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Toronto Underground Cinema
Category: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Cinema [Edit]
186 Spadina AveToronto, ON M5T
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Downtown Core
(647) 992-4335
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Toronto Underground Cinema
12 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
2/26/2012
I feel like this is one of Toronto's underground secrets (pun totally intended).
VIBE
You can enter off of Spadina and walk down this hallway to get there. Usually there's a sandwich board outside advertising the cinema, I think.
It's very old school. You have the ticket collector in a very small circular encased booth. And then you go downstairs
THE GOODS
Popcorn for less than three dollars? Um, yes!
Pop is similar pricing.
And the theatre is HUGE. The seating is quite comfortable.
As for movies, I've only been here during festivals and the TO Indie Fest was one of them (explained below).
*Bonus: Cool festivals like the TO Indie Festival that my journalism professor Steve runs concurrent to TIFF every year. It's getting much bigger and he puts a lot of work into finding really cool indie films that people will enjoy (that is, if you like off-the-radar movies).
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
It's not just the subway where you find Toronto's hidden gems. Cue Symbols.Listed in: Non-Food 30 Day Challenge, Entertainment District
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Review from Vivek S.
9/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Underground Cinema is rad. You'll find it just north of Queen on the west side of Spadina avenue. A sidewalk sandwich board will usually point you at the entrance, and then just follow that long corridor all the way back, and down the stairs to your right. You will descend into old-school rep movie theatre goodness. The posters on the wall are from long-defunct flicks or ones you've never heard of. There is a modest concession stand that serves popcorn and candy, and on certain nights, alcohol too.
I've been here for a couple of non-movie events and both times the atmosphere was fun and electric. I was suprised that the venue is so well-suited for live acts. The sound was pretty good, and they have a decent lighting setup. A comedy show I saw here was enjoyable, save for the stultifying heat and the sound of glass bottles rolling toward the stage all night. Plastic cups next time?
Another event I checked out was a live shadowcast of Batman Returns. This is where a troupe of (somewhat burl-esque) actors mimics an entire movie as it plays behind them on screen. I would have to describe the show as _interesting_ but it definitely speaks to the creativity of this theatre that this the kind of programming you find here on a Saturday night. The staff and patrons alike are people who really, really love movies and it shows.
The Toronto Underground isn't the prettiest girl at the prom, but she will be the only one there wearing sneakers and will take hearty swigs out of a flask with you behind the gym. A keeper.
Obligatory Title Pun: Repent here all ye CINE-ners.
Menu Readability: There is virtually no signage. This is kind of a problem.
Need to mention: Tickets are cheap! Like 80s cheap. $8-10 most nights.
What this place teaches me about myself: Don't she's going to go home with you because she has a sleeve tattoo. It doesn't matter how much you paid for that limo.Listed in: Chinatown
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Review from Kent P.
Updated - 7/10/2011
Interesting spot for a special event. Went to see some stand-up comedy - place was oversold by 40 or 50 (They were trying to pack 750 people in there) so it got mighty hot mighty fast. It had to be over 30 degrees in there...which isn't a good feeling for a basement (or a movie theatre).
They a really impressive drink special. 3 Amsterdam for 10$. Wow. Only problem is that the entire show glass bottles were rolling down the theatre under the seats. Totally annoying. #planningfail1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/30/2010
Creepy entrance off Spadina in some half deserted Chinese mall. The place is pretty bare-bones in… Read more »
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Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2010 8 Check-ins Here
This is truly a rep cinema run by movie lovers - you feel a little bit like you've gotten together with friends in your living room to watch the movies you love, just on a bigger scale with somewhat neater seating. (Although because of the gentle, sloping nature of the seating arrangement your view can sometimes be obscured by big heads.)
I think the thing I like most about the Underground is that while it does run some recent release stuff, they mix their schedule up really well with themed programs, special one-off screenings and fun events (Q&As and the like). This is not somewhere you can assume what you'll be getting - it's somewhere you can be surprised by and somewhere that provides fun and often nostalgia.
The small snack bar offers pop, candy & popcorn - a small, but reasonable selection of snacks. Prices include tax (woo!), as do the ticket prices on the door.
There is nothing gleaming or slick about this - it's homey and friendly and that's just how it should be. There's no points card system here - the only points you'll get are self-furnished happy points for making the decision to visit the Underground. Keep an eye on their Facebook and Twitter to keep up with what is going down underground!Listed in: Moving Pictures - Toronto…
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Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2011
I can't believe I haven't posted about how much I love this place and have been recommending it personally to family, friends, strangers and whatnot all YEAR. Of the many shows I've attended, I've had the opportunity to be in attendance to such nights as Batman The Movie with the amazing Adam West, witness to a whole room roiling with laughter for Porkys, groaned into submission during the Star Wars Christmas Special and so much more.
Nuts and bolts, it IS an accessible cinema, but you have to take a back elevator to do so, just be sure to speak with the dudes beforehand. For an older cinema, the seats are actually not bad, the floor is really well leveled which is awesome for shorty-pants like me to whom the Varsity Cinema 8 is a 7th level of hell.
The programming and the real friendly vibe is the best part of this cinema. Run by film-lovers (who aren't snobs) who are also just awesome people with great taste. Private rentals are also really affordable here and I'm more and more tempted to run my own private screening of something someday soon!
5 Stars Pending COFFEE. -
Review from Chad M.
11/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
If you're looking for the AMC experience, this is not the place.
I'm down with the movies and popcorn (OMG have you tried the popcorn?) here and want to support places like this. Who else is going to show a double feature of Ghost Busters and GB2?
I think they could certainly dress it up a bit, however the quality of programming makes up for this. A sore back and a sticky floor are a very small price to pay for nerd-dom. -
Review from R. M.
Scarborough, ON
10/30/2011
Went for a pre-Halloween showing of Evil Dead II - fun!! I'm not a raving Sam Raimi fan, I don't usually do horror, but what else could be better suited to Halloween?? Nothin'! And where else can you see a guy do a 'boo-lesque' impression of Bruce Cambell chopping off his (ahem!) hand in his tighty-whities?? Nowhere! Would we go back? Hellz yeah! We'd go back again for sure.
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Review from jenna m.
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Toronto Underground Cinema is a wonderful Repertory theatre. Located at Queen and Spadina this movie house screens some classic films. Prices are totally reasonable and they now offer movie packages so that you may view a film for $5/show. The cinema pays homage to old school theatres, without any flashy jumbo-tron i-max screens or fancy decor. This allows the movie to make its own statement without relying on modern day gimmicks. They have an unassuming concession stand with decent priced snacks. They often have fun theme nights and entertainment. Toronto Undergound inspires all demographics to join together in the community and share a fantastic movie experience. Please continue to support Rep cinemas and go out and catch a classic film!
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Review from Eric M.
5/15/2010 2 photos
The old Golden Harvest cinema was a place where you could watch several movies for several dollars. When I first started going there the only things on display were films from Hong Kong. Kung Fu Fridays were an amazing introduction to the world of not only action films, but martial arts.
Toronto Underground Cinema has now taken over the old Golden Harvest space and I was glad to see they kept the original sign in the lobby. Whether or not this was because they liked and wanted to keep it, or just haven't gotten around to renovating I can't say, but I hope they keep it.
The theatre seats about seven hundred and has a good sized screen. The sound system is still capable of shaking your chair with bass although the films we watched were mysteriously more quiet after each new reel was spooled. It started feeling like a real theatre and not just my imagination when I noticed the amount of garbage the jerks from the first movie left. The staff were quick to get in there and clean it up and the place was spotless again in no time.
The concession stand is tiny but since there's only one theatre it's not really a problem. Their prices are slightly cheaper than the average place and even though the popcorn was a little stale, it was just really nice to be in that space again.
Overall the staff were great and were all really happy and proud to have pulled this thing together. Everyone was smiling and wanted to help which made things inviting and friendly right off the bat.
The only reason I didn't make this a five star was because of the audience. It might be petty, I don't know, but that's part of the whole movie experience for me. An audience can really ruin a film night out for me.
This place had a pretty even split of hipster ass wipes and folks that never grew out of that "high school drama student" persona. That makes for an odd viewing experience when half the audience is so ignorant and stupid that hearing people speak in Chinese is fall out of your chair funny and the other half are quoting the film line for line. Since most of the word of mouth was coming from facebook, I'm hoping a more diverse group of people check this place out next time because it really is an amazing hidden gem.
Seeing as how the audience isn't the fault of the theatre itself, there's really no reason not to want to check this place out. Their line up of films looks like an amazing one. They're planning on having contests and Jim Henson film marathons and all kinds of crazy stuff so go support them and go often. -
Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is quite possibly my favourite movie theatre in town. What's not to love in a theatre founded and managed by grassroots film buffs who are NOT of the snotty "I'll only play european black-and-white movies" kind?
While the theatre itself is clearly not packed with the latest and greatest equipment, the programming makes you ignore this as if it were a minor detail. Where else would you catch a double bill with "Clue" and "Big Trouble in Little China"?
If you want IMAX, go to the ScotiaBank, but don't complain when your options are reduced to Twilight, Avatar and Transformers 2. -
Review from Sylvain T.
Bolton, ON
Like a classic theatre. Only been once and while it was uncomfortably warm (packed house) it was a pleasant experience. Popcorn, parking, clean bathrooms, & special events. Nice if you want a break from the souless corporate cinemas.
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Review from Neville R.
Toronto, ON
6/17/2010
This theater is the bomb, and I will be going back soon.
I went on the free opening day to see Big Trouble In Little China, and I was impressed with the crowd, a well-balanced mix of people who loved the film (like I did) and those who'd not seen it before. Every time something happened, the crowd cheered-I think the atmosphere of the theater helped somewhat.
I shall be going again one night, and I may even get a membership-I recommend that most people do the same.
