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Six Series Join in on the Merriment Including Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas Based on the Popular Book The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Plus, Fan Favourite Series Mistletoe Murders and Finding Mr. Christmas Return With New Seasons to Unwrap

This Year’s Complete Holiday Lineup Will Be Available to Stream Exclusively in One Magical Place – STACKTV

The complete movie checklist can be found here

For additional photography and press kit material visit: http://www.corusent.com

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‘Tis the season that every holiday fan eagerly awaits! Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas returns to W Network and STACKTV beginning Friday, October 17. The beloved annual programming event featuring 10 consecutive weeks of holiday cheer continues to position W Network as Canada’s holly jolly headquarters for holiday entertainment all season long with feel-good stories of love, family, and friendship. During last year’s Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, W Network reached nearly 10 million Canadians and was ranked as the #1 specialty entertainment station for A25-54, F25-54 and total viewers. This year’s event will feature 28 brand new merry movie premieres and six sparkling series premieres including returning seasons of festive fan favourites. Every jingle-worthy title from this year’s schedule will be available to stream exclusively on STACKTV. The season of giving continues as W Network will be available on National Free Preview from November 1 to November 30. Please check local listings for additional information.

“Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas has become a holiday tradition that millions of Canadians look forward to each year. We are proud to bring this beloved event to audiences through our exclusive and valued partnership with Hallmark,” said Jennifer Abrams, SVP Content and Marketing. “With a packed schedule of star-studded movie premieres, new limited series and returning favourites, W Network is the North Pole of TV holiday magic with heartfelt stories and uplifting themes that viewers know and love.”

MOVIES

This year’s movie lineup features a variety of well-rounded stories that encompass love in all its forms – from meet-cute romances and unbreakable family bonds, to the love of the game and the heartful connections felt through music. Christmas Above the Clouds is a comedic, modern retelling of A Christmas Carol set on a long-haul holiday flight starring Erin Krakow, Tyler Hynes and new Canadian Saturday Night Live cast member Veronika Slowikowska.

Next up, the Brenner boys (Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker) are back for one final holiday with their mother (Margaret Colin) in their childhood home in Three Wisest Men, as the siblings all face exciting life changes and try to navigate adulting at a level they have yet to reach.

Then, set against the backdrop of the unique, tight-knit community of fans known as Bills Mafia, viewers will be treated to a heartwarming story in Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story which highlights the importance of family and, of course, featuring two touching love stories that span generations. Starring Joe Pantoliano and Steve Schirripa from The Sopranos, the movie also features Bills head coach Sean McDermott, running back Ray Davis, safety Damar Hamlin, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, tight end Dawson Knox, long snapper Reid Ferguson, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and wide receiver Joshua Palmer. Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, former teammates Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Scott Norwood and Andre Reed, along with Bills play-by-play announcer Chris Brown also appear. And paying homage to the late, great broadcast journalist and die-hard Bills fan Tim Russert, his son Luke Russert rounds out the team.

Celebrating the centennial of the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous, A Grand Ole Opry Christmas is a magical trip across time filled with music, hope and healing. Grammy^® Award winner and Opry Member Brad Paisley wrote and performs original music in the movie.

Finally, Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker reunite in She’s Making a List when a Naughty or Nice inspector (Chabert) who is investigating a case unexpectedly falls for the child’s father (Walker), things get complicated.

TV SERIES

Kicking off the series premieres this year is the all-new competition series Baked With Love: Holiday, debuting Monday, October 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley (Scouting for Christmas), the series boasts a judging panel featuring renowned Irish chef and restauranteur, Anna Haugh (MasterChef: The Professionals) and New York Times cooking expert, Vaughn Vreeland (NYT Cooking), and 10 pairs of family bakers competing for a chance to win $50,000 and to have one of their bakes featured in an upcoming Hallmark movie.

Next,Ready, Set, Glow lights up screens on Tuesday, November 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT as Hallmark fan-favourite Wes Brown (Haul out the Holly) goes around the country to spotlight spectacular holiday lights displays and the special stories and people behind them.

Then, four-part docuseries Christmas at Sea sets sail on Tuesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. E/PT and captures the joy, connection, and community that define the Hallmark fan experience, as it follows passionate superfans aboard Hallmark’s inaugural Christmas Cruise from Miami to Nassau.

Mae Whitman (Good Girls, Parenthood) reunites on screen with two-time Oscar^®, Emmy^® and Golden Globe^® nominee Mary McDonnell (The Fall of the House of Usher, Battlestar Galactica) and Jane Seymour (Harry Wild; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) in the holiday rom-com series Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas premiering Friday, December 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the popular book The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenni Bayliss, Kate (Whitman), a Saville Row textile pattern designer, living in the quaint village of Blexford, England is signed up for The 12 Dates of Christmas – a festively themed matchmaking program featuring carefully curated, yuletide dating experiences. As she wends her way through the 12 dates, she takes a circuitous route to romance while also making some important discoveries about herself.

Additionally, Season 2 of the hit series Finding Mr. Christmas hosted by co-creator/executive producer Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls, The Groomsmen) returns Monday, October 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Featuring lead judge Melissa Peterman (Happy’s Place, Haul Out the Holly) with help from fan-favourite guest judges, Finding Mr. Christmas takes 10 new acting hopefuls through a series of fun and festive challenges to show who has the talent – and the heart – to be Hallmark’s next leading man.

Plus, the merry mysteries continue when Season 2 of Mistletoe Murders returns with two back-to-back episodes on Friday, November 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the Audible global hit podcast of the same name and created by Ken Cuperus, Mistletoe Murders from Lionsgate Canada and Headspinner Productions, stars Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy) as Emily Lane and Peter Mooney (The Rookie) as Sam Wilner. The new season features more small-town intrigue and a glimpse into Emily’s life before coming to Fletcher’s Grove.

This year’s full lineup of fa-la-la flicks include:

Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane – Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Royal Montana Christmas – Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Christmas Angel Match – Sunday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane – Friday, October 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper –  Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane – Sunday, October 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Rodeo Christmas Romance – Friday, October 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Christmas on Duty – Saturday, November 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Newport Christmas – Sunday, November 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Christmas Above the Clouds – Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Keller Christmas Vacation – Sunday, November 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Three Wisest Men – Saturday, November 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT 
Tidings for the Season – Sunday, November 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story – Saturday, November 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Melt My Heart This Christmas – Sunday, November 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The X-Mas Club – Thursday, November 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The More the Merrier –  Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Grand Ole Opry Christmas –  Saturday, November 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Christmas at the Catnip Café – Sunday, November 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The Snow Must Go On – Wednesday, December 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
An Alpine Holiday –  Thursday, December 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
She’s Making a List – Saturday, December 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Single on the 25th – Sunday, December 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The Christmas Cup – Thursday, December 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Suite Holiday Romance – Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Oy to the World! – Sunday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Make or Break Holiday – Saturday, December 20 at at 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Christmas Flame – Sunday, December 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Source: Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, CTC’24 (10/18/2024 to 12/29/2024) – confirmed data, M-Su 2a-2a, W Network, Ind.2+ CumRch(000), rank based on CDN SPEC COM ENG (excludes sports stations), AMA(000), Ind.2+/A25-54/F25-54.

W Network can be streamed via STACKTV, available on Amazon Prime Video, Bell Fibe TV app, Fubo, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite Streaming. The network is also available through all major TV distributors, including: Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and SaskTel.

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One screen will feature Frosty the Snowman, the 2018 animated rendition of The Grinch and A Christmas Story. The other screen will show The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Whichever lineup sells more advanced tickets will be on Screen 1. The gates will open at 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday with showtimes starting an hour later. The event will also feature candy canes, camp fires, visits from Santa and a range of Christmas cartoons in addition to the donation collection for Muskoka food banks.

“It’s just our way of helping, along with all the other businesses in Muskoka that also support the food banks,” said drive-in owner William Alexander. “What we’ve done this year is a little different.”

Locals can bring donations of cash or non-perishable food items for a chance to win season passes and other carload prizes. The number of raffle tickets donors receive is based on the size of the donation, and all proceeds will be split between local food banks.

Tickets for the event cost $20 per carload when purchased in advance or $25 at the gate. Tickets will only be available at the gate if they don’t sell out ahead of time, and they’re selling fast. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed since concessions are one of the main sources of income for the drive-in, but the barbeque and snack bar will be open and offering specials to celebrate the last weekend. 

The onsite ATM is currently out of service, so Alexander reminds moviegoers to bring cash for same-day admission or any snack bar purchases. The event will go forward whether it’s raining or snowing, and leashed pets are welcome to join. Entry won’t be allowed once the movies begin, so attendees should make sure to arrive by showtime.

After a longer than usual season, Alexander and his staff are ready for a break. Every year they look at the operations of the drive-in to see what can be improved, so the offseason is a time of reflection. The team is hopeful for the future despite a drop in numbers.

“Unfortunately, it was down from last year’s attendance, which you always have to look with a critical eye,” he said. “Some of our corporate rentals went away this year, which unfortunately hit our bottom line, but we will be back next year, hopeful, cheerful and ready to entertain everybody.”

On top of entertaining, the crew at the drive-in tries to make sure they’re contributing to the community by helping local groups and charities. Sometimes that means providing donations of carload passes while other times it’s lending the land and equipment to use for events.

Alexander is donating use of the drive-in and its snack bar to the public schools in Gravenhurst on Nov. 10 so that they raise money for school improvements. The drive-in staff also donated carload passes to a school in Orillia to help support their breakfast program, and they regularly host fundraisers as well as a community market each Sunday during the summer.

Alexander said even though they try to be as involved in the community as possible, it doesn’t change the fact that streaming has impacted many people’s movie-viewing habits. Many indoor and outdoor theatres across the country have closed their doors for good, so he encourages people to continue visiting places like the Muskoka Drive-In in Gravenhurst and the Norwood Theatre in Bracebridge.

For one thing, it’s more enjoyable to experience movies with a crowd, he said. But there’s also the added experience of seeing a movie outside. If the drive-in is screening a horror movie, attendees get to witness the film while surrounded by trees and darkness. During their Christmas showings, a dusting of snow can make movie moments feel that much more magical. A rainstorm during a film like Twister puts viewers right in the action.

“I just hope that people don’t just keep streaming movies or watching it on their phones, because that’s not the way to watch a movie,” he said. “Movies are meant to be seen on the big screen, and hopefully they’ll keep embracing it.”

In past years, Alexander spent the off-season working as a grip on independent movies and shows like Working Moms, Murdoch Mysteries and Good Witch. Grips assist with camera and lighting tasks on set, doing things like reflecting lights, pushing dollies and guiding steady cams. Though he has many fond memories of the job, he’s looking forward to a slower winter season.

“I retired last year from it, so this year I just get to do accounting and watch movies over the winter. Hunker down, get ready for spring,” Alexander said. “When the drive-in’s ground decides to stop swallowing cars, we’ll be open again.”

Visit the Muskoka Drive-In website to order tickets.

The post Muskoka Drive-In Accepts Food Bank Donations During Christmas Blast appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Gravenhurst-based drive-in has hosted Halloween parties and Scream at the Screen events with costumed scarers, but this will be the first gathering for a Trunk N’ Treat. Tickets are on sale in advance and will only be available at the gate if they don’t sell out. It costs $20 per carload, and groups that hand out candy will receive a $5 voucher for the snack bar. The drive-in just finished screening Joker: Folie à Deux and Speak No Evil and has Smile 2 and Venom: The Last Dance coming up, but even though they have spooky and superhero films covered, it’s not ideal programming for children.

“I saw on the schedule that I wasn’t going to have a lot of kids’ [content],” said drive-in owner William Alexander.  “I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll put together a little family event,’ so this is the first time we’re doing Trunk N’ Treat.”

The gates will be open from 5 to 6 p.m. for set-up followed by candy distribution from 6 to 6:45. Alexander asks attendees to be in the gates by 6 as cars won’t be allowed into the area after that point for the kids’ safety. There will be a costume contest, a car decoration contest and Halloween-themed grab bags for the kids.

Halloween cartoons will play on the screen during the early portions of the Trunk N’ Treat. Once the candy collection is complete, the drive-in will screen It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, the live-action Scooby-Doo and R.L. Stine’s Zombie Town, which features the Muskoka Drive-In’s projector.

“If it’s successful, then we’ll probably plan to do it more,” Alexander said. “Maybe even a touch earlier next year so, that way, we have slightly warmer weather when they’re out there having fun.”

Alexander doesn’t want to pack the place completely full, so there’s a limited number of tickets to ensure a fun and comfortable experience for all involved. He hopes to grow the event in future years, but for now, he’s looking forward to a fun and lowkey celebration.

“People that maybe don’t get a lot of kids get to come, bring their cars and hand out candy to costumed kids,” he said. “Families get to hang out and be together on a fun night where the kids are all excited, and it’s just something fun for us to be able to facilitate.”

In a rare turn of events, the season won’t be over after Halloween, extending into November for a holiday weekend special. The theatre’s annual Christmas Blast will be on Nov. 8, offering Christmas movies, candy canes and a possible visit from Old Saint Nick himself. 

The Christmas Blast will also include its usual food bank collection and fundraiser. Donors get a chance to win season passes, carload passes and other prizes. Last year, the drive-in was able to donate $2,100 and six boxes of food to local food banks.

Alexander and his team are still putting together the lineup for the Christmas feature. Every year they try to make one screen more family-friendly and the other more geared toward adults, and while licensing restrictions can present challenges, they always manage to get a good group of Christmas classics.

Since it can get dark early in November, they’ll play Christmas cartoons to light up the park for people arriving at the event. Coupled with possible snowfall, it could be pretty magical, Alexander said. No matter what season it is, support from members of the community is what keeps the business going.

“We need them to come out and support us to keep it viable for us to stay open this long, and it really comes down to, of course, the snack bar,” he said. “[That] is where we really need their help because that’s what keeps us alive, and it’s been a bit of a struggle this year.”

The Muskoka Drive-In’s history goes back 72 years to 1952. The ownership has changed, but apart from minor repairs, the iconic screen on the rock hasn’t. Alexander knows how nostalgic the drive-in is for so many locals, so he tries to have as much fun and offer as much help as possible while still maintaining the business.

Being an involved part of the community is essential to Alexander, so he and his team try to give back through markets, fundraisers and more. He said it’s crazy to think about the inception of the drive-in all those years ago, and he hopes to keep adding to its history for years to come.

“Probably 73 years ago, somebody looked at it and went, ‘Yeah, let’s do this. Let’s build a drive-in right here,’” he said. “But we are it. North of Barrie, we are the last of the northern drive-ins.”

Though the Muskoka Drive-In has done well enough to stay afloat, that’s not true for other businesses of its kind. A fellow drive-in recently shut down in British Columbia. Last year, a historic drive-in in Port Hope also closed its gates for good, giving Muskoka residents all the more reason to protect and support its local treasure.

“We never like to see drive-ins close because it hurts all of us,” Alexander said. “They were the oldest continuing drive-in in Canada, and now that they are no longer operating, we become the oldest continually operating drive-in in Canada.”

Visit the Muskoka Drive-In website for Trunk N’ Treat tickets, and follow the drive-in on Facebook for regular updates.

The post Muskoka Drive-In Hosts Trunk N’ Treat On October 19 appeared first on Muskoka411.

What’s playing…

SCREEN 1

1. Kung Fu Panda 4 @ 8:30 p.m.

Po must train a new warrior when he’s chosen to become the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. However, when a powerful shape-shifting sorceress sets her eyes on his Staff of Wisdom, he suddenly realizes he’s going to need some help. Teaming up with a quick-witted corsac fox, Po soon discovers that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

2. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The Spengler family returns to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.

SCREEN 2

1. Civil War @ 8:30 p.m.

In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

2. Humane

A Muskoka Premiere. Directed by the daughter of David Cronenberg, this Canadian dark comedy thriller is set in the future. An environmental collapse forces humanity to voluntarily shed 20 per cent of its population.

When a father’s plan to enlist in the government’s new euthanasia program goes horribly wrong, the family dinner erupts into chaos as family members must fight to choose who will be the one to die. Emily Hampshire, Jay Baruchel, Peter Gallagher and Enrico Colantoni star.

Opening Weekend Specials – $20 Carload (Cash only, ATM on site), $1 Hot Dogs, $1 Cans of Pop, treats for the kids. Gates open at 7:45 and showtime is at 8:30. Snack bar and BBQ open.

No outside food or drink allowed. Pet friendly as long as they are controlled at all times and on a leash.

Meet you at the rock!

Visit the Muskoka Drive-In Facebook page for updates.

The post Muskoka Drive-In Opens For 72nd Season On April 26 And 27 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Nostalgia and movies go hand in hand. From the resurgence of the 2000s era romantic comedies to re-imagining iconic films such as Mean Girls, Cineplex is joining in on the fun. The last time movies tickets in Canada cost $5 was 25 years ago, just before the new millennium!

“We’re taking Tuesday pricing back to the late nineties when Canadians were running to see iconic movies like Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Toy Story 2 and The Matrix,” said Sara Moore, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Cineplex. “As the country’s top entertainment destination, we are delighted to give Canadians more reasons to come in from the cold to experience movie magic with friends and family this February.”

General admission movie tickets for Tuesday showtimes will be $5, plus tax. Tickets purchased online will be subject to an online booking fee up to $1.50 per ticket, plus tax. Standard upcharges for premium experiences will apply. This offer is not valid for non-feature film and Event Cinema presentations. All Scene+ members will continue to receive an additional 10 per cent off the ticket price for their Tuesday ticket purchase. A movie isn’t complete without popcorn, so Cineplex is also offering a small bag of its famous popcorn for $5, plus tax, each Tuesday in February.

The popcorn offer is not valid for Uber Eats or SkipTheDishes orders, or purchases made through Cineplex mobile ordering.

Celebrate $5 Movie Tuesdays with friends, family, a date, or solo all month long. Visit Cineplex.com to learn more or follow Cineplex on Instagram (@cineplexmovies), on X (@cineplexmovies) and like on Facebook (@Cineplex).

The post Cineplex Offering $5 Movie Tickets And $5 Popcorn On Tuesdays This February appeared first on Muskoka411.

Soon after William Alexander bought the Muskoka Drive-In, he and his friend John Gillespie started Trimuse Entertainment to produce and distribute Canadian films. When Gillespie was approached to produce Zombie Town, he accepted and brought Alexander on board as the associate producer. The cast and crew filmed the movie in Sudbury last September, and audiences will get their first look on Sept. 1. Based on the book by R.L. Stine, known for Goosebumps, the family-friendly comedy-horror follows two teenagers who track down a horror director to save the town from the zombie-inducing forces of a cursed projector.

“For the film, I taught the lead actor Marlon on how to use the projector as he is supposed to be the projectionist in the story,” Alexander said. “Many of the props used in the cinema scenes for the movie also came from the Drive-In. Even the Muskoka Drive-In logo is at the end of the credits.”

Alexander said it was cool to have the projector so heavily featured in the movie. He spent several days on set tending to the projector and making sure it moved in unusual ways for the film.

1 of 9

Since comedy legends Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase were involved, Alexander decided to bring his daughters Elizabeth and Christine to set along with him. In addition to witnessing the stars in action, one of his daughters also got to make an appearance in the film.

“My oldest daughter Christine got asked to be a zombie in a scene that included Dan’s daughters, who were also playing zombies,” he said. “My daughter got made up as a zombie and worked through the night on the zombie party scene.”

Christine, a published author, also got writing tips from Aykroyd, who was humble and accommodating on set, Alexander said. He was interested in everyone he encountered and gave an amazing speech at the end of shooting.

Alexander filmed the speech and his footage is in the film’s credits. Chase was also fun to have on set, he said, often making the crew laugh when takes didn’t go as planned.

“Both are comedy royalty, and it was nice to see two veteran SNL stars reteamed again,” Alexander said. “Dan even stayed on set to feed Chevy his lines, even though normally the assistant director does that.”

In addition to Aykroyd and Chase, the film features Canadian actors and comedians Henry Czerny, Scott Thompson and Bruce McCulloch. Marlon Kazadi and Madi Monroe play the young leads. The soundtrack for the movie also includes music by Canadian singers Lawrence Gowan and Andy Kim.

Locals can see Zombie Town at the Muskoka Drive-In on Sept. 1, 2, 3 and 7. It comes with a chance to see the projector, which now has autographs from Chase and other members of the cast and crew.

“When we play the film here at the Muskoka Drive-In, we will have the actual projector in the snack bar lobby for people to get their picture taken with,” Alexander said. “Just don’t get too close; otherwise, you just might turn into a zombie.”

Visit the Muskoka Drive-In Facebook Page for updates.

The post Zombie Town Featuring Muskoka Drive-In Projector Premieres September 1 appeared first on Muskoka411.

The month’s box office success was driven in large part by the enduring blockbuster performances of both Barbie and Oppenheimer. Week over week attendance to experience ‘Barbenheimer’ remained strong, with consumer enthusiasm continuing to drive momentum. While Barbie generated the highest July attendance at Cineplex theatres nationwide, Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One followed in second and third places respectively, with international title, Carry On Jatta 3 rounding out the top ten.

“Our record-breaking July box office demonstrates movie-lovers’ strong desire for sharing the experience of a movie in a social setting, immersed with big screens and big sound that you can’t replicate at home. It is a further testament to the strength of the exhibition industry. We are thrilled about the remarkable results, welcoming over one sixth of the Canadian population into our theatres last month, where they were captivated by a strong supply of unique and engaging content,” said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex. “We are proud to have outperformed other North American exhibitors in a strong second week at the box office, achieving this in part by harnessing real-time data to understand Canadians’ movie-going habits while personalizing our guests’ visits and delivering memorable experiences.

The post Cineplex Celebrates Historic Box Office Achievements appeared first on Muskoka411.

The ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon is fueling the fourth-largest box office weekend in history for North America. Barbie is reported to have grossed approximately $155 million domestically, giving the film the largest opening weekend of 2023, and Oppenheimer grossed $80.5 million at the domestic box office.

Oppenheimer is Cineplex’s largest IMAX opening, and Cineplex’s premium offerings including UltraAVX, IMAX, VIP Cinemas, and 70mm film made up 59 per cent of the film’s box office for the Company.

“This record-setting weekend box office performance of Barbie and Oppenheimer confirms that Canadians and movie-lovers around the world maintain their passion for the big screen that cannot be replicated at home. Experiences like these remind us all about the enduring importance that movies and movie theatres have in creating memories and how they are uniquely capable of bringing us together to share in cultural moments,” said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex. “We thank our studio partners for creating wonderful, engaging, and diverse content to fuel this demand and bring moviegoers back to the theatre.”

The post Barbie And Oppenheimer Shatter Cineplex Summer Box Office Weekend Record appeared first on Muskoka411.

Alexander has owned the drive-in on Theatre Road in Gravenhurst since 2009, but the drive-in itself has over 70 years of history. The rock jutting into the screen gave the drive-in its “meet you at the rock” slogan, but despite its iconic screen and loyal fans, the business has seen tough times over the last few years. Alexander decided to share his thoughts online earlier this week after seeing the business start heading toward “the danger zone.” He didn’t want to scare his customers, but he wanted to remind them how important their support is to the business. 

“I put it out there just to make sure that they remember we’re here and that anybody who was thinking about coming or wanting to come or hadn’t been in a while, this was their time to support the drive-in,” he said.

Along with receiving thousands of shares, he started to get calls from individuals and businesses offering money and other support. He politely declined the cash offers, but it was amazing for him to see the community rally around his business. He hopes the positivity will make for a busy weekend and a successful rest of the summer.

“We ensure that the community is served by this drive-in, and it’s nice to see the community come back and help us now,” Alexander said.

The drive-in has hosted a range of fundraisers, food drives and other charity events over the years. They’ve also offered their space up for stag and doe parties along with lending the grounds to any businesses that needed it throughout the pandemic. In addition, the drive-in is home to a community market every Sunday.

The business makes some money renting out the grounds, but most of its profits come from the snack bar. Since movie companies take anywhere from 35 to 70 per cent of profits from the box office, the drive-in’s rule against outside food and drinks is meant to help them recoup their costs through concession sales.

In spite of the nostalgia, the number of drive-in movie theatres is dwindling. Most drive-ins are in more populated areas like Oakville, Barrie or London, so the Muskoka Drive-In faces the unique challenge of existing in rural Ontario.

“They’re able to draw upon other areas… We don’t really have that,” Alexander said. “We have a bunch of smaller communities that we draw on, and we have tourists that come up through the summer, and so it takes us a lot more to get people to come out.”

As wonderful and magical as normal movie theatres are, drive-ins offer a completely different kind of experience, Alexander said. People start to relax as soon as they enter the gate. Kids in pajamas run off to play at the park while their parents watch on and chat.

During the movies, families have the freedom to talk as much or as little as they want without worrying about other moviegoers. People can also smoke, eat or cuddle up with a blanket in the comfort of their cars, or if they aren’t enjoying the movie, they can step out under a sky full of stars. While the location may limit its audience to some extent, it also gives the drive-in some of its most unique features. 

“Being that our drive-in is surrounded by trees, you don’t feel like it’s just concrete and steel,” he said. “This drive-in is quite unique, and when you see that cement screen on top of the giant rock, you’ll never see that anywhere else, on any other drive-in in North America.”

The screens, and the rock itself, were just repainted, and a new and improved mini-putt course will be ready within the next couple of weeks. The arcade area will also be back in action this weekend after Alexander had a new floor installed. All the small improvements are part and parcel of his goal to keep making the drive-in as enjoyable as possible for all of its patrons.

One of the best parts of the drive-in, according to Alexander, is that no family member has to be left out. With nearly five acres of park, there’s plenty of space for dogs and other pets to roam around. All the team at the drive-in asks is that pet owners keep their animals on a leash and in control and that they make sure to clean up after them.

“We get lots of dogs coming out, we’ve had the odd cat on a leash, and two weeks ago, we had a trained pet pig on a leash,” Alexander said. “That was pretty amazing. They could circle and sit on command. Pretty wild.”

Unique pets aren’t the only special sight at the drive-in. Recently, moviegoers had a second more celestial show to watch alongside their film.

“A month and a half ago, we actually had a bit of a meteor shower happening behind screen one,” he said. “As people were watching the movie, there were meteors streaking across the top of the screen behind it.”

Whether there are meteor showers in the forecast or not, he hopes the people who love the drive-in will come for a night at the theatre and create a domino effect by telling their friends to tag along. The longtime supporters of the theatre feel like family, Alexander said, and one of the benefits of being a more mom-and-pop style business is they get to know and love their supporters.

This weekend, the theatre is showing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Boogeyman on screen one. Screen two will feature Disney’s Elemental and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The rest of the season will include titles like Mission: Impossible, Barbie, Meg 2: The Trench and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Alexander hopes the lineup will bring in both new and familiar faces.

“There are tons of films still to come,” he said. “I hope they’ll come to the drive-in and experience them on our big screens.”

For screening times and other information, visit the Muskoka Drive-In website and Facebook page.

Muskoka Drive-In Celebrates 70 Years Of Business

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