TOKYO GODFATHERS, the acclaimed holiday classic from master director Satoshi Kon (PAPRIKA, PERFECT BLUE), returns to theaters in a brand-new, 4K restoration.

In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people’s lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together.

Co-written by Keiko Nobumoto (COWBOY BEBOP) and featuring a whimsical score by Keiichi Suzuki, TOKYO GODFATHERS is a masterpiece by turns heartfelt, hilarious and highly original, a tale of hope and redemption in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

"Takes anime to a whole new level." (Variety)

“A beautiful, hilarious movie and one that cemented Kon Satoshi as a visionary and narrative master.” (Nerdist)

Monday, December 22
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TOKYO GODFATHERS (Satoshi Kon, 2003 / 92 mins / 18A / Japanese w/EST) Middle-aged alcoholic Gin, teenage runaway Miyuki and former drag queen Hana are a trio of homeless people surviving as a makeshift family on the streets of Tokyo. While rummaging in the trash for food on Christmas Eve, they stumble upon an abandoned newborn baby in a trash bin. With only a handful of clues to the baby's identity, the three misfits search the streets of Tokyo for help in returning the baby to its parents.

The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Other Muppets --Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Sam the Eagle -- weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases -- past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.

"There may be some people who can watch Kermit the Frog's nephew Robin give his heart-wrenching performance as Tiny Tim in The Muppet Christmas Carol without choking up. I am not among them." (The Guardian)

"Michael Caine is perfect and there are many genuine belly laughs." (Empire Magazine)

Tuesday, December 24
Doors 12:30 pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.

Kids Pricing In Effect! Kids under 10 just $8!

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (Brian Henson, 1992 / G / 85 mins) A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future.

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

For many people, the magic of the holiday season does not hit until (and perhaps unless) the nostalgic and utterly hilarious cinematic chestnut about a boy in the 1940s whose only real desire is to have Santa Claus gift him an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle screens on their TV. This year, Christmas is coming early because director Bob Clark's 1980s classic A CHRISTMAS STORY is getting some seasonal big screen love at the Rio Theatre on Tuesday, December 24. Naddafinga!

Tuesday, December 24
Doors 2:45 pm | Movie 3:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

A CHRISTMAS STORY (Bob Clark, 1983 / 94 mins / PG) | Based on the humorous writings of author Jean Shepherd, this beloved holiday movie follows the wintry exploits of youngster Ralphie Parker, who spends most of his time dodging a bully and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, a "Red Ryder air rifle." Frequently at odds with his cranky dad but comforted by his doting mother, Ralphie struggles to make it to Christmas Day with his glasses and his hopes intact.

"What is it you want, Mary? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”

Hot Dog! At this time of year, we get inundated with audience requests for the "holiday classic to define all holiday classics,"Frank Capra's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and are continuing our tradition of giving it the big viewing it so richly deserves.

For movie-lovers around the world, this bittersweet yet optimistic sentimental comedy drama is as essential a holiday tradition as chestnuts roasting on an open fire. And we couldn't agree more! Beyond its own charming warmth, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the most influential fantasy films ever made and one of the most universally adored example of old-school Hollywood. Come on out to dance by the light of the moon and get put under the magic spell (again!) of this transcendent cinematic masterpiece - with the newly restored, big-screen viewing it so richly deserves.

Jimmy Stewart gives one of his all-time best performances as George Bailey, a good man with a big heart. Though George is the guiding force behind the modest local building and loan company he inherited from his own generous father, he is eternally in debt himself, and has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. George has always longed to travel beyond his idyllic small town and see the world, but he never has, lest the local rich despot Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore, in a role that provided the DNA for The Simpsons' Mr. Burns) take over - all that prevents him from doing so is George and his company. But on Christmas Eve 1946, George's Uncle Billy loses the business' entire $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. When Mr. Potter finds the misplaced money, he hides it. In a pivotal moment of sheer desperation, George wishes he was never born, at which point a bumbling angel named Clarence (he needs to get his wings!) is sent from beyond to show him what his life would look like - without him in it. Also starring Donna Reed and Henry Travers.

"IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is about hunger. It's about greed. It's about the many ways a good man is stymied. Finally, it's about George Bailey, whose decency prevents him even from killing himself." (Salon)

"This is the all-time great, curl-up-on-the-sofa-with-a-cup-of-tea movie. Not only is it beautifully photographed, but it also contains enough emotional strength to hold your attention for all of its two-hour running time." (Total Film)

"IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a pretty wonderful movie." (TIME Magazine)

Tuesday, December 24
Doors 5:00 pm | Movie 5:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets on sale December 3 at 10 am

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Frank Capra, 1946 / 130 mins / G) After George Bailey wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to earth to make George's wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.

"Yippee ki yay, motherfudger!

Send your movie-loving' self into Christmas overdrive with what is - hands down - one of the absolute biggest, baddest motherfudging edge-of-your-seat big screen thrill rides ever, DIE HARD. In (arguably) his signature performance, Bruce Willis shines as a streetsmart (and mostly barefoot!) cop tasked with outsmarting a group of terrorists who have taken over a building in downtown LA. Also starring the late, great Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber!) and Bonnie Bedelia.

"Its many imitators (and sequels) have never come close to matching the taut thrills of the definitive holiday action classic." (Rotten Tomatoes)

"For all its moments of almost overwhelming cheese, DIE HARD is still the definitive action thriller." (Total Film)

Tuesday, December 24
Doors 8:00 pm | Movie 8:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

DIE HARD (John McTiernan, 1988 / 131 mins / 18A) New York City Detective John McClane has just arrived in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his wife. Unfortunately, it is not going to be a Merry Christmas for everyone. A group of terrorists, led by Hans Gruber, is holding everyone in the Nakatomi Plaza building hostage – including Mrs. McClane! With no way of anyone getting in or out, it’s up to the street-smart (and barefoot) McClane to stop them all and save the day.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Thursday, December 26
Doors 1:30 pm | Movie 2:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

A standout selection from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE is a dark fairy tale about one woman's search for tenderness and morality in a cruel world. Both eerie and exquisite, writer-director Magnus von Horn's latest film tracks young factory worker Karoline as she struggles to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen. When she ends up unemployed, abandoned and pregnant, the charismatic Dagmar takes her in to help run an underground adoption agency for unwanted children. The two women form an unexpected bond, until a sudden revelation changes everything.

Based on a chilling true story, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE presents a masterful gothic vision with profound contemporary resonance. Denmark's Best International Feature Film entry to the 97th Academy Awards, it is currently nominated for a Golden Globe Award (in the same category). Featuring gorgeous cinematography by EO's Michał Dymek and a spellbinding score by Frederikke Hoffmeier (Puce Mary). With Vic Carmen Sonne, Trine Dyrholm, Besir Zeciri.

"'The Girl With the Needle' is most intriguing when it lingers in its disturbing fictions, which come to life with exceptional style." (New York Times)

"A harrowing and eerie horror fairy tale from another time, even as it feels startlingly fresh and always unpredictable." (Los Angeles Times)

Thursday, December 26
Doors 3:45 pm | Movie 4:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE "Pigen med nålen" (Magnus von Horn, 2024 / 122 mins / In Danish w/EST) Struggling to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen, a newly unemployed and pregnant young woman is taken in by a charismatic elder to help run an underground adoption agency. The two form an unexpected bond, until a sudden discovery changes everything.

Two young missionary "sisters" are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant, in one of the most talked about performances of 2024), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. With Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East.

"There is no way to compete with the all-consuming and utterly mesmerizing performance of heartthrob-turned-unhinged-psychopath Hugh Grant ... He is charming in a grotesque way, like a blueberry pie mottled by maggots." (Seattle Refined)

"A complex debate on the legitimacy of religion that arrives framed in absolutely captivating staging." (Los Angeles Times)

"If 'Heretic' proves nothing else, it’s that creepy, evil Hugh Grant is the best Hugh Grant." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"Hugh Grant uses his charm for evil in this provocative cat-and-mouse game about the meaning, if any, of religion in a godless modern world. The romcom dreamboat of yore has been replaced by a diabolical presence eager to send us all to hell. What fun." (ABC News)

Thursday, December 26
Doors 6:30 pm | Movie 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

HERETIC (Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, 2024 / 111 mins / 14A) Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack. With Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler.

"'Glow' blends the real and the surreal in a neon-drenched nightmare that leaves a trail of thematic breadcrumbs for its audience." (USA Today)

"With all this talk of universal emotions and inherent hope, it is easy to lose track of the fact that I Saw the TV Glow is an unnerving and disarming genre film. It gets under the skin, and is a welcome disruption." (Rue Morgue)

Thursday, December 26
Doors 9:15 pm | Movie 9:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

I SAW THE TV GLOW (Jane Shoenbrun, 2024 / 100 mins / PG) Two teenagers bond over their love of a supernatural TV show, but it is mysteriously cancelled.

The Rio Theatre is thrilled to welcome beloved East Van staple Petunia & The Vipers to our stage for an album release concert in support of their new album, 'Calling Me Back,' on Friday, December 27.

Louis Armstrong was once asked what his favorite kind of music was, and his response was simple; "Good music." Petunia & The Vipers' sound may not sit comfortably in one certain genre, but "Good Music" describes it well.

Friday, December 27
With Special Guests!
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

General Admission $26.00+ s/c
Date Night (Pair of Tickets) $44.00+ s/c (Available online only)

Hank Williams on acid…
Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie's Hobo junction…
Avante-Country night club scene music…
One of the best bands in the world today, of any kind…
Hillbilly-flavoured-swing inflected-ragtime-goodtime-thunderously rolling-one-of-a-kind-you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-sort-of-a-show…
A new music that springboards off of music of the past and jumps into the present day, left with only echoes of the past…
Something in between 1920's and steam punk. It's good for your mind…

These are just a few of the words uttered by folks around the globe trying to pin down a description of all that is Petunia & The Vipers.

Connect on Instagram @petuniaandthevipers
Connect on Facebbook https://www.facebook.com/PetuniaTheVipers/

This event is brought to you by LIC Entertainment or in partnership with LIC Entertainment.

Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music. Created by an independent cinema owner for independent cinemas! Silents Synced will be available to book exclusively for independents and drive ins only! The first film will feature Radiohead’s “KID A (2000) / Amnesiac (2001),” paired with F. W. Murnau's NOSFERATU (1923).

NOSFERATU X RADIOHEAD is directed and remixed by Josh Frank.

Friday, December 27
Doors 11:00 pm | Movie 11:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Unleashed upon the world in 1922, German filmmaker F.W. Murnau's NOSFERATU is most certainly the most important horror film of the silent era, and one of the first vampire movies. The fact that it exists at all is something of a miracle, as it was almost completely lost when Bram Stoker's widow sued the filmmakers for copyright infringement, and most of the prints of the movie were subsequently destroyed.

NOSFERATU tells the story of Hutter and Ellen, a couple from the village of Wisborg. Hutter travels to Transylvania to sell a piece of property in Wisborg to Count Orlok. Hutter stays in Orlok’s castle only to learn that the Count is a vampire. Orlok purchases a house next to Hutter’s, locks Hutter in the castle and travels to Wisborg. On the way, he manages to possess Hutter’s employer and Ellen and strike the village with an outbreak of the plague. Hutter rushes home to stop him before it’s too late.

"The [Silents Synced] project is the brainchild of Josh Frank, who has written plays and books about music, as well as owning and programming independent movie theaters in Austin, Texas. “This is the culmination of everything I’ve been involved with creatively,” he says. “The theme here is what else can you do with your favorite music? It’s about the theatrics of putting on a show for people and using what I’m passionate about, which is music and experimenting with narrative.”

Frank, who equates the experience to him seeing the Pink Floyd Laser Light Show as a teen, loves the movies but is driven at least equally by his passion for music. “When I find the right album that pairs with the movie, something magical [happens] that creates a whole new context for the music and for the movie,” he says. “This music you’ve been listening to for 20 years, you suddenly have the same excitement the first time you heard it. When I put Radiohead up against ‘Nosferatu,’ there were many moments throughout where I got goosebumps.” (Los Angeles Times)

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Saturday, December 28
Doors 11:00 am | Movie 11:30 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

The light, the lives, and the textures of contemporary, working-class Mumbai are explored and celebrated by writer/director Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (the first Indian film to be selected for competition in 30 years!) for her revelatory fiction feature debut.

Centering on two roommates who also work together in a city hospital—head nurse Prabha and recent hire Anu —plus their coworker, cook Parvaty, Kapadia’s film alights on moments of connection and heartache, hope and disappointment. Prabha, her husband from an arranged marriage living in faraway Germany, is courted by a doctor at her hospital; Anu carries on a romance with a Muslim man, which she must keep a secret from her strict Hindu family; Parvaty finds herself dealing with a sudden eviction from her apartment. Kapadia captures the bustle of the metropolis and the open-air tranquility of a seaside village with equal radiance, articulated by her superb actresses and by the camera with a lyrical naturalism that occasionally drifts into dreamlike incandescence. ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT is a soulful study of the transformative power of friendship and sisterhood, in all its complexities and richness. With Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam.

A bona fide audience and critical hit at major festivals around the world, and ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT has elevated its director, Payal Kapadia, from documentary-maker to celebrated auteur.

"There are a million stories in the naked city, and Kapadia is about to show you three of them in the most delicate, moving way possible. She’s also about to mount a quiet, sneak attack on your soul." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"A miraculously subtle piece of work... Its writer and director, Payal Kapadia, was born in Mumbai and that’s where she sets her first drama — not the bustling battlefields of 'Slumdog Millionaire' or 'Monkey Man,' but a rainy city marked by the anonymity of crowds and small spaces... It’s as if the director herself has run into an existential choice: to show women in the fullness of their complications, frustrated and abandoned? Or to give them an escape? Fittingly, for a filmmaker who already seems major, her answer is simple. We need both." (Los Angeles Times)

Sunday, December 22
Doors 1:15 pm | Movie 1:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (Payal Kapadia, 2024 / 118 mins / PG / Hindi with English subtitles) In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest.

Two young missionary "sisters" are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant, in one of the most talked about performances of 2024), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. With Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East.

"There is no way to compete with the all-consuming and utterly mesmerizing performance of heartthrob-turned-unhinged-psychopath Hugh Grant ... He is charming in a grotesque way, like a blueberry pie mottled by maggots." (Seattle Refined)

"Hugh Grant uses his charm for evil in this provocative cat-and-mouse game about the meaning, if any, of religion in a godless modern world. The romcom dreamboat of yore has been replaced by a diabolical presence eager to send us all to hell. What fun." (ABC News)

Saturday, December 28
Doors 4:30 pm | Movie 5:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

HERETIC (Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, 2024 / 111 mins / 14A) Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

A standout selection from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE is a dark fairy tale about one woman's search for tenderness and morality in a cruel world. Both eerie and exquisite, writer-director Magnus von Horn's latest film tracks young factory worker Karoline as she struggles to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen. When she ends up unemployed, abandoned and pregnant, the charismatic Dagmar takes her in to help run an underground adoption agency for unwanted children. The two women form an unexpected bond, until a sudden revelation changes everything.

Based on a chilling true story, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE presents a masterful gothic vision with profound contemporary resonance. Denmark's Best International Feature Film entry to the 97th Academy Awards, it is currently nominated for a Golden Globe Award (in the same category). Featuring gorgeous cinematography by EO's Michał Dymek and a spellbinding score by Frederikke Hoffmeier (Puce Mary). With Vic Carmen Sonne, Trine Dyrholm, Besir Zeciri.

"'The Girl With the Needle' is most intriguing when it lingers in its disturbing fictions, which come to life with exceptional style." (New York Times)

"A harrowing and eerie horror fairy tale from another time, even as it feels startlingly fresh and always unpredictable." (Los Angeles Times)

Saturday, December 28
Doors 7:15 pm | Movie 7:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE "Pigen med nålen" (Magnus von Horn, 2024 / 122 mins / In Danish w/EST) Struggling to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen, a newly unemployed and pregnant young woman is taken in by a charismatic elder to help run an underground adoption agency. The two form an unexpected bond, until a sudden discovery changes everything.

"Wendy, I'm home!"

Join us at the Rio Theatre dim the lights and get scared with some classic winter terror, courtesy of Stanley Kubrick's cinematic masterpiece, THE SHiNiNG.

Based on Stephen King's 1977 novel "The Shining," Stanley Kubrick's film is widely regarded as a work of true cinematic genius (although King himself, famously, does not).  Jack Nicholson and the late, great Shelley Duvall star as a husband and wife (Jack and Wendy Torrance) who ditch the city for a gig as winter caretakers at an isolated hotel. While Jack hopes to get his creative juices flowing so that he can write a book, the family (which also includes their young son Danny) instead encounters an eerie and foreboding spiritual presence. Commence cinema's most nightmarishly creepy twins, a mesmerizing carpet, the memorable view from Room 237, a messy elevator, REDRUM, psychic visions, a Big Wheel that keeps on turnin', and a chaotic descent into a spiraling maze of violence. Also starring Danny Lloyd and Scatman Crothers.

Of note: This particular edition of THE SHiNiNG was remastered in 2019 for the film's 40th Anniversary, using a new 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging. The color grading was done by Janet Wilson with supervision from Kubrick’s former personal assistant, Leon Vitali.

"The Gothic heroine, the woman trapped in the menacing haunted home, must exhibit courage in the face of danger, remaining resolute while also being susceptible to the evil that lurks around every corner. Without that tension, we wouldn’t be kept in suspense. In the film, Duvall is waifish, eyes wide, hair flat and scraggly, and it’s hard not to believe she’s going to die. Her only objective is to save her son, Danny, from his father, who — we learn early on — previously broke Danny’s arm in an alcoholic rage. This evil she is fighting is malevolent and abusive and real, a threat she has seen in action before, only now it carries an ax.

But plenty able to scream. Speaking with the critic Roger Ebert in 1980, Duvall revealed nuanced feelings about the shoot, likening the experience to primal scream therapy. “In my character I had to cry 12 hours a day, all day long, the last nine months straight, five or six days a week,” she explained. But “I went home very contented,” she added. “It had a very calming effect. During the day I would have been absolutely miserable.” (New York Times)

Saturday, December 28
Doors 9:30 pm | Movie 10:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.

THE SHINING (Stanley Kubrick, 1980 / 144 mins / 14A) Jack Torrance becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by psychic premonitions. As Jack's writing goes nowhere and Danny's visions become more disturbing, Jack discovers the hotel's dark secrets and begins to unravel into a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorizing his family.

In a small coastal town, where the lives of the residents revolve around the sea, the livelihood of a poor man's family is entirely dependent on fishing. However, their peaceful existence is shattered when a dark shadow of evil, driven by greed and malice, threatens the life of his family. Who shall rise to vanquish the forces of inequity and safeguard the unwavering flame of faith? Starring: Arjun Kapikad, Sushmitha Bhat, Gopinath Bhat, Manasi Sudhir, Jyothish Shetty, Vijay Shobharaj Pavoor and Shlagha Saligrama.

Kaljiga is an exciting story that takes place after the shadow of adharma falls on the path of religion. Written & Directed by Suman Suvarna. The film has music-lyrics by Hamsalekha, cinematography by Sachin Shetty, background music by Prasad K Shetty and editing by Yashwin K Shettigar. Sanil Guru of Kantara fame acted as the creative head.

Canada release by Hejjenu Media

Sunday, December 29
Door: 12:15 pm | Film: 12:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time. 

General Admission $15+ s/c
Youth & Seniors $10+ s/c
Kids 5 and under get in FREE!

Please note this film screens in KANNADA with English subtitles. There will be NO intermission with this screening. Please do not bring confetti or torn up newspaper to the theatre.

KALJIGA (Suman Savarna | 2024 | 114 mins | Kannada w. EST) In a small coastal town, where the lives of the residents revolve around the sea, the livelihood of a poor man's family is entirely dependent on fishing. However, their peaceful existence is shattered when a dark shadow of evil, driven by greed and malice, threatens the life of his family.

Nuns, lonely goat herds, Christopher Plummer, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are just a few of the things that makes Robert Wise's classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC one of our favourite things!

Join us at the Rio Theatre for an all-ages-welcome showing of one of the most hand-down beloved big-screen musicals of all time - just in time for the holidays. Feel free to come dressed in your favourite lederhosen and get ready to sing, laugh, and be filled up on good cheer.

Based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that was inspired by the true story of the Trapp Family Singers, who fled Austria amid growing concerns over Nazi rule, THE SOUND OF MUSIC stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a young "problematic" nun (who needs solving) in a convent who regularly misses her morning prayers because she'd rather head into going to the lively hills to sing. Mother Superior feels that Maria needs to learn something more about the real world before she can take her vows, and sends her off to be the new governess to the many children of the widowed Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). When Maria arrives at their home, she discovers the Captain to be a cold, aloof, and rather stern disciplinarian. When Father is around, the children are quick to fall in line, but left to their own devices are far more rambunctious and Maria has to come up with creative ways to earn their respect. The children soon become entranced with the playful and sweet governess, whose style is completely at odds with that of their father. As the natural tension between Maria and the Captain blossoms into a palpable chemistry, complicated by the fact that the he is already engaged...

Sunday, December 29
Doors 3:00 pm | Movie 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Robert Wise, 1965 / 174 mins / G) A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.

"I'll have what she's having."

In the pantheon of romantic comedies, is there any more universally beloved (not to mention hilarious, sweet, infinitely quotable, sincere, and completely relatable) than director Rob Reiner's landmark classic WHEN HARRY MET SALLY

The characters of Harry and Sally were heavily influenced by the real-life dating and relationship experiences of both Reiner and the late, great writer Nora Ephron (who received an Oscar nod for this screenplay). The onscreen chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan is one for the ages in career-defining performances as a couple whose friendship morphs over the course of two decades before arriving at the inevitable romantic hurdle that forms the crux of the film: "Can two people sleep together and still be friends?" Rounding out the cast are Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher as Harry and Sally's respective best friends.

"Ephron's tart, grown-up script examines the inevitably of love finding a way despite the fight put up by this famous pair of snappy New Yorkers." (Empire Magazine)

"What knocks it out of the park is the combination of Ephron's insights and Reiner's matchless comic chops." (Total Film)

Sunday, December 29*Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (Rob Reiner, 1989 / 96 mins / PG) In 1977, college graduates Harry Burns and Sally Albright share a contentious car ride from Chicago to New York, during which they argue about whether men and women can ever truly be strictly platonic friends. Ten years later, Harry and Sally meet again at a bookstore, and in the company of their respective best friends, Jess and Marie , attempt to stay friends without sex becoming an issue between them.

From British director Rose Glass (whose 2019 feature film debut, the psychological horror thriller SAINT MAUD, was criminally underseen) comes an electric new love story, LOVE LIES BLEEDING. The film follows reclusive gym manager Lou, who falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou's criminal family. With Kristen Stewart, Ed Harris, Katy O'Brien, Dave Franco, Jena Malone.

"The point really isn’t the crime. Or the bleeding, Or even, despite the palpable chemistry between Stewart and O’Brian, the love. It’s the intimate, passionately intense feel of the thing: the urgent need to escape where you are, and find someplace new." (Time Out)

"... Puts a sapphic spin on neo-noir, flirting with clichés only to dodge away towards something more outrageous." (Gay City News)

Sunday, December 29
Doors 9:15 pm | Movie 9:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING (Rose Glass | 2024 | 104 mins | 18A) Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Monday, December 30
Doors 3:45 pm | Movie 4:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

More than four decades after AMERICAN GIGOLO, writer-director Paul Schrader and actor Richard Gere are back together in OH, CANADA.

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it's too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm, charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi, SALTBURN) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard's insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma, hears it all. Leonard's successes are held up against his failings--the fibs held up against the facts--and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left. With Michael Imperioli, Jacob Elordi, Uma Thurman.

“A fascinating match of director and actor, in which both seem to be trying to exorcize the demons of aging through art.” (The Daily Beast)

"“As the younger Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi exudes the kind of easygoing, cocky confidence that made the Pretty Woman star a bonafide sex symbol." (The Playlist)

"Richard Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind." (Chicago Tribune)

"Paul Schrader’s approach to this material — it’s his second movie based on a novel by Banks, the first being “Affliction” (1998) — is fascinating; a filmmaker’s translation in every sense of the word." (New York Times)

""Takes on grand themes of memory, mortality, and artistic self-reckoning… to sincerely moving effect." (The New Yorker)

Monday, December 30
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

OH, CANADA (Paul Schrader, 2024 / NR / 91 mins) Leonard Fife, one of sixty thousand draft evaders and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam, shares all his secrets to de-mythologize his mythologized life.

In 1999, Tom Cruise and then real-life wife Nicole Kidman starred as a married couple exploring the possibilities of infidelity in master filmmaker Stanley Kubrick's erotically-charged, mysterious, psychological drama EYES WIDE SHUT. Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 psychosexual novella 'Dream Story,' the film was famously shrouded in secrecy and took 12 years to make; sadly, tragically, Kubrick would die of a heart attack six days after delivering the final cut of the film.

Set in the upscale world of the Manhattan elite, Cruise plays Manhattan Dr. Bill Hartford, whoe wife, Alice (Kidman), admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met. In response, Bill becomes obsessed with having a sexual encounter of his own, discovering a clandestine, underground sexual group. When he attends one of their meetings, he quickly discovers that he is in over his head. Also starring Sydney Pollack, Leelee Sobieski, Thomas Gibson.

"A must-see for Kubrick acolytes." (Empire Magazine)

"This is finally a film that is better at mood than substance, that has its strongest hold on you when it's making the least amount of sense." (Los Angeles Times)

"'Eyes Wide Shut' has gotten better with age. It was, in Nietzsche's word, untimely; its first audiences failed to understand it, while its real contemporaries had to bide their time." (Screen Slate)

"Of all Stanley Kubrick’s films, his swansong remains the most divisive." (BFI.org)

Monday, December 30
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 8:45 pm * Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

EYES WIDE SHUT (Stanley Kubrick, 1999 / 159 mins / 18A) After Dr. Bill Hartford's wife, Alice, admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met, Bill becomes obsessed with having a sexual encounter. He discovers an underground sexual group and attends one of their meetings -- and quickly discovers that he is in over his head.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Tuesday, December 31
Doors 11:15 am | Movie 11:45 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Good-bye, 2024! Tickets for FLOW are $10 (adult) and $8 (kids under 13)

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?"

Join us on Tuesday, December 31 as we bid farewell to 2024 by venturing deep into the depths of the universe with Stanley Kubrick's monumentally epic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (beautifully remastered for its 50th Anniversary in 2018). Perhaps more than any other, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY inhabits a sort-of poetic, celluloid dreamscape that simultaneously captures and is inspired by humanity's desire to learn about and explore space, an infinite marvel one fictional Captain described so aptly as, "the final frontier."

Kubrick's masterpiece, a visionary, cold-war era sci-fi view into a future that has yet to be written - is just as evocative today as it was upon its release in 1968. Widely regarded as one of the most influential films ever made, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is a veritable cinematic Venn diagram with overlapping themes including human evolution, man's relationship to technology and the implications of artificial intelligence, as well as notions regarding life... beyond terra firma. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is, unquestionably, the Mother of All Space Movies - and a definite big screen must-see. Minors very welcome in the balcony!

"Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY' is some sort of great film, and an unforgettable endeavor. Technically and imaginatively, what he put into it is staggering." (The New Yorker)

Tuesday, December 31
Doors 1:30 pm | Movie 2:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.

Please note: This film screens with a brief intermission.

Say Good-bye to 2024! All tickets just $10.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (Stanley Kubrick, 1968 / 143 mins / G) | An imposing black structure provides a connection between the past and the future in this enigmatic adaptation of a short story by revered sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke. When Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and other astronauts are sent on a mysterious mission, their ship's computer system, HAL, begins to display increasingly strange behavior, leading up to a tense showdown between man and machine that results in a mind-bending trek through space and time.

Come spend New Years Eve with Vancouver's Funnest, longest running Variety Show! A night of comedy, music, dance and ridiculous fun. Stick around for a late night video dance party and the ball drop!

Tuesday, December 31
Doors 8:00 pm | Show 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird General Admission $30+ s/c (Until December 24)
Early Bird VIP $40+ s/c (Until December 24)
General Admission $35+ s/c
VIP $45+ s/c
VIP Tickets: Priority Seating, Commemorative VIP button, our deepest respect, party favours, the honour of being gently roasted, a greater chance of survival, and champagne!

- FUTURISTIC MUSICAL GENIUS: McRORIE!!
Featuring the return of this unique electronic one-man band McRORIE!! The guy even has a homemade exoskeleton that creates percussion when he moves! Part inventor, part entertainer…when he plays a cover of a song you like, you will hear it in a brand new way. We just couldn't imagine doing New Years Eve without him SO WE AREN'T. He even has some new covers to WOW you with. What a party!!

- MESMERIZING TWIN VIOLINISTS: AUDREY & ASHLYN!!
These twins are exceptionally talented with a deep passion for music. Both of them have achieved Grade 10 certification in piano and have reached an advanced level in violin, reflecting their dedication and love for music. They were honored to appear in a renowned Hollywood film! Their synchronized violin duet combines technical mastery and emotional expression, promising to bring a memorable and inspiring performance to the stage.

- ENTERTAINER: PARTY PAL!
Party Pal provides balloon-twisting, magic, science experiments, puppeteering and funny ukulele songs for children's (of any age) parties. We are all kids at heart, so let's party like we're all tiny!

3 more acts to be announcing soon...

We will be finding new ways to celebrate midnight in every time zone with video feeds to correspondents in Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and finally the big one, live in Vancouver with our version of the Time Square Ball Drop!

After the variety show there will be a Much Music style Video Dance Party with VJ’s Paul Anthony & Ryan Beil spinning fun danceable music videos on the big screen! The Sacred Shredder will be on hand to rid yourself of whatever you wish to leave in 2024. Plus various roaming entertainment, games to play and other activities. Come ring in the new year with us!

“There is no funner night out... you have to experience it." (The Georgia Straight)

"'Talent Time' is the most innovative, raucus, totally silly and inspired show I have seen in years. Watching it is like freebasing sheer fun!" (The Globe & Mail)

From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown's beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, "The Wild Robot." The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot--ROZZUM unit 7134, "Roz" for short--that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling. Acclaimed filmmaker Chris Sanders (THE LION KING, MULAN, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON), has crafted another gem that is currently nominated for a Best Animated Film at this year's Golden Globe Awards.

"Family audiences rejoice! The Oscar for Best Animated Film belongs right here in this enchanting tale of a robot, voiced by the amazing Lupita Nyong'o, who finds herself playing mother to a baby goose. The result is spectacular in every sense of the word." (ABC News)

"Lupita Nyong'o is doing fantastic voice work here. The whole cast is great" (Filmweek NPR)

Wednesday, January 1
Doors 12:30 pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Kids priving in effect! Kids under 13 are just $8!

THE WILD ROBOT (Chris Sanders, 2024 / PG / 108 mins) Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

The stages of life are told through multiple sketches and songs by the British comedy troupe. The seven parts of life cover birth, growing up, war, middle age, organ transplants, old age and death. Not all stages are singular: "Part I: The Miracle of Birth" is from the perspective of an ignored woman in labor, and of a Roman Catholic couple with too many children, and "Part VII: Death" encompasses a funeral and heaven. Added are three unrelated skits placed in the beginning, middle and end.

Join us on January 1, 2025 for our annual New Year's Day Hangover Movie Marathon (featuring titles including THE WILD ROBOT, MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE, BRAZIL, THE BIG LEBOWSKI), and see any two or more films for the low, low price of just $20.25 HERE!

Tuesday, January 1
Doors 3:00 pm | Movie 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

In the sci-fi, dystopian fantasy masterpiece BRAZIL, Jonathan Pryce plays a daydreaming every-man who finds himself caught in the soul-crushing gears of a nightmarish bureaucracy. This cautionary tale by Terry Gilliam, one of the great films of the 1980s, has come to be esteemed alongside antit-otalitarian works by the likes of George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. And in terms of set design, cinematography, music, and effects, BRAZIL is a nonstop dazzler. With Robert DeNiro, Kim Greist, Katharine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Jim Broadbent.

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry (Pryce) escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

"Gilliam's dystopian epic remains among his best, blending his trademark visual inventiveness with a vicious brand of social satire. Unique and essential." (Empire Magazine)

"It's like a stoned, slapstick 1984: a nightmare comedy in which the comedy is just an aspect of the nightmarishness." (The New Yorker)

"Terry Gilliam's ferociously creative black comedy is filled with wild tonal contrasts, swarming details, and unfettered visual invention -- every shot carries a charge of surprise and delight." (Chicago Reader)

Wednesday, January 1
Doors 5:30 pm | Movie 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BRAZIL (Terry Gilliam, 1985 / 132 min / 14A) A bureaucrat, in a retro-future world, tries to correct an administrative error and becomes an enemy of the state.

Join us at the Rio Theatre on January 1, 2025 for our annual New Year's Day Hangover Movie Marathon!

We've got the cure what ails you. Our "hair of the dog" includes, movies, movies, and yet more movies. So come on in and get comfy in the dark with us and our killer lineup of titles, including THE WILD ROBOT, MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE, BRAZIL, and our annual January 1 tradition - THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

This day pass gets you in to any two or more films for the low, low price of just $20.25!

THE WILD ROBOT
Doors 12:30 pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Monty Python's
THE MEANING OF LIFE
Doors 2:30 pm | Movie 3:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BRAZIL
Doors 5:30 pm | Movie 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI
Doors 8:30 pm | Movie 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

“That’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

In 1998, the Coen brothers delivered THE BIG LEBOWSKI into the movie universe, and we've all been collectively quoting it ever since.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI has really grown into its status as a true "cult classic." A quirky, quasi-neo-noir story, truly glorious visual sequences, some hilarious dialogue and standout performances from an A-list cast really tie the whole thing together, man. Jeff Bridges abides as unemployed stoner Jeff Lebowski (aka, "The Dude"), a laid-back, easygoing burnout who just happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife Bunny owes a lot of dangerous people (nihilists?) a whole bunch of money. When some bad guys break into The Dude's house and pee on his rug, he seeks out the other Lebowski, which sends him spiraling into a weird trip through Los Angeles' even weirder underworld. Also starring John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Tara Reid, and Flea.

This fan favourite is best enjoyed chillin' with friends (maybe in your pajamas, an old bathrobe, or a comfy Cowichan sweater - your call, we can abide with however you roll) and maybe an adult beverage (perhaps a delicious White Russian or two - you deserve it! And yes, they will be on special at the bar!)

"A typical Coen brothers film is like no film you've ever seen." (The Globe & Mail)

Wednesday, January 1
Doors 8:30 pm | Movie 9:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998 / 117 minutes / 14A) | Jeff `The Dude' Leboswki is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, who is The Big Lebowski. Which explains why he's roughed up and has his precious rug peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down his namesake, who offers him a job. His wife has been kidnapped and he needs a reliable bagman. Aided and hindered by his pals Walter Sobchak, a Vietnam vet, and Donny, master of stupidity.

Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook) is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her twin brother Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman named Pinky (Jacki Weaver), who is full of grit and lust for life.

From Academy Award-winning animation writer and director Adam Elliot, MEMOIR OF A SNAIL is a poignant, heartfelt, hilarious chronicle of the life of an outsider finding her confidence and silver linings amongst the clutter of everyday life.

"A grubby delight, a stop-motion charmer that feels like falling into a dumpster and discovering an orchid." (Washington Post)

"A unique experience, and therefore, the best kind of gut punch." (Exclaim!)

"Adam Elliot’s bittersweet tragicomedy Memoir of a Snail packs an unexpected emotional punch as one of the year’s greatest animated films, but also as one of the must-watch movies of 2024. Period." (ThatShelf)

"There’s a story here about being shoved into a shell and choosing to leave it behind, to find a new life beyond safety and fear. Even a snail, the movie eventually reminds us, can only move forward." (New York Times)

Thursday, January 2
Doors 3:30 pm | Movie 4:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MEMOIR OF A SNAIL (Adam Elliott, 2024 / 14A / 94 mins) A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel - a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs.

The light, the lives, and the textures of contemporary, working-class Mumbai are explored and celebrated by writer/director Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (the first Indian film to be selected for competition in 30 years!) for her revelatory fiction feature debut.

Centering on two roommates who also work together in a city hospital—head nurse Prabha and recent hire Anu —plus their coworker, cook Parvaty, Kapadia’s film alights on moments of connection and heartache, hope and disappointment. Prabha, her husband from an arranged marriage living in faraway Germany, is courted by a doctor at her hospital; Anu carries on a romance with a Muslim man, which she must keep a secret from her strict Hindu family; Parvaty finds herself dealing with a sudden eviction from her apartment. Kapadia captures the bustle of the metropolis and the open-air tranquility of a seaside village with equal radiance, articulated by her superb actresses and by the camera with a lyrical naturalism that occasionally drifts into dreamlike incandescence. ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT is a soulful study of the transformative power of friendship and sisterhood, in all its complexities and richness. With Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam.

A bona fide audience and critical hit at major festivals around the world, and ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT has elevated its director, Payal Kapadia, from documentary-maker to celebrated auteur.

"There are a million stories in the naked city, and Kapadia is about to show you three of them in the most delicate, moving way possible. She’s also about to mount a quiet, sneak attack on your soul." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"A miraculously subtle piece of work... Its writer and director, Payal Kapadia, was born in Mumbai and that’s where she sets her first drama — not the bustling battlefields of 'Slumdog Millionaire' or 'Monkey Man,' but a rainy city marked by the anonymity of crowds and small spaces... It’s as if the director herself has run into an existential choice: to show women in the fullness of their complications, frustrated and abandoned? Or to give them an escape? Fittingly, for a filmmaker who already seems major, her answer is simple. We need both." (Los Angeles Times)

Thursday, January 2
Doors 6:15 pm | Movie 6:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (Payal Kapadia, 2024 / 118 mins / PG / Hindi with English subtitles) In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest.

On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Year's Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when the terror of Y2K becomes a reality and all machines rise up against humanity. With Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, Daniel Zolghadri, Lachlan Watson.

"Charming and playful in a way that makes it an amusing watch; the kind that two dorky teenagers might’ve rented from a Blockbuster back in the ‘90s." (Collider)

"As ruthless as some of the deaths can be, and tongue-in-cheek as the movie’s heightened reality becomes, Y2K remains affectionate toward its characters; it has a surprising amount of warmth and sweetness." (Paste Magazine)

"... The carnage of consumer goods is nasty, gory and cruel, with a darkly comic mean streak that recalls Joe Dante’s “Gremlins.” (New York Times)

Thursday, January 2
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Y2K (Kyle Mooney, 2024 / 93 mins / 14A ) Two high school nobodies make the decision to crash the last major celebration before the new millennium on New Year's Eve 1999. The night becomes even crazier than they could have ever dreamed when the clock strikes midnight.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Friday, January 3
Doors 3:30 pm | Movie 4:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

More than four decades after AMERICAN GIGOLO, writer-director Paul Schrader and actor Richard Gere are back together in OH, CANADA.

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it's too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm, charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi, SALTBURN) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard's insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma, hears it all. Leonard's successes are held up against his failings--the fibs held up against the facts--and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left. With Michael Imperioli, Jacob Elordi, Uma Thurman.

“A fascinating match of director and actor, in which both seem to be trying to exorcize the demons of aging through art.” (The Daily Beast)

"“As the younger Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi exudes the kind of easygoing, cocky confidence that made the Pretty Woman star a bonafide sex symbol." (The Playlist)

"Richard Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind." (Chicago Tribune)

"Paul Schrader’s approach to this material — it’s his second movie based on a novel by Banks, the first being “Affliction” (1998) — is fascinating; a filmmaker’s translation in every sense of the word." (New York Times)

""Takes on grand themes of memory, mortality, and artistic self-reckoning… to sincerely moving effect." (The New Yorker)

Friday, January 3
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

OH, CANADA (Paul Schrader, 2024 / NR / 91 mins) Leonard Fife, one of sixty thousand draft evaders and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam, shares all his secrets to de-mythologize his mythologized life.

Let’s do the Time Warp… Again!

But for the first time in 2025! Why keep our fans waiting with such devoted antici--

There's no better way to set the tone of survival for whatever madness the new year may throw our way than with the cult classic, rock movie musical and audience favourite, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW! There's absolutely no better time to see and experience this pop-culture landmark than the the way it is meant to be seen – on the big screen, in the dark, and with a raucous Rio Theatre audience who are just as into it as you are.

Whether you’re a Virgin or a veteran, you’ll have a blast!

Even better? Joyful chaos creature and the Rio's own legendary host, DANDY, will be on-hand to guide the Virgins (and veterans!) through all the do's-and-don'ts of this monumentally experiential cinematic phenomenon.

As always, costumes and audience participation are highly encouraged - because costume contest! (In other words: Prizes! Here's your chance to go all out and let your freak flag fly, people.) The ticket price includes a fun prop bag, too!

Your own props are also very welcome, but please – whatever you do – DO NOT BRING RICE OR CONFETTI!

Friday, January 3 
Doors 10:30 pm | Event 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

But WAIT, there's MORE! - Friday Late Night makes it 2 for 1 Creature night as well! --pation!

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Jim Sharman, 1975 | (100 mins, PG) | A newly engaged couple (Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick) have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).

From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown's beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, "The Wild Robot." The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot--ROZZUM unit 7134, "Roz" for short--that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling. Acclaimed filmmaker Chris Sanders (THE LION KING, MULAN, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON), has crafted another gem that is currently nominated for a Best Animated Film at this year's Golden Globe Awards.

"Family audiences rejoice! The Oscar for Best Animated Film belongs right here in this enchanting tale of a robot, voiced by the amazing Lupita Nyong'o, who finds herself playing mother to a baby goose. The result is spectacular in every sense of the word." (ABC News)

"Lupita Nyong'o is doing fantastic voice work here. The whole cast is great" (Filmweek NPR)

Saturday, January 4
Doors 10:30 am | Movie 11:00 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Kids pricing in effect! Kids under 13 are just $8!

THE WILD ROBOT (Chris Sanders, 2024 / PG / 108 mins) Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

Deliriously entertaining and ruthlessly satirical, writer-director Coralie Fargeat’s explosive Cannes sensation THE SUBSTANCE is a be-careful-what-you-wish-for fable for the ages. Demi Moore gives a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister past her prime and drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twenty-something Sue. The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. Easy, right?

Fargeat's (REVENGE) satirical work of body horror has emerged as one of the biggest box-office wins of 2024, and is now the highest-grossing genre film ever directed by a female filmmaker, and is currently nominated for a whopping five Golden Globe Awards (including Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director). With Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid.

“A total knockout. Without a doubt the performance of Demi Moore’s career. Had viewers gasping, shrieking, laughing, and cheering all the way through." (Vogue)

“Jaw-dropping. Coralie Fargeat works with the flair of a grindhouse Kubrick in a weirdly fun, cathartically grotesque fusion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and 'Showgirls'.” (Variety)

Monday, December 9
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE SUBSTANCE (Coralie Fargeat, 2024 / 142 mins / 18A) A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Because botox looks better on the big screen!

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, January 5 for our annual Golden Globe Awards watch party. This year's event is being hosted by the very funny Nikki Glaser, which pretty much guarantees a night of hilarity.

The Golden Globe Awards recognizes the best and brightest in film and television (double the entertainment value!) , as selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Our Golden Globes screening and party is a fun warm-up for the Oscars, which will also be shown live and on our big screen on Sunday, March 2. As always, we will roll out the red carpet and encourage everyone to dress up like the star that they are.

Sunday, January 5
Doors 4:00 pm | Show 5:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Tickets just $5 until December 31!

General Admission $10

Reserve your seat today!

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 98%, FLOW is the best-reviewed animated film of the year. Following a world premiere in Cannes, the film then screened in Annecy where it won three juried prizes as well as the Audience Award, before going onto a North American premiere at TIFF. FLOW was also selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

Tuesday, January 7
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / PG) The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

Deliriously entertaining and ruthlessly satirical, writer-director Coralie Fargeat’s explosive Cannes sensation THE SUBSTANCE is a be-careful-what-you-wish-for fable for the ages. Demi Moore gives a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister past her prime and drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twenty-something Sue. The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. Easy, right?

Fargeat's (REVENGE) satirical work of body horror has emerged as one of the biggest box-office wins of 2024, and is now the highest-grossing genre film ever directed by a female filmmaker, and is currently nominated for a whopping five Golden Globe Awards (including Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, Best Actress in a Musica or Comedy, Best Supprting Actress, and Best Director). With Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid.

“A total knockout. Without a doubt the performance of Demi Moore’s career. Had viewers gasping, shrieking, laughing, and cheering all the way through." (Vogue)

“Jaw-dropping. Coralie Fargeat works with the flair of a grindhouse Kubrick in a weirdly fun, cathartically grotesque fusion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and 'Showgirls'.” (Variety)

Monday, December 9
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE SUBSTANCE (Coralie Fargeat, 2024 / 142 mins / 18A) A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

"In 9 hours and 23 minutes... You'll be mine."

The late, great David Bowie makes all kinds of music, magic and mischief as a Goblin King who kidnaps a baby while tormenting a young Jennifer Connelly in director Jim Henson's wildly imaginative and highly entertaining puppet-filled 80s classic LABYRINTH. We're tipping our hat to the beloved icon with a prime time, tribute screening on Wednesday, January 8 his birthday!

Fifteen-year-old Sarah (Connelly) resents her baby brother Toby and secretly wishes that he will just disappear. Whilst babysitting Toby, Sarah's wish comes true when goblins kidnap the baby. Feeling responsible and guilty about his abduction, she sets forth to retrieve him - and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. To rescue her brother, she must sneak into the castle of the Goblin King (Bowie), which is in the center of a fantastical labyrinth. The task is easier said than done, as the maze is filled with strange creatures, mind-bending puzzles, and nothing is really as it seems...

"A remarkable achievement." (The New York Times)

"One of the undeniable triumphs of pure fantasy in live-action cinema." (Antagony & Ecstasy)

Wednesday, January 8
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LABYRINTH (Jim Henson, 1986 / 101 mins / PG) | Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah - a teenager with an active imagination - summons the Goblins from her favourite book, "Labyrinth", to take the baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into the world of the fairytale to rescue him from the Goblin King...

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

In 1986, Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg cemented his iconic status thanks to this bold remake of THE FLY, a wildly imaginative work of poignant, weirdly romantic body horror that perfectly showcases his darkest sensibilities, dry humour, and a masterful understanding of the devastating potential of practical VFX.

In what is easily a career defining performance, Jeff Goldblum stars with Geena Davis (at one time, they were the tallest real-life couple in Hollywood) as Seth Brundle, a self-involved research scientist, and Veronica Quaife, a science-magazine reporter. Inviting Veronica to his lab, Seth prepares to demonstrate his "telepod," which can theoretically transfer matter through space. As they grow closer over the next few weeks, she inadvertently goads Seth into experimenting with human beings rather than inanimate objects. Seth himself enters the telepod, preparing to transmit himself through the ether -- but he doesn't know that he is sharing the telepod with a tiny housefly.

"'The Fly' seizes on our ingrained, instinctive horror of sexuality, the sense of shame that our fundamentally puritanical society can't help but teach us, and by confirming our worst fears, helps us, for a moment, to move beyond them." (Chicago Tribune)

"Cronenberg's most triumphant and accessible film to date." (Empire Magazine)

Friday, January 10
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE FLY (David Cronenberg, 1986 / 96 mins / PG) When Seth Brundle makes a huge scientific and technological breakthrough in teleportation, he decides to test it on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a common housefly manages to get inside the device and the two become one.

It's The Allusionist podcast's tenth birthday! Celebrate with host Helen Zaltzman and house band Martin Austwick at a special performance of the new live show, Souvenirs, about friendship breakups, fonts, and the history of ass. Because it's a birthday party, BYO party hat. 

The Allusionist is a podcast about language: how and why we humans use it the ways we do, the funny and frustrating ways it shapes our words, thoughts, and lives - and how, just when we think we can tame it and ride it around, like a rodeo beast, it throws us defiantly into the sawdust.

Called “one of the funniest and most educational podcasts around” by The Guardian and “linguistically zesty“ by The New Yorker, The Allusionist has previously made hit stage shows about speed-typing champions, protest cakes and the history of the word ‘Ms’. Now celebrating its tenth year, the Allusionist presents a brand live show, Souvenirs, telling the story of a friendship torn apart by… a font. A font? Look, font-related emotions can get VERY heated.

“The Allusionist, a podcast about the English language, is an absolute delight. Host Helen Zaltzman is prone to going down fascinating etymological wormholes, uncovering the history behind certain turns of phrase.” - Refinery29

“Helen Zaltzman is a podcast pioneer... It’s a podcast about words, but don’t expect a dry lecture on etymology: instead, our host uses all the irreverence and creativity at her disposal to make her linguistic forays into subjects such as planet-naming, food branding and the name Tiffany as fascinating as possible.” - The Guardian

Sunday, January 12
Doors 1:00 PM | Event 2:00 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets $25 + s/c
Students (with ID) & Kids (15 under) $18 + s/c
Group of 4 (online only) $20 each + s/c

Early bird tickets just $20 + s/c - Available until Dec 15!

*Kids aged 10+ are welcome, but the show does contain some Strong Language (in an educational context!) so parental discretion is advised. 

Helen Zaltzman is a multiple award-winning podcast host and producer. Her linguistics podcast The Allusionist has won multiple awards and the live theatrical spin-off has appeared on stages around the world. Answer Me This, the comedy show she co-founded with Olly Mann in 2007, was one of Britain's most beloved and successful independent podcasts, running for 400 episodes and nearly 15 years. In her podcast Veronica Mars Investigations with Jenny Owen Youngs, she recapped the entirety of the TV show Veronica Mars, plus two versions of Pride and Prejudice. She has appeared regularly on Radios 2, 4 and 5 Live, as well as on podcasts including The Bugle, Bullseye, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, 99% Invisible, The Sporkful, Ologies, The Infinite Monkey Cage, No Such Thing as a Fish, Buffering the Vampire Slayer, and many more. She has co-written two toilet books which have almost certainly been pulped by now.

Martin Austwick is a podcaster, musician and singer-songwriter, and has released albums as Pale Bird. He has performed music live for Answer Me This!, The Allusionist, 99% Invisible, The Bugle, and Radiotopia Live, and has created music for literally tons of podcasts. He also co-created the podcasts Neutrinowatch and Song by Song.

Allusionist Socials:
Website: theallusionist.org
Facebook: facebook.com/AllusionistShow/
Twitter: twitter.com/AllusionistShow
Instagram: instagram.com/Allusionistshow
YouTube: youtube.com/allusionistshow 

A copious cavalcade of top notch talent and captivating cabaret await at The Rio Theatre Burlesque and Variety Show on Saturday January 18th!

Local luminary April O’Peel has curated a show full of wonder sure to dazzle and delight our fun loving audience! The theme is NO THEME! That’s right! These talented performers will each be performing one act of their choosing! What act will they decide to bring to The Rio Theatre Burlesque and Variety Show!? Find out on Saturday January 18th as these stars align for one night only!

Saturday, January 18
Doors 8:00 pm | Show 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early bird tickets just $20, available online only until midnight, Dec 31, 2024!

General Admission $30 + s/c | $35 + s/c at the door
VIP tickets (Rows 1-3, centre section) $40+ s/c
Squad Pass (Group of Four Tickets – online only) $100+ s/c

With Featured Performances By:

Androsia Wilde | April O'Peel | Arabella Boop | Cherie Coquette | Dame Derriere & Chelsea Hart
Meadow Phorical | Melrose Twist | Priscilla Cybn | Roxy Reverie | Sparkle Plenty

Hosted by Lexx

Join us at the Rio Theatre for the Canadian Theatrical Premiere for an epic screening of Stephen King's 1994 series THE STAND - all four episodes, back-to-back and in their entirety. We highly recommend you dress in something comfy, you're gonna be here awhile

Even better? Director Mick Garris will be joining us LIVE for Q&A!

Please note the complete runtime of The Stand is 6 hours not including several short brief intermissions and time for the Q&A. Ticketed patrons may come and go as they please, provided they do not disturb others. Our concession, bar and grills will remain open during the entire event.

Sunday, January 19
Doors 12:15 pm | Event 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.*

Tickets $25 | $30 at the door

One of the UK’s biggest stand-ups brings his arena-filling Hustle tour to North America -with a stop at the Rio Theatre on Monday, January 20!

Romesh is the star of his worldwide Netflix stand-up special Romesh Ranganathan: The Cynic, as well as a string of UK television hits, including BBC’s Asian Provocateur, BBC’s The Ranganathan, Sky’s A League Of Their Own and BBC’s Avoidance. He fronted the Showtime show Just Another Immigrant in 2018, documenting his attempts to sell out a show at LA’s famous Greek Theatre; and has appeared twice on the Late Late Show.

Presented by Show And Tell with Off The Kerb

Monday, January 20
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Balcony (General Admission) $50+ s/c

Main Floor (Assigned) $60+ s/c

VIP (Rows A-F, Centre Section) $70+ s/c

All tickets on sale September 6 at 9:00 am PST

Connect with Romesh:
www.romeshranganathan.com
www.instagram.com/romeshranga/
https://www.tiktok.com/@romeshranga

One of the UK’s biggest stand-ups brings his arena-filling Hustle tour to North America -with a stop at the Rio Theatre on Monday, January 20!

Romesh is the star of his worldwide Netflix stand-up special Romesh Ranganathan: The Cynic, as well as a string of UK television hits, including BBC’s Asian Provocateur, BBC’s The Ranganathan, Sky’s A League Of Their Own and BBC’s Avoidance. He fronted the Showtime show Just Another Immigrant in 2018, documenting his attempts to sell out a show at LA’s famous Greek Theatre; and has appeared twice on the Late Late Show.

Presented by Show And Tell with Off The Kerb

Monday, January 20
Doors 9:00 pm | Show 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Balcony (General Admission) $50+ s/c
Main Floor (Assigned) $60+ s/c
VIP (Rows A-F, Centre Section) $70+ s/c

Connect with Romesh:
www.romeshranganathan.com
www.instagram.com/romeshranga/
https://www.tiktok.com/@romeshranga

A Nepalese family navigate cultural differences in the US, and the complications social media can cause. Despite their struggles and fears, the family support each other. With Barsha Raut, Buddhi Tamang, Bipin Karki, Gauri Malla, Richa Ghimire, Frances Sherman, Pooja Chand.

Tuesday, January 21
Doors 5:00 pm | Movie 5:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Please note: This film screens with a brief intermission.

General $25+ s/c | Student $20+ s/c
Seniors: FREE (Please RSVP a ticket)

All tickets available HERE

TEL VISA (Shankar Ghimire, 2024 / 166 mins / NR / Nepali w. EST)

One trilogy marathon to rule them all....

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, January 25 - for a daylong movie marathon event featuring Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy (Extended Edition!) - back-to-back, on the big screen, and in its entirety. Based on the high-fantasy epic novel by English author J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson's trilogy represents a monumental achievement in modern filmmaking that has been embraced by fans around the world.

Costumes welcome and encouraged! (Or, feel free to stay comfy in your PJs; it's gonna be a l-o-n-g day of awesome. Your call, my precioussssss.) Be prepared for hosts, trivia, games, prizes, and more. Details coming soon!

Please be advised:

1) The scheduled start time of the first film is at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 25. The start times are SHARP. Due to the nature of this trilogy marathon, start times on Parts 2 & 3 are "approximate." We will do our absolute best to keep break and start times consistent with the posted times throughout the day.
2) Doors for this show are at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 25. We encourage everyone to come early to ensure a great seat! (Seats on the main floor are assigned, and the balcony is general admission!) Be prepared for all kinds of pre-show goodness (and goodies). We'll make it worth your while.
3) Minors welcome. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service. First come, first served!

Saturday, January 25
LOTR Trilogy Marathon Tickets
Early Bird Tickets $30+ s/c (Until December 22)
Regular Ticket $33+ s/c | $37 at the door
Hobbit Group Pass (Minimum of 4 tickets) $110 + s/c
Fellowship Mega Pass (Minimum of 9 tickets) $250+ s/c

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Doors 10:00 am | Movie 11:00 am

(Break)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
Movie 3:30 pm *Apx. start time

(Break)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Return of the King
Movie 8:00 pm *Apx. start time

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson, 2001 / 228 mins / PG) | A meek hobbit of the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring and the dark lord Sauron.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Two Towers (Peter Jackson, 2002 /235 mins / PG) | While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Return of the King (Peter Jackson, 2003 / 252 mins / PG) | Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.

Come enjoy an evening at the Rio Theatre with The Allmost Brothers, Canada’s premier Allman Brothers Tribute. Formed in 2017, Allmost Brothers emerged as a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Allman Brothers Band in the wake of the passing of founding members Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman. What began as a one-time performance has blossomed into one of Canada’s most electrifying tribute acts, captivating audiences with their soulful renditions of classic Southern rock.

Sunday, January 26 TWO sets!
Doors 7:00 pm | Event 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Advance tickets $25+ s/c | $30+ s/c at the door

Drawing inspiration from the Allman Brothers' extensive catalog, Allmost Brothers seamlessly weave together fan favorites such as "Ramblin' Man," "Jessica," "One Way Out," and "Whipping Post." Their performances are characterized by infectious energy and passion, creating an immersive experience that resonates with music lovers of all ages. While rooted in the Allman Brothers' legacy, the band also pays homage to influential acts like Derek and the Dominos, Tedeschi Trucks, and Gov't Mule, enriching their repertoire with a diverse selection of iconic songs.

Allmost Brothers pride themselves on their ability to connect with audiences, transcending the label of a typical tribute band. Their performances often include original compositions and playful teases of classic tracks from other legendary musicians, ensuring that each show is a unique celebration of Southern rock's rich heritage. As they continue to perform at festivals and venues across the
region, Allmost Brothers remain dedicated to honoring the spirit of the Allman Brothers Band while carving out their own identity in the music scene. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the genre, experiencing Allmost Brothers live guarantees an unforgettable journey through the sounds that defined a generation.

The lush and breathtaking beauty of the Alps, filmed with painterly grace under natural light from frigid winter to redemptive spring, provides the physical and emotional backdrop for VERMIGLIO, Maura Delpero’s visionary film, which won the Silver Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

This singular portrait of a sprawling family, set in the small, mountainous village of Vermiglio during the waning days of WWII, follows a series of dramatic, consequential events after the arrival of a taciturn Sicilian soldier (Giuseppe De Domenico), who hides out in town after deserting the army. While there, the soldier develops a romance with the family's eldest daughter, Lucia (Martina Scrinzi). VERMIGLIO shows the lives of a provincial family in a remote village suspended in time by the customs of a fading era. Conjuring stories from her own family’s past, Delpero creates a deeply personal and human tale that recalls the great neorealist movement in Italian cinema, but through Lucia’s perspective VERMIGLIO feels distinct and novel. Inspired by filmmaker Maura Delpero’s own family history and building to a deeply moving finale, VERMIGLIO is a gorgeous examination of the quiet moments, disappointments, and everlasting bonds of family life. The film is Italy’s Official Selection for the 2025 Academy Awards, and is currently nominated for a Golden Globe (Best Non-English Language Feature).

“Wonderfully acted with unaffected naturalism… plays an extravagant, almost shameless pizzicato on the audience’s heartstrings.” (The Guardian)

"Remarkable, raw-boned and ravishing." (Variety)

Monday, January 27
Doors 5:50 pm | Movie 6:20 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

VERMIGLIO (Maura Delpero, 2024 / 120 mins / NR / Italian w.EST) In a remote Alpine village in the north of Italy, a schoolteacher and his wife confront teen angst, infant mortality, and WWII-era deprivation while raising their large, ever-multiplying brood of children. When a handsome AWOL soldier takes refuge in Vermiglio and captures the affections of their oldest daughter, a wartime deception threatens to tear the family apart.

Drag Attack is BACK! And this time we're serving New Year, Same Me.

Join award-winning host and social media superstar Dandy at his award-winning show Drag Attack: Resolutions. It's 2025, so embrace the chaos! While the world crumbles around us, and YVR airport sinks into the ocean, there's only one certainty, you're in for a night of fun, frenzy and frivolity.

Dress in your New Years Best, grab a beverage at the infamous Rio bar, and see the show featuring the best drag artists in Vancouver on the biggest stage the city has to offer. Every performer is bringing their New Year's Resolution to a show that celebrates our future. Bolder, Stronger, and a little bit Gayer!

"I didn't know that that's exactly what I wanted." (Straight People)

Join the sensation Georgia Straight readers voted runner up to BEST OF VANCOUVER 2023.

Friday, January 31 - 2025
Doors 7:00 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird tickets just $24 + s/c available until the final stroke of midnight, on the last day of the year, Dec 31, '24!

Main Floor Assigned $30 + s/c | $35+ s/c at the door
VIP – First 4 rows $40 + s/c | $45+ s/c at the door **VIP ticket holders also get an interactive prop bag to be used during the show!**

The Drag Attack 4 Pack $100 + s/c (Available online only)

Cast list and info coming soon!

About your Host:

Dandy (he/him) is the award-winning host made popular on TikTok for his viral videos promoting queer joy! Winner of Host of the Year 2024 for Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and awarded runner up in the Georgia Straight’s BEST OF VANCOUVER for his show Drag Attack! – you can catch him regularly on stage in his shows at the iconic Rio Theatre in Vancouver, or touring regularly this year between LA and New York City. His all new series Dandyland, which highlights businesses, organizations, and artists in the lower-mainland’s LGBT Community, premiered this Summer on Optik TV

@dandyandfriends

Reel Causes Presents A Night of Obsidian

Save the Date!

Reel Causes invites you to mark your calendars for a community event you won't want to miss — tickets will sell out fast, so be sure to grab yours early!

Join curator Natasha Tony for "A Night of Obsidian," an unforgettable evening celebrating the brilliance of local Black filmmakers, creators, and musicians.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Black creativity through film, music, poetry, and art.

Experience the empowering performances of renowned singers Dawn Pemberton and Khari McClelland.

Thursday, February 6
Doors 6:00 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets $15+ s/c | $20+ s/c at the door

Optional Membership: $25
(Please note: Ticket is required for entry.)

Be inspired by the powerful film Union Street and honour the incredible talent of local Black filmmakers and creators, including:

Visual Artist Wayne Dunkley
Director Jamila Pomeroy
Director Ilhan Abdullahi
Director Brendan Riley
Director and Poet Ivanna Samuel

Together, let's explore the essence of community as we celebrate identity, belonging, and healing through the art of storytelling.

Don't miss out — save the date and join us for this transformative evening!

Additional information available on Reel Causes’ website: https://reelcauses.org/a-night-of-obsidian/

Because our screen is bigger.
Waaaaaaaay bigger.
That's why.

Enjoy the ultimate game day experience on Sunday, February 9 at our annual (not to mention FREE!) Super Bowl LIX screening and party at the Rio Theatre. Featuring half time show headliner Kendrick Lamar.

Trivia!
Prizes!!
Football!!!

Come early to get yourself a great seat, grab a bevvie and grilled cheese sammie and catch up on all the stats with televised pre-show commentary. Our lobby and concession will be open during the entire event serving up fresh, buttered popcorn and adult libations including our line-up of Persephone draft beers, get one as part of our Big Kid Combo. Not drinking? No problem, try a non-alcoholic Edna's Mojito or Street Legal non-alcohol beer and of course a full range of soft drinks.

Sunday, February 9
Super Bowl LIX
Doors 3:00 pm | Kickoff 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. 

Entry is FREE at the door on game day but as our viewing parties tend to fill up fast why not ensure entry and seats and RSVP in advance for only $5

Show And Tell present
SARAH KEYWORTH: MY EYES ARE UP HERE

UK stand-up star Sarah Keyworth makes their North American tour debut, bringing their smash-hit show to the Rio Theatre on March 18.

"My Eyes Are Up Here" is one of the most talked about stand-up shows of the last year, racking up a string of awards and selling out theaters all across their native UK, and Australia.

Tuesday, March 18
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Balcony (GA) $40+ s/c
Main Floor (Assigned) $50+ s/c
VIP (Rows A-E, centre section) $60+ s/c

‘Achingly funny’- The Herald ★★★★★

‘Gales of laughter’ – The Guardian ★★★★

‘Utterly engaging’ The Telegraph ★★★★

Sarah has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, ITV's The Stand Up Sketch Show and Comedy Central's Roast Battle. Their BBC Radio 4 show Are You A Boy or A Girl is available to stream on BBC Sounds and their Prime Special Dark Horse is streaming on Prime TV.

Winner of the Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024, the International New Faces of Comedy at Just For Laughs Festival 2023.

Guest star on Off Menu and The Guilty Feminist podcasts.

Live On-Stage Comedy with VHS!

Joe Pickett ('The Onion') and Nick Prueher ('The Colbert Report') have over 13,000 VHS tapes in their collection, and have been taking viewers on a guided tour through their latest and greatest finds since 2004.

To celebrate two decades of this VHS nonsense, Joe and Nick will serve up their all-time greatest finds including the dumbest exercise videos, the craziest public access shows and updates with the most wonderful weirdos they’ve met along the way.

"A comedy sensation."

"Hysterical and brilliant."

Thursday, March 20
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Tickets (On sale now Until January 31) $25+ s/c
Tickets $30+ s/c

For more information on Found Footage, head to www.foundfootagefest.com.

Community Trail Running presents:
The Trail Running Film Festival 2025

After a great debut in 2023, and an even better follow-up in 2024, the Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour in 2025 and coming to Vancouver once again! Expect another amazing evening of films, inspiration, and community.

Come and help us celebrate our incredible sport as we explore individual and collective potential. The festival will also have a 50/50 in support of BC AdventureSmart and include prizes and giveaways to add to our celebration!

We’re excited to bring you stories from around the world by filmmakers sharing their work of adventure, inclusivity, wilderness, art, and diversity across the trail and ultra community. Trail running is awesome and so is this film festival!

Thursday, April 3
Doors 6:00 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Tickets (December 1-31) $25+ s/c
Tickets $30+ s/c | $35+ s/c at the door
Squad Pass Group Pricing (Group of Four) $100+ s/c (Available online only)

Tickets on sale December 1

You’ve watched his clips on Instagram, you’ve shared his standup with your friends and family on TikTok, now it’s time to see Jarlath Regan’s funny bits live - and in person. The brand new standup show from the man behind some of the most hilarious viral standup comedy clips is finally here! After selling out every single seat on his “Yer Man” tour in 2024, Jarlath is on the road again and travelling around the world with a completely fresh, never before seen standup comedy show guaranteed to have you “In Bits”.

Friday, April 11
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets $42+ s/c

Artist Pre-Sale - Thursday, September 12 10:00 am
General On Sale - Friday, September 13 10:00 am

“The jewel in the Irish comedy crown.” (The Examiner)

“Universally enjoyable – 90 minutes of jaw-achingly funny anecdotes which spanned every topic
imaginable.” (The Post)

“A subtle yet sublime helping of observational wit” (The Herald ★★★★★)

“Downright hilarious…comedy genius” (The Irish Times ★★★★)

“Had the audience shaking so violently with laughter they probably could have charged their phones” (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine)

“Regan is an expert storyteller and this is a beautifully constructed show that I could have happily
listened to for twice its length.” (★★★★ The Arts Desk)