AMC Interchange 30

Looks like AMC may have finally pulled the plug on this place. As of today (May 9th, 2014), there are no movie listings available anywhere for the theatre and the showtimes phone number (416-335-5323) is no longer working.

If the Interchange 30 has indeed closed, their final line-up was:

2 States, About Last Night, American Hustle, Endless Love, Frozen, Gravity, Her, The LEGO Movie, The Monuments Men, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Non-Stop, Philomena, Ride Along, 300: Rise of an Empire,

Look folks you need to understand a few things about AMC coming into the Canadian market. First off the Canadian market is very mature and was divided up years ago, there was absolutely NO chance for a 3rd large chain in the smaller tough Canadian market. Secondly. when AMC entered Canada, they hired a former executive of Famous Players to choose the locations for their new cinemas. They most always were put in locations head to head against Famous Players Canadian Corp. Thirdly, AMC was arrogant enough to build their theatres exactly like America, not considering that Canada is different in many ways. They DID NOT consider that Canada is a much much tougher country to operate in than United States. Finally, in Canada Famous Players and Cineplex Odeon had all the booking power unlike AMC, so AMC wasn’t able to get the best films like FPCC and Cineplex Odeon. THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF THIS WAS THAT AMC SHOULD NEVER NEVER HAVE ENTERED CANADA. When AMC was bought by the Asians, the very first thing they did was close or sell off their Canadian theatres. I hope you understand this now!!

I’m guessing this one is slated to close with the sale of the AMC Ventures to Cineplex – and this complex not getting picked up by Empire or Cineplex (along with Kennedy Commons – which from pictures almost looks like a Cineplex Odeon build). AMC really isn’t putting effort into programing this place, none of the first run features out this weekend are showing. If anything AMC leaving the market leaves only two major players in the whole country (three in QB) – I’m surprised that they were allowed to purchase AMC but given the lack of another player with the capital to acquire these theaters (many of which do sound as if they are loosing money – if Cineplex paid only a “nominal fee” to AMC as they claim in press releases). This allows Cineplex the programing muscle in Toronto (they certainly used their leverage to keep Scotibank heavy with first run films).

Cineplex seems to be a well run company and diverse company (they operate in areas other than cinematic exhibition) that knows their markets well – they build selectively (unlike AMC’s carbon copy model – at least they had the common sense to build indoor box-offices in Canada), on one hand it makes sense they’ve succeeded, it’s just disturbing that there is no stronger independent operators in Ontario beyond a handful of Magic Lantern/Rainbow locations.

I’m not sure what AMC’s longterm plans are for the Canadian market, there hasn’t been a wide commitment to digital projection apart from Younge & Dundas which opened as “all digital” (it does have some 35MM used at TIFF). I saw a film at the Winston Churchill and was taken back by the lack of pre-film ads (not a complaint but unusual), the fact my Stubs card wasn’t valid (They did give the movie watchers price however) and how little staff there was (maybe about 10 people on the floor between box office and concessions for a 24-plex on a Saturday afternoon). But AMC is in an odd position should it want to get out of Canada, maybe Empire can right size them.

Well, my wife went to a movie here today and she said that once inside, there is a wall completely closing off the whole large lobby that was straight ahead including the large concession area as well as all of the 4 largest theatres from the lobby and the whole northern wing of theatres. You now just go to the right wing to the theatres down there with the concession at the end of the hallway. So don’t know what the heck is going on with this place. It’s a shame too, because I much preferred this place to the loud, garish Colossus across the highway, but now that one gets all the major 1st run releases and this one is relegated to the odd 1st run and mostly older films that have played out. For the first 12 yrs or so, the Interchange and Colossus both got initial blockbusters upon release but something sure changed in early 2011. It is so ironic since in the 80’s the then small Cineplex chain went to court to get better 1st run product from then majors Canadian Odeon and Famous Players and now Cineplex Entertainment is doing the same to AMC.

Doesn’t it seem odd that the Colossus across the highway gets ALL the new attractions? Oh sure the Interchange gets a few here and there but not nearly as many as they used to. What changed? Maybe if it got a few more of the big blockbusters when released then they wouldn’t have had to close half the theatres. Kind of ironic since Cineplex once sued to get more product all those years ago.

30 screens,it is just insane,this world was much better off with one and two screens Theatres.Hell. today they[moviegoers} are nothing but cattle,Glad I got in 1983.

Even as of December, they are still on about 13-14 of their screens. Likely because the cost of booking/operating 30-35 movies in this day and age would put this location in the red.

I know AMC wants out of Canada and this 30 screen could probably be re-done with a much smaller screen count. Calling Empire Theatres!!! ;)

I just noticed this too…I DO know that in the US, AMC has converted a lot of their 24-30 screen locations into Fork & Screen complexes. This just looks like they have closed an entire wing of cinemas off. Very strange.

Don’t know what’s going on with this theatre. For the past couple of weeks, they’ve only been showing about a dozen films and only from about 3 in the afternoon. So obviously about half of their screens are closed. Doesn’t mention anything on the AMC website about renovations etc.