Our History
Cineplex has a long and rich history dating back to the early 1900s that has shaped us into the company we're proud to be today. From the founding of the first Famous Players company in 1912, to the opening of locations of The Rec Room across the country, we have been entertaining Canadians for over 100 years – it is what we do best. Cineplex has transformed movie-going in Canada.
1912
Adolph Zukor founds the Famous Players Film Company – today’s Paramount Pictures.
1929
Famous Players’ Palace location in Montreal, Quebec, becomes Canada’s first movie theatre with sound equipment.
1962
Famous Players builds its first multiplex movie theatre nationally, in Ottawa, Ontario.
1979
Cineplex Corporation opens its first movie theatre complex – a 21-screen megaplex at Toronto’s Eaton Centre. The theatre’s size and its 1,600 seats earned it a special place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
1981
Dolby stereo is first introduced into Famous Players theatres.
1987
Ellis Jacob, now Cineplex’s President & CEO, joins Cineplex Odeon Corporation as Vice President and Corporate Controller.
1996
Cineplex Odeon Corporation opens North America's first expansive “Cinescape” multi-media entertainment centre at Eau Claire Market Cinemas in Calgary, Alberta.
1997
Famous Players begins rebuilding its entire infrastructure with new megaplex theatres featuring stadium seating under a number of new brands – including SilverCity, Coliseum, Colossus, Paramount and Star Cité. These complexes feature extensive food court style concessions and arcade games.
1999
Famous Players becomes the first Canadian exhibitor to show WWE live events on the big screen, opening the door to Alternative Programming in movie theatres.
2000
Founded by Ellis Jacob and Stephen Brown the year before, Galaxy Entertainment Inc. opens its first location in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
2003
Cineplex Galaxy LP (Cineplex Galaxy) was created with the merger of Galaxy Entertainment Inc. and the Canadian assets of Loews Cineplex Entertainment, formerly Cineplex Odeon Corporation.
Cineplex Galaxy began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange as an Income Trust, priced at $10.00 per unit.
Cineplex Galaxy began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange as an Income Trust, priced at $10.00 per unit.
2005
Cineplex Galaxy acquires Famous Players, and is renamed Cineplex Entertainment.
2007
Cineplex partners with Scotiabank to create a first-of-its-kind entertainment loyalty rewards program, SCENE.
2008
Cineplex launches the Cineplex Store.
2009
Cineplex enters into the digital signage business through the acquisition of Onsite Media Networks, which it renames Cineplex Digital Solutions.
2010
Cineplex launches its app and mobile ticketing.
2011
Cineplex transitions to digital projectors.
Cineplex’s business grows yet again with the acquisition of New Way Sales Games Ltd., thus establishing its new amusement gaming division. Cineplex Starburst Inc. is created the following year.
Cineplex’s business grows yet again with the acquisition of New Way Sales Games Ltd., thus establishing its new amusement gaming division. Cineplex Starburst Inc. is created the following year.
2013
Cineplex Entertainment acquires 24 theatres in Atlantic Canada from Empire Theatres Ltd., making it the country’s first and only national theatre operator with locations from coast to coast.
2016
Cineplex reimagines the entertainment destination, with the opening of Canada’s first location of The Rec Room, at South Edmonton Common in Alberta.
Cineplex Starburst Inc. changes its name to Player One Amusement Group, further establishing itself as one of largest suppliers of amusement solutions in North America.
Cineplex Starburst Inc. changes its name to Player One Amusement Group, further establishing itself as one of largest suppliers of amusement solutions in North America.
2018
Cineplex’s famous popcorn and other concessions become available for home delivery.
2019
Cineplex opens the first reimagined Playdium concept in Brampton, Ontario.
SCENE surpasses 10 million members.
SCENE surpasses 10 million members.
2020
Cineplex is the first theatre company globally to safely reopen its entire circuit of theatres and entertainment venues, following temporary lockdowns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. They welcomed back over 1.5 million guests within the first month of reopening.
2021
Cineplex launches CineClub, Canada’s first-of-its-kind movie subscription program.
Cineplex celebrates the opening of its 25th VIP Cinemas location, with the opening of Cineplex VIP Cinemas University District in Calgary, Alberta. All auditoriums in the new 22,500 square foot theatre offer state-of-the-art laser projectors, delivering the highest image colour spectrum, brightness and contrast.
Cineplex celebrates the opening of its 25th VIP Cinemas location, with the opening of Cineplex VIP Cinemas University District in Calgary, Alberta. All auditoriums in the new 22,500 square foot theatre offer state-of-the-art laser projectors, delivering the highest image colour spectrum, brightness and contrast.
1941
The Odeon Theatres of Canada chain is created, establishing locally-oriented modern theatres in key markets across the country.
1983
Cineplex Corporation acquires Canadian Odeon Theatres, forming a new company called Cineplex Odeon Corporation and begins planning for a major expansion.
1985
Cineplex Odeon Corporation revolutionizes an industry by introducing on-screen advertising to its Canadian theatres. This division would later become what is known today as Cineplex Media.
2014
Ushering in a new era of luxurious, adults-only movie-going, Cineplex VIP Cinemas Don Mills opens its doors as Canada’s first stand-alone VIP Cinemas location.