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Alliance Cinemas The Beach
Category: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Cinema [Edit]
1651 Queen St EToronto, ON M4L 1G5
Neighbourhood: Upper Beach
(416) 699-1327
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Fri 3 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Alliance Cinemas The Beach
8 reviews in English
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Review from Ricky Z.
Toronto, ON
7/14/2010
In my humble opinion, this is one of the best cinemas in Toronto. Not only is it impeccably clean, cheap and comfortable, it's just a couple of blocks away from me. Who could ask for more? Me, that's who. And there is more:
I am smitten by their $5 movie nights on Tuesday and Wednesday. What a PERfect way to break up the week and see some blockbusters (this theatre tends to play the big-ticket movies, although they do get prestige films sometimes, too). There is a combo deal, too, where you get popcorn and a drink for an extra $5. They have reallly good, fresh popcorn and they use becel or butter.... not the yellow goop I've seen at other theatres. Plus, they have a TCBY if you're in the mood for some frozen yoghurt.
One really nice feature of the theatre is the open-air café-style seating. If you're early for the show, or meeting friends, you can order a coffee at Far Coast and enjoy some people watching--or play checkers on the table/boards, neither of which I've ever done.. it's just nice to know the option is there.
Now that The Burger's Priest is open across the street I think burger/movie Tuesdays are going to be a very sacred tradition of mine for years to come. -
Review from Caitlin J.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2011
Remember when you were a teen and movies were half-price on Tuesdays? Well, Beach Cinema's is bringing it back! With a vengence! Not only have they added Wednesday to the mix, but you can get a super discount on concessions too. Here's the deal:
$5 - Movie Ticket
$10 - Movie Ticket + Regular Popcorn + Regular Drink
I must admit that they don't have the greatest movie selection but parking is a cinch and its super easy to get to by public transit. So if what you want to see is playing, it's an excellent deal -
Review from Rosie S.
8/8/2011
We went to see "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" here on Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon of the weekend the movie came out... we booked our tickets online to be sure they didn't sell out, and went 45 minutes early to ensure we got seats. My friend had warned me about the lineups on Saturday at the Scotiabank Theatre. I was putting into place safety measures. I was so focused on getting into this movie that I forgot my iPhone at home. This will become more important than it seems later in the story.
We were among about 20-30 people arriving to see movies at all screens. Mr. Rosie S. was hungry and we assumed they would have some options for a lunch-type nosh. NOPE!
Food options are lacking SEVERELY. And the only available substantial "meal" was hot dogs (of course, they also had nachos, popcorn, candy and chocolate, Yogen Fruz and slushies), and they weren't going to be ready for another half an hour (after the movie started)... so Mr. Rosie S. took off to eat, and I was charged with saving us seats ASAP!
When Mr. came back from his meal, he was charged with getting us snacks. Apparently, when the guy in front of us who was ALSO hungry and expecting meal options was like, "What am I supposed to do? Can I go grab food from somewhere else and bring it in?" And guess what? They were actually cool. They let him bring it in. So that is worth one-half star. That star's other half is made up of the pleasing ticket prices. It was about $20 for the two of us. Lovely, and unexpectedly cheap. I have some inkling as to why.
So. I make my way as quickly as possible to the theatre so I can snag us good seats before they're all taken.
I am the first to arrive to the empty, soul-sucking void that is a theatre at The Beach Alliance Cinema.
That was the least enjoyable theatre I've ever been in. Please at least some elevator music? Even a cheesy radio station? Let your ushers and cleaning staff take turns with their ipods?
The only reading material I could find in the building was the Beach Danforth SNAP and Beach Life mini-magazine.
So nothing to read for longer than five minutes, and I was the only person there. There wasn't even stupid trivia or ads on the screen. I don't care how stupid it is... anything is better than a loud, constant feedback drone. OY! You could promote community events through the BIA, put up the CP24 feed, do a slideshow of historic photos of your building's history, or the area, or SOMETHING... advertise your lobby snacks... I don't know. Listen, you could arrange a partnership with the aforementioned publications you stock in the lobby: you get ads in their paper/mag, they get to create and run their own advertising client ads pre-show on your screens. Or maybe they could sell your screen ad space for you - either as a third party or as a partner who offers it as a top-level ad buy and then passes some of the revenue on to you. Just sayin. You could swap ad space with a radio station too. Visuals AND audio. Amazeballs.
Remember how I forgot my phone? I couldn't check my email, play a game, look at the weather... I didn't even have a pen to work on my grocery list.
It was effing CREEPY being alone in a semi-dark, silent (except for the feedback zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) movie theatre... with nothing to do and no one to look at.
I think keeping us "plugged in" is part of customer service
in this niche of the entertainment industry (i.e. movie theatres). I don't require a suped-up fancy laser-show arena-style theatre, but I either need a) ambiance (vintage and rep theatres apply here) or b) distraction - in the form of ANYTHING I have listed elsewhere in this review: reading material, arcade games, food, in-theatre ads, a musical background...
I chewed through an entire pack of Bubblemint gum before FINALLY a family showed up (HUMANS!!!) and there was something else for me to focus on besides the empty, buzzing, shadowed nothingness... that is, the emptiness and the impending Yelp review... Thank goodness.
We paid $17.50 for two packages of candy ($2.49 in any store - swedish berries and skittles) and two SMALL fountain drinks. FOUNTAIN, NOT BOTTLES. They probably MAKE money selling that stuff. Or it's like 3 cents a month for them. And it's not the movie theatre 20-oz. "SMALL", it was like an actual small. Like a coffee cup. Like a medium Tim Hortons coffee cup. Ouch.
BUT all in all, the movie worked... that's the other star. We watched it start to finish with no issues. Played right through. Sweet.
But that's kind of not the point. Isn't their job to create an atmosphere? And NO, your five arcade games circa 1997 don't count. Especially since they're in a narrow hallway, not a room. They're an eyesore, not a viable option for entertainment.
Am I spoiled? Maybe, but next movie date night, we're going to try the OTHER closest movie theatre to our new 'hood, at Eglinton Town Centre. -
Review from Sarah O.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2011
I finally sprung for the membership to this theatre since I've been here so many times. As soon as I do that, the cosmic forces of the universe bring shitty movies to the theatre so I didn't even use my pass for 2 months. Despite this, I still love the beaches cinema (i refuse to acknowledge the singular form of "the beaches")! The membership gets you a buck off the regular price ticket (can't use on cheap nights) and free parking in that lot on Eastern.
The theatres aren't monster-size. The seats are comfortable and at a good slope so even if a person of high stature sits in front of a vertically-challenged person like myself, you can still see the screen. It's clean and the floors aren't incredibly sticky like other theatres so you don't feel like you're going to leave the sole from your shoe behind.
You know what's a heavenly night? A burger from Burger's Priest then a good movie here with popcorn (yes, there's always room for popcorn!). -
Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/23/2008
Beaches Cinema is one of two siblings belonging to the parent Al Alliance. Sometimes he goes by his full name Alliance, but if i was him, to keep face, i would probably do the same, so let's give'm a break.
well Al's got it set up real nice, with fancy patterned carpeting, nothing too gauche; if you decide to come early to beat the crazy baby boomer crowd than youll have the opportunity to sit down comfortably at tables provided in front of a full espresso bar. (havent tried the espresso - cant quite come around to abandoning the classic popcorn and pop combo). If its nice outside feel free to sit on the open air patio while listening to some crazy licks from the featured xylophonist. yes. its true they do have a little stage set up for its patrons.
they, of course, have the regular setup with popcorn, etc and its cheaper than bigger hoopla theatres and yet the theatres are large, the seats comfortable and there is never a problem with someones head in front on yours blocking your view.
whats more, Al's got it set up for you to pay a membership fee of about 20 bucks per year which gives you discounts on ticket prices, concession stuff and selected restaurants around the area. or perhaps city.
if you are an avid movie goer, its worth it, especially if you live close by. the cumberland theatre is the other member of the family. -
Review from Link T.
Toronto, ON
6/19/2011
I love this place, just came back from a late night movie. Today there were only 7 people in the room (including myself). So quiet and no body sat behind me to kick my seat, clean floor and fresh popcorn. I watched a 3D movie and I only paid ~$11.95, what a steal (compared to other theaters). Can't ask for more.
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Review from Stephen B.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2009
One of my favourite first-run theatres (the other being Varsity). Big screens, good sound, clean (as theatre floors can be). Walkable from some nice dinner spots in the Beaches.
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Review from Josh A.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2010
Nobody is ever here. Fantastic location, Very clean, Big Screens. Hands down best place for 1st run movies. Maybe I should be keeping this a secret? Oh. and they have a Miss Pacman machine.
