A theatre in Vaughan is the only one in Canada screening southern gothic thriller Sinners in a special IMAX setting, making it one of just ten cinemas in the world offering the film in this rare format.
The thriller was filmed for 70mm IMAX capability and Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan is one of a few theatres that has the advanced technology.
The 19-screen theatre, located just off Highway 7, has become a destination for cinema lovers eager to experience Sinners the way it was meant to be projected.
From the director behind blockbusters Black Panther and Creed, Ryan Coogler’s latest film reimagines horror through a southern mythic drama. Starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, the film is set in the 1930s and follows twin brothers attempting to outrun their past, only to find that something far more sinister awaits them.
Cineplex says eager movie fans have been flocking to the Vaughan location to see the highly-anticipated movie.
“Our Vaughan location has been busy with guests excited to see Sinners in this exclusive format, often travelling a greater distance than they usually would,” Cineplex said in a statement to Now Toronto.
The thriller, shot on IMAX cameras and praised for its bold visual storytelling, is the latest film to receive the large-format treatment following Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two, Cineplex said.
While Cineplex has a few other 70mm-capable theatres across the country, including in Mississauga, Calgary, Edmonton and Langley, the decision to screen Sinners at Cineplex Vaughan was made by the movie’s studio.
Though the film is showing in standard formats nationwide, 70mm IMAX offers a dramatically different viewing experience. According to Cineplex, the screenings are facilitated by IMAX-trained experts stationed at the theatre to ensure a flawless projection.
The film has sparked a wave of online reactions, with audiences taking to social media to weigh in.
“I left Sinners loving movies more than I did when I walked in. That’s special,” a user on X said.
“My favourite movie of the year. It was really intense and fun, but also beautiful. The cinematography and the makeup are some other points of the movie that I really enjoyed. I’ll go and watch this movie at least three more times,” a user on Reddit commented.
“Sinners was so soulful and moving. I don’t think it was a scary movie because they were vampires, I think it was a scary movie because of what the vampires represented and the story parallels to what we’re experiencing today,” a user on Threads said.
“All I want to talk about right now is Sinners. This has easily become one of my favourite movies of all time. The film was beautiful, artistic, poetic, and educational. Wow. Just wow,” another user said.
Despite the growing buzz around large format cinema, Cineplex said it has no plans to expand its IMAX 70mm footprint, given the limited-number of releases using the format.
Instead, the company is investing in a broader upgrade to its premium offerings.
“We can see guests are choosing premium formats to experience films on the big screen in new and dynamic ways, with 41.6% of last year’s box office coming from premium formats,” Cineplex said.
“We will continue to invest in premium large formats in our theatres and in projection technology upgrades, including our multi-year rollout agreement with Barco to install 800 laser projectors in our auditoriums across the country.”
