Empire Theatres
A former Canadian cinema exhibition chain owned by Empire Company Ltd.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Empire Theatres Limited was a Canadian movie-theatre chain operated by Empire Company Ltd., the holding company associated with the Sobey family conglomerate. Although the supplied legacy dossier described the business as a Canadian film studio, Empire Theatres was a cinema exhibitor: its business centred on operating multiplexes, traditional theatres, large-format auditoriums, digital projection and 3D presentation rather than producing films. The chain began in 1984 when the Sobey family acquired the Atlantic Canadian assets of Canadian Odeon Theatres during the restructuring associated with that company’s merger into Cineplex Odeon Corporation. Empire subsequently acquired selected Famous Players locations, including theatres in Newfoundland and Labrador. During the 1980s and 1990s, it competed primarily with Famous Players in Atlantic Canada and expanded through new and replacement multiplexes. A prominent example was an 18-screen complex, including an IMAX auditorium, at Bayers Lake Business Park near Halifax. Famous Players eventually reduced its Atlantic Canadian presence and sold its remaining regional screens to Empire in 2004. Empire then expanded beyond Atlantic Canada. In 2005, it announced the purchase of 27 theatres containing 202 screens from Cineplex Galaxy LP, following Cineplex’s acquisition of Famous Players. The transaction, completed on September 30, 2005, more than doubled Empire’s size and added venues in Ontario and Western Canada. The acquired portfolio included conventional cinemas as well as larger properties such as Coliseum Calgary, SilverCity sites in Kitchener and St. Catharines, a Calgary SilverCity location, and the former Cineplex Odeon Square One theatre in Mississauga. Technology investment became an important part of the chain’s later positioning. By December 2009, 48 Empire screens had digital projection and RealD 3D capability. In March 2012, the company said it had completed conversion of its entire circuit to digital cinema, covering 359 screens, with approximately 40 percent also equipped for RealD 3D. In 2012, it acquired two 24-screen Ontario theatres from AMC Theatres in Ottawa and Whitby, each with an IMAX auditorium, and announced plans for Barco digital projection and selected RealD 3D upgrades. Empire Company changed direction in 2013, deciding to concentrate on retail and real-estate operations, including Sobeys. Empire Theatres therefore exited cinema exhibition. Cineplex purchased 24 Atlantic Canadian theatres for approximately C$194 million, while Landmark Cinemas acquired 23 theatres in Ontario and Western Canada for approximately C$55 million. The Atlantic properties closed under the Empire name after evening shows on October 22, 2013, and reopened as Cineplex cinemas after completion of the sale. The Landmark transaction was completed on November 1, 2013. Several theatres were excluded from the transactions and were closed, later reopened independently, or remained vacant. Planned projects were also cancelled, transferred, or completed by successor operators, including the Lansdowne Park and Manning Town Centre cinemas, which opened under Cineplex. The Empire Theatres brand ceased to operate as a national cinema chain after the 2013 divestiture. Its former locations continued to serve Canadian movie audiences under Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, or independent ownership. Empire Company later became connected with Cineplex again through participation in the Scene+ loyalty programme in 2022, but this did not revive the Empire Theatres operating brand.
History
Empire Theatres was created in 1984 after the Sobey family acquired the Atlantic Canadian assets of Canadian Odeon Theatres during the latter company’s merger into Cineplex Odeon Corporation. The new chain developed as an Atlantic Canadian cinema operator and later expanded its footprint through selected acquisitions from Famous Players. During the 1980s and 1990s, Empire competed with Famous Players while investing in multiplexes and replacement venues designed around the modern Canadian cinema format. Its expansion included a major multiplex at Bayers Lake Business Park near Halifax, containing 18 screens and an IMAX auditorium. In 2004, Empire acquired Famous Players’ remaining screens in Atlantic Canada, consolidating its regional position. The next year, after Cineplex Galaxy acquired Famous Players, Empire announced the purchase of 27 theatres and 202 screens stretching from British Columbia to Ontario. The deal closed on September 30, 2005, and more than doubled the size of the business. The acquired estate included both conventional theatres and larger branded venues, including Coliseum Calgary, SilverCity properties and the former Cineplex Odeon Square One location. Empire continued to develop its presentation technology. By late 2009, 48 screens offered digital projection and RealD 3D. In March 2012, the chain announced completion of a circuit-wide digital conversion involving 359 screens, with roughly 40 percent supporting RealD 3D. In June 2012, Empire announced the purchase of two AMC theatres in Ottawa and Whitby. Both had 24 screens and an IMAX auditorium, and Empire planned further Barco digital and RealD 3D upgrades. The company’s expansion plans included new theatres in St. John’s, Markham, Ottawa and Edmonton. Empire announced a 10-screen, three-storey cinema for Lansdowne Park in Ottawa and a 10-screen Edmonton project with a planned digital IMAX auditorium. These projects did not ultimately open under the Empire name. Rights to the Ottawa and Edmonton developments passed to Cineplex, which opened Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne and VIP in 2015 and Cineplex Cinemas Manning Town Centre in 2014. Other planned developments were abandoned or substantially changed. On June 27, 2013, Empire Company announced that it would leave the cinema business and concentrate on its retail and real-estate activities. The chain’s Atlantic Canadian operations were sold to Cineplex, which acquired 24 theatres for approximately C$194 million. Those locations closed after their October 22 evening shows and reopened as Cineplex cinemas after the transaction was completed. Landmark Cinemas acquired 23 theatres in Ontario and Western Canada for approximately C$55 million, with that sale completed on November 1, 2013. Five operating locations were not included in either main transaction. Some closed permanently, while others later reopened under independent or different operators. The Highland Drive-In in Nova Scotia, Elgin Mills 10 in Ontario and Capitol 6 in Victoria illustrate the varied post-Empire outcomes: some properties changed ownership and resumed operations, while others remained closed or were redeveloped. Following the 2013 disposals, Empire Theatres ceased to be an operating cinema chain. Empire Company’s later participation in the Scene+ loyalty programme with Cineplex and Scotiabank in 2022 represented a commercial connection between the companies, not a restoration of the Empire Theatres brand.
- 2013
Cinema business is wound down
[1]Empire Company announced the sale or closure of its theatres as part of a strategic focus on retail and real estate.
- 2013
Theatre portfolio sold to Cineplex and Landmark
[1]Cineplex acquired 24 Atlantic Canadian theatres and Landmark Cinemas acquired 23 theatres in Ontario and Western Canada.
- 2012
Circuit-wide digital conversion
[1]Empire announced digital conversion of all 359 screens in its circuit, with around 40 percent also equipped for RealD 3D.
- 2012
AMC theatre acquisition
[1]Empire announced the acquisition of 24-screen theatres in Ottawa and Whitby, both including IMAX auditoriums.
- 2009
Digital and RealD 3D deployment expands
[1]Forty-eight Empire screens were reported to have digital projection and RealD 3D capability.
- 2005
Expansion into Ontario and Western Canada
[1]Empire acquired 27 theatres containing 202 screens from Cineplex Galaxy LP; the transaction closed on September 30.
- 2004
Famous Players exits Atlantic Canada
[1]Empire acquired Famous Players’ remaining cinema screens in Atlantic Canada, strengthening its regional position.
- 1984
Empire Theatres is formed
[1]The Sobey family acquired Atlantic Canadian assets of Canadian Odeon Theatres and established the basis of Empire Theatres.
Products and positioning
A regional-to-national Canadian cinema exhibitor that grew from an Atlantic Canada base through multiplex development, acquisitions and investment in digital, 3D and IMAX presentation.
Cinema exhibition · 1984
Multiplex cinemas
Empire’s core offering was theatrical exhibition through multiplexes and conventional cinemas across Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Western Canada. Venues ranged from smaller traditional theatres to large complexes with many auditoriums, including an 18-screen Bayers Lake site and multiple 24-screen locations acquired from AMC.
Large-format cinema
IMAX presentations
Selected Empire locations included IMAX auditoriums, providing large-format film presentation alongside standard cinema screens. The chain’s Bayers Lake complex and the Ottawa and Whitby theatres acquired from AMC were among the locations identified as having IMAX capability.
Cinema technology · 2009
Digital and RealD 3D cinema
Empire upgraded its circuit from conventional projection to digital cinema and added RealD 3D capability at a significant portion of its screens. The company announced completion of digital conversion across 359 screens in 2012, positioning the chain around contemporary presentation technology.
Food and beverage
Cinema concessions
Empire theatres offered standard cinema concessions such as popcorn and nachos, with some venues also hosting branded food outlets including New York Fries, Pretzelmaker, TCBY, Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73.
Brand decisions
2013
Exit the movie-theatre businessStrategyBackground
Empire Company decided to concentrate on retail and real-estate operations, including its Sobeys business.
Action taken
Empire wound down the theatre chain, selling most locations to Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas and closing locations excluded from those transactions.
Aftermath
The Empire Theatres brand ceased operating as a cinema chain, while many former venues continued under successor or independent operators.
Cineplex acquisition price for 24 Atlantic Canadian theatres. Approximately C$194 million (2013)
2012
Complete circuit-wide digital conversionOtherBackground
Digital projection and stereoscopic presentation were becoming standard competitive features in Canadian cinema exhibition.
Action taken
Empire converted all 359 screens in its circuit to digital cinema and equipped a substantial minority with RealD 3D.
Aftermath
The chain described itself as the first national Canadian exhibitor to complete a circuit-wide digital conversion.
2005
Acquire 27 theatres from Cineplex GalaxyM&ABackground
Cineplex Galaxy’s acquisition of Famous Players created an opportunity for Empire to obtain theatres outside its established Atlantic Canadian base.
Action taken
Empire announced and completed the purchase of 27 theatres containing 202 screens across Ontario and Western Canada.
Aftermath
The transaction more than doubled Empire’s scale and made it a broader Canadian cinema operator.
Sources1 sources
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