AMC Interchange 30
30 Interchange Way,
Vaughan,
ON
L4K 5C3
30 Interchange Way,
Vaughan,
ON
L4K 5C3
1 person
favorited this theater
The AMC Interchange 30 opened in May 1999. Each of the 30 screens have stadium seating and SDDS.
Contributed by
chad Irish
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The Hollywood Reporter had an article regarding AMC’s Canadian operations, many of which from my experience in the GTA had to share movies with Cineplex. To say they have over capacity would be a misstatement, last time I was at a Canadian AMC (for Breakaway) last October – I noticed how little effort they put into running the place, for a 24-plex they had no expanded menu apart from ice cream, one of their large houses was entirely closed off. As far as I can tell they also didn’t have gift cards (they were running a trailer tag for “AMC Gift Certificates” from the 1990’s) and apart from a few digital installs this location was 35MM (AMC has converted many of the sites they’re planning on begin in for the long term to all digital). They also haven’t introduced their bar/fork and screen concept either to Canada – whereas Cineplex/Famous Players had been leading on expanded concessions.
I know Cineplex can’t really grow any more to buy AMC (and perhaps even AMC closing would present an issue of Cineplex were to want to open a new complex). In the US a lot of these big AMCs that they weren’t renewing their leases on were bought up by other operators who came in and “right-sized” them, including their first megaplex the Grand 24. Empire it would appear would be the only one that could pull this off unless another exhibitor wanted to enter Canada (though I feel as if Cineplex is dominant and any exhibitor would have an issue competing directly with them). I wouldn’t appear though that the big US exhibitors are interested – Regal has a few on the border, Cinemark withdrew from Canada, and Carmike and Rave have no international operations.
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.
Also AMC Covina 30 is down to 17 screens. The Colossus across the way is now Canada’s largest cinema.
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.
AMC also has some booking trouble with the cinemas in Montreal at the Forum, but they still invested with an IMAX and ETX screen. All 22 of its screens are being used.
In 1998 Cinemas Guzzo opened an 10-plex in DDO near Montreal, they got one one blockbuster in 5 of its screens and the rest second-run. Guzzo sued and within weeks they got everything they want. Maybe AMC should sue Cineplex.
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.
There are some pictures of the theater on this webpage. Click on each to enlarge.
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.
Yes, it’s really too bad John. I much prefer the AMCs to the others that Cineplex Entertainment offers, they’ve been in Canada about 13, 14 yrs now, too bad we have fewer choices that we used to.
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.