Movies: Family-Friendly Theatres and Screenings
How to find out what’s playing
How to find family-friendly movie reviews
Movies for Mommies
Toons for Toddlers
Stars and Strollers
Guzzo Cinemas
Dollar Cinema
IMAX Movies
Montreal International Children’s Film Festival
National Film Board workshops for children
What Movies are Playing Where:
If you want to take the kids to the movies, the best site for finding out what’s playing and where is www.cinemamontreal.com.
Is the Movie Age Appropriate?
Wondering if the film you want to see will give your child nightmares? Or not-so-great ideas? Here’s a list of sites that critique movies from parents’ points of view:
This is a great escape for new moms and dads. The movies are screened at a lower-than-normal volume, and there are changing tables with wipes right in the theatre, as well as bottle warmers on tables outside. Newborns are likely to fall asleep in the darkened theatre. You can feel comfortable breastfeeding, or standing up and walking around with your child while the movie is playing. There are often babies crying during the screening so it may be a bit hard to hear at times. Movies for Mommies are ideal for when babies are 0 to 8 months old. When babies become more mobile and aware of their surroundings, it’s more difficult to keep them in their seats and less likely that they’ll sleep in the theatre. Some Movies for Mommies screenings are bilingual (one theatre shows French, one English), some are French only. Since the movies themselves are targeted at adults — not babies or children — bringing older siblings isn’t a great idea.
These screenings are usually held in the afternoons at the following locations (but check website or call to confirm times before going!):
Cinéma Fortune Angrignon (view map): Tues. after 12:30 p.m.
Cinéma Fortune Cavendish (view map): Tues. 1 p.m.
Cinéma Fortune Côte des Neiges (view map): Fri. after 12:30 p.m.
StarCité Hull: Thurs. afternoons, time varies weekly
Cinéma Beloeil: Wed. afternoons, time varies weekly
Cinéma Ste. Hyacinthe (view map): Wed. afternoons, time varies weekly
Cinéma St. Eustache (view map): Wed. afternoon
Cost: Varies depending on cinema, but is typically around $7 to 10 per adult, free for baby.
Email: montreal@moviesformommies.com to get on the mailing list
Telephone: 514-846-0807
Website: http://www.moviesformommies.com/MFM_en/LocationsQC.html
I Spy Montreal comment: The first time that I went to a Movie for Mommies was absolute HEAVEN! My baby slept, and I got to be out of the house and participate in the grownup world (saw the movie “Closer” with Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law and Nathalie Portman). It was a great feeling. As my baby got older, it became more difficult, and by around 6/7 months, it was too tough to keep him occupied. I definitely recommend that new parents take advantage of this service before their babies get too big!
Toons for Toddlers
Launched in 2009 by the founders of Movies for Mommies, Toons for Toddlers aims to make movies accessible to children age two to five. The films shown last no longer than 60 minutes, the sound isn’t as loud as it is for adult features, and the lighting is only partially dimmed. Toons for Toddlers is held once a month on Saturdays at Cinéma Fortune Angrignon (view map) and Sunday at the Cinéma Fortune Cavendish (view map).
Cost: $5 per person (whether child or adult)
Website: www.toonsfortoddlers.com
Stars and Strollers
Similar to Movies for Mommies, these screenings are designed to accommodate parents with babies. Participating cinemas offer the shows with a $2 discount, lowered sound, dimmed lighting and stroller parking. The screenings are held at the following Montreal cinemas (times are subject to change; call ahead to confirm):
Scotiabank StarCité Montreal (view map): Thursdays at 1 p.m.
Colisée Kirkland (view map): Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Colisée Laval (view map): Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Cineplex Brossard (view map): Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Cineplex Boucherville (view map): Thursday at 1 p.m.
Guzzo Cinemas
These movie theatres tend to be very family-friendly in atmosphere, and often show weekend films at 10 a.m. – great for families who’ve been up and at ‘em since 6 a.m.! At the Taschereau location in Brossard, there is a carousel, bumper cars, and an arcade area. Yes, you pay a few bucks extra to use the equipment, but it’s a nice bonus for kids.
The following Guzzo locations are particularly family-friendly:
Taschereau: 3572 Taschereau Blvd., Greenfield Park (view map)
Megaplex Marché Central
901 Crémazie Blvd. W., (view map)
Megaplex Jacques Cartier 16
1401 Chambly Rd., Longueuil (view map)
This one has crawling tunnels for kids under 5.
Dollar Cinema (view map)
This movie theatre, located in Décarie Square shopping centre, is an independent operation founded on the belief that going to movies shouldn’t have to be expensive. Movie tickets are $2, snacks are $1, so a family of four can see a movie for less than $10. The cinema shows older movies (when they are released on DVD, for example), as well as some Hollywood classics and children’s movies. The theatres are full-size, have air conditioning and DTS sound. (view map)
Address: Décarie Square mall, 6900 Décarie Blvd., cross street Vézina.
Telephone: 514-739-0536
Website: http://www.dollarcinema.ca/
IMAX movies
IMAX movies are shown on panoramic screens and often shown in 3-D. Kids will get a kick out of wearing funky glasses, and may delight in having animals jump out of the screen at them, or seeing amazing panoramic views of nature scenes. Or not! Depending on their age, this may be way too scary – it’s up to parents to decide. There are IMAX screens at the Montreal Science Centre, which shows nature/environment-themed films and some animated children’s films in 3-D (Fly Me to the Moon, for example). Screenings last about 40 minutes, and are mostly in French, with some in English. The website below provides descriptions and trailers of featured IMAX films, but no information about age-appropriateness. There’s also an IMAX at the ScotiaBank Cinema downtown, which shows feature-length versions of commercial movies, including children’s animated films.
Montreal Science Centre
Address: King Edward Pier, off de la Commune St. in Old Montreal (view map)
Metro Place d’Armes
Cost: Adults, $12, Teens 13 to 17, $11, age 4 to 12, $9, under four, free. Family rate (two adults, two children or one adult and three children): $38.
Website: www.imaxoldport.com. Check website for schedule.
Telephone: 514-496-4629
Scotiabank Cinema
977 Ste. Catherine St. W., corner Metcalfe Ave. (view map)
Telephone: 514-842-5828
Cost: Adults $14.95, $12.95 children under 12, Tuesdays $7.95
Montreal International Children’s Film Festival
Held in late February/early March, this annual festival shows the best in children’s movies from around the world. Films come from as far as Sri Lanka, China, Mexico, Sweden, and Japan – a great opportunity for kids to learn about kids in other countries. In terms of age, some films are appropriate for children as young as two, others for children aged 12 and up. French translation is provided for all films, although some are shown in the original English.
Telephone: 514-967-8893
Website: www.fifem.com
National Film Board
The NFB offers workshops for kids age 7 and up every Sunday at 1 p.m. Participants work together to produce a film in two and a half hours. Each week, there’s a different focus; topics range from drawing and pixelation to clay animation to animation of recycled objects.
Tip: Reserve in advance
Time: Sundays at 1 p.m.
Address: 1564 St. Denis St.
Cost: Children, $5, Adults, $7.
Telephone: 514-496-6887
