival’s most essential independent movie theatres. The TIFF Lightbox opened in 2010, much later than the venues mentioned above. Designed by KPMB Architects, the space features five cinemas in addition to galleries, restaurants, archives, and offices. Whenever the international festival isn’t taking place, the TIFF Lightbox hosts a variety of film screenings, movie premieres, and smaller-scale festivals. 

For the remainder of this month, the theatre is screening several indie films, including a few Canadian projects such as Nicole Dorsey’s latest directorial effort Balestra. It is also hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Museum Studies department of the University of Toronto. Fandemonium: Communities of Cinematic Imagination is a carefully curated exhibition to highlight film fans and their creations.  

More on TIFF Lightbox’s upcoming events. 

Photo by Isabella Soares

Paradise Theatre

Paradise Theatre was known as the Bloor Palace when it was built in 1910. Like The Revue and The Royal, the theatorium was built in Art Deco and Art Moderne styles and it had several owners throughout the years. From the Giacominis (a local Italian family) to the “Eves of Edens” chain of adult theatres, the venue’s programming shifted according to the ownership. In the ‘90s, the Festival Cinemas chain acquired the space, to showcase indies and arthouse fare. 

In 2006, Paradise Theatre was shut down after Festival Cinemas came to an end. It took over a decade for the location to open its doors again, having its grand reopening in 2019. Nowadays, it offers a mix of food, drinks, movie screenings, and shows. This month, the theatre will highlight classics like Basic Instinct and put on the world premiere of Sounds & Pressure, a five-part series about Jamaican musicians who brought reggae to Toronto. 

More on Paradise Theatre’s upcoming events.

Photo by Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fox Theatre

Previously called The Theatre Without a Name, Fox Theatre was opened by Arthur Brooks Webster in 1914. Located at the corner of Queen Street East and Beech Avenue, the independent theatre’s structure wasn’t as good-looking as it is today. The venue was nicknamed “the morgue” for a while due to its morbid look and feel, up until 1978, after Tom Litvinskas and Jerry Szczur bought the theatre and gave it a makeover. Since then, Fox Theatre has showcased recent films and cult classics. 

A favourite in The Beaches neighbourhood, the venue was voted “Toronto’s Best Movie Theatre” in the Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Poll from 2021-2023. Members get discounted prices for movie tickets and get to attend members-only screenings hosted every month. Films that are currently on are Close to You starring Elliot Page and a 4K restoration of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation. 

More on Fox Theatres’s upcoming events.