With the embarrassment of riches being shown on Toronto’s multiple screens dedicated to repertory cinema, we decided it was high time to create a monthly guide for all of our local readers. Highlighting everything from the classic to the bizarre, from the backroom at Eyesore Cinema to the recently reopened Ontario Cinesphere, we’ve included dozens of screenings taking place all over the city. Find out which ones are FREE, which are 35mm prints, and which screenings are accompanied by special guests and other performances, from burlesque dancing and live bands, to the classic monthly shadowcast screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Also be sure to check out some of these ongoing, extensive retrospectives at the TIFF Bell Lightbox:
Sui generis: An Alternative History of Mexican Cinema
Guillermo del Toro and TIFF programmer Diana Sanchez co-curate this expansive and eclectic survey of Mexican film history.
Fearless: The Films of Katharine Hepburn
This select retrospective honours the legacy of an icon who ceaselessly challenged Hollywood’s prescriptive gender roles and helped define the mid-century idea of the “modern woman.”
The Pleasure of Seeing: The Sublime Cinema of Max Ophüls
Featuring several rarities and restorations, this retrospective celebrates the German master whose famously opulent visual style never overshadowed his moral gravity and formal mastery.
March 1st – 3rd
What The Film Fest 2019 @ The Royal
The Laser Blast Film Society is proud to present the 5th edition of the What The Film Festival, an annual celebration of contemporary eccentric cinema.
March 1
Mad Monkey Kung Fu (1979) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Presented as part of Kung Fu Fridays: Fatal Fists and Crazy Kicks from the Shaw Brothers.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) @ Cinesphere
Thelma and Louise (1991) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
Tommy (1975) FREE @ Innis Town Hall
March 2
Out of Sight (1998) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Eve and the Fire Horse (2005) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) @ Cinesphere
March 3
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) @ Cinesphere
Birdland (2018) FREE @ U of T Media Commons
Director Peter Lynch will be in attendance to introduce and discuss his work in a post-screening question and answer period, his short film Arrowhead (1994) starring Don McKellar will also be screened. Part of the Toronto on Film series, this event is free and open to the public.
March 4
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Cruel Intentions (1999) FREE @ The Royal
Presented by NOW Free Flick Mondays.
Thelma and Louise (1991) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
March 6
The Big Lebowski (1998) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
March 7
No Fear, No Die (1990) 35mm @ The Royal
Join BLACK GOLD in celebrating their 2nd anniversary with a rare, 35mm screening of French master Claire Denis’ intelligent and stunning film. A limited amount of *FREE* tickets for this screening will be set aside for members of the black community.
Emily Gagne and Danita Steinberg (hosts of What About Meryl?) are launching a podcast and screening series about women in film at the Revue Cinema. We Really Like Her! celebrates women in front of (and behind) the camera. Fun guests–like screenwriters, editors, directors, producers, film programmers and critics–will weigh in, too.
Slipstream (1989) @ Eyesore Cinema
Trashterpiece Theatre Presents this 80s cult film as part of March Hammilfest!
March 8
The Conversation (1974) @ The Royal
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) @ Cinesphere
Thelma and Louise (1991) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
Hard Day’s Night (1964) FREE @ Innis Town Hall
March 9
This screening will be accompanied by an original live score from electronic composer Jess Forrest (aka Castle If), equipped with a small, yet powerful assembly of analog synthesizers!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The IMAX Experience (2001) @ Cinesphere
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) @ Cinesphere
March 10
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The IMAX Experience (2001) @ Cinesphere
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) @ Cinesphere
Basic Instinct (1992) @ The Royal
Happy Birthday Sharon Stone!
March 11
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The IMAX Experience (2001) @ Cinesphere
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) @ Cinesphere
Shampoo (1975) 4K Restoration @ The Royal
March 12
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The IMAX Experience (2002) @ Cinesphere
Shampoo (1975) 4K Restoration @ The Royal
Spirited Away (2001) @ Cinesphere
Thelma and Louise (1991) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
March 13
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The IMAX Experience (2002) @ Cinesphere
Spirited Away (2001) @ Cinesphere
Black Sunday (1960) @ The Royal
The Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, in collaboration with the Italian Contemporary Film Festival presents the first in a retrospective of three Italian horror films from the three most renowned directors of the genre: Bava, Argento and Fulci!
March 14
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The IMAX Experience (2002) @ Cinesphere
Spirited Away (2001) @ Cinesphere
Ricki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) @ The Royal
Presented by Eastern Promises.
March 15
Fire in the Sky (1993) @ The Royal
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience (2004) @ Cinesphere
Spaceballs (1987) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1983) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Presented as part of Kung Fu Fridays: Fatal Fists and Crazy Kicks from the Shaw Brothers.
The Guyver (1991) @ Eyesore Cinema
Josie and the Pussycats (2001) FREE @ Innis Town Hall
March 16
Glen or Glenda (1953) and Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) @ Revue Cinema
Dumpster Raccoon Cinema presents its first ever double-bill screening, along with a pre-show drag performance by GAY JESUS!
Saturday Night Fever (1977) @ The Royal
The R rated version.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience (2004)@ Cinesphere
Mon Oncle (1958) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Ricki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) @ The Royal
March 17
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience (2004) @ Cinesphere
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) @ The Royal
March 18
125 Years Memory (2015) FREE @ The Royal
March 19
Spaceballs (1987) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
Dazed and Confused (1993) @ The Royal
Accompanied with a performance by Dan Mangan as part of Indie 88’s Band and a Movie series.
March 20
March 21-23
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) In Concert @ Roy Thompson Hall
With a live score by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
March 21
Kamikaze 89 (1986) @ The Royal
Neon Dreams presents the Toronto premiere of the 4K restoration for what might just be the most WTF film that has ever graced our screen. Buckle up for an outrageous, once-in-a-lifetime ride through futuristic (that’s right, it’s set in 1989) Berlin. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Canada Council For Refugees
Wheels on Meals (1984) @ Revue Cinema
A ticket to this Food in Film presentation includes a food pairing created by Craig Wong, the chef/owner of Patois on Dundas Street West.
March 22
Pulp Fiction (1994) @ Cinesphere
Spaceballs (1987) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
The Last Picture Show (1971) @ The Royal
Presented by Ladies of Burlesque.
Down By Law (1986) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Wizard of Oz (1939) FREE @ Innis Town Hall
March 23
Golddiggers of 1933 (1933) 35mm @ Revue Cinema
Presented by Designing the Movies, admiring the crucial contributions of below-the-line craft in both popular favorites and forgotten gems from across the decades, genres and eras.
The Muppet Movie (1979) @ Revue Cinema
Bad Boys (1995) @ Revue Cinema
Presented by Drunken Cinema, providing an interactive drinking game twist to enhance the viewing experience.
Pulp Fiction (1994) @ Cinesphere
Paris, Texas (1984) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey (1988) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
March 24
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923) @ Revue Cinema
Part of Silent Revue – Toronto’s only year-round dedicated selection of silent films in a theatrical venue with live musical accompaniment.
Pulp Fiction (1994) @ Cinesphere
Drop Dead Fred (1991) @ The Royal
Arrive a half-hour before this Mega Fun Movie Explosion because there will be games, activities and a chance to join in on a raffle for some prizes that are definitely not imaginary!
Cemetery Man (1994) @ The Royal
March 25
Love & Friendship (2015) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Writer-director Whit Stillman discusses his adaptation of a long-unpublished Jane Austen novella, which tells the deliciously scruple-free tale of a charmingly devious widow (Kate Beckinsale) looking to land herself a wealthy new husband.
March 26
Spaceballs (1987) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
The Last Days of Disco (1998) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Writer-director Whit Stillman introduces the final instalment in his trilogy of sophisticated social-study satires about the lives of beautiful, young, spoiled city dwellers: an affectionate and witty look at the early 1980s Manhattan nightclub scene.
Clifford (1994) 35mm @ The Royal
Happy Birthday Martin Short!
March 27
The Grey Fox (1982) 35mm + FREE @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
This Archival print is presented as part of TIFF’s See The North series, highlighting Canadian classics.
March 28
A Free Soul (1931) @ Revue Cinema
Presented by Designing the Movies, admiring the crucial contributions of below-the-line craft in both popular favorites and forgotten gems from across the decades, genres and eras.
March 29
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) @ Cinesphere
The Matrix (1999) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) SHADOWCAST @ Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema
As always, Hot Docs will be presenting the cult classic with Toronto’s own Shadow Cast who will be performing their own satirical, comedic version of the film for audiences during the show.
Legendary Weapons of China (1982) @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Presented as part of Kung Fu Fridays: Fatal Fists and Crazy Kicks from the Shaw Brothers.
Straight Outta Compton (2015) FREE @ Innis Town Hall
March 30
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) @ Cinesphere
The Bad Sleep Well (1960) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Le Pont Du Nord (1981) 35mm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
March 31
The Public Enemy (1931) @ Revue Cinema
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) @ Cinesphere
The Matrix (1999) @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge and Dundas
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