Fox Theatre — Attraction in Toronto

A Love Letter to the Movies – and to This Theatre

Having spent my teenage years working at a small, independently owned theatre (Encore in Oakville, now Film.Ca), I know the charm and heart that live in places like this. The sticky floors, the smell of buttered popcorn in the air, the flickering of trailers before the lights dim—it all gets into your bones and stays with you forever. So when I walked into this theatre for the first time, it felt like coming home.

This place is a gem. Not a polished, shiny chain experience—but something infinitely better. It’s a theatre that loves movies. Truly loves them. The kind of place that shows Casablanca one night, The Shining the next, and then hosts a local short film showcase on the weekend. The programming is thoughtful, curated by people who care, and who understand that film is both art and memory. You don’t just watch movies here—you experience them.

And the popcorn? Genuinely fantastic. Perfectly popped, generously buttered (if you want it), and just salty enough to keep your hand going back into the bag without thinking. It’s the kind of popcorn that’s part of the movie ritual, part of the magic.

But what truly makes this theatre special is the atmosphere. It’s nostalgic without being dusty—warm, welcoming, and steeped in history. You feel it in the old posters on the walls, the comfortable creak of the seats, and the casual chatter of people who clearly come here often. It’s a gathering place, a memory-maker, a little pocket of time where the world slows down and the screen becomes the only thing that matters.

If you grew up going to a theatre like this, you’ll feel the love instantly. And if you didn’t? You’ll wish you had. Whether you're catching a beloved classic for the fiftieth time or seeing something new that makes you think, this theatre is a rare and beautiful thing: a space that honors the magic of film and the people who love it.

Do yourself a favor—skip the multiplex, grab some popcorn, and settle in. The lights are about to go down, and the show is just...

Walking into this theatre is always a walk into nostalgia. Those days when theatres were comfortable velvet seats and the sound is not so loud that it damages your hearing.

While I love the little modernization additions they have done over the last few years, the changes such as the loss of equipment from the "olden days" that served as a reminder to the history of the place is truly disappointing.

While I always have a wonderful time when I make it to the Fox Theatre, the absence of information on the website (even about such small things as to if you can still buy tickets at the theatre) and the subjective closing of the concession stand "halfway through the film" (even saying an needing an hour till the film finished was inaccurate) probably should be more publicized and also maybe a bit more standardized.

All in all, a true to this locale is a wonderful experience especially given the one-off cult films of yesteryear that...

Incredibly annoyed at the fact that I bought popcorn, pop and candy totalling $18 but then was charged $21 on the debit machine. I asked why as it seemed high and the server said that candy is expensive… I added all the total and it was $18. I asked the server to show me my receipt and it said $18.34. I asked why he charged me $21 on the debit machine and he said it was a “system thing” and he could show me. I didn’t want to hold up the line so I said forget it. Ruined my experience. Overall the theatre is great, the movies they show are awesome but I am frustrated.

Edit: the reply below is incorrect as my bank charge on my card shows $24.98. This would be $21.72 plus a 15% tip. There is no reason why I should have been charged an extra $3 and frankly the business should be able to provide an itemized receipt showing totals for costs of their product. I didn’t even get an itemized receipt after...