A trip to the movies for $3.99 a ticket sounds like something from another decade.
That’s what Cineplex is charging for its Family Favourites screenings this November and December, at participating theatres across the country, including in Alberta.
The holiday lineup has The Polar Express (twice), The Grinch and A PAW Patrol Christmas. It kicks off this Saturday with a movie that almost never made it to theatres: Coyote vs. Acme.
Four tickets come to $15.96 before tax. In Alberta, with only GST added, that’s $16.76 at the box office.
Every $3.99 Cineplex movie this November and December
| Date | Movie |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov. 7 | Coyote vs. Acme |
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | The Polar Express |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | A PAW Patrol Christmas |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | Arthur Christmas (French) |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | The Polar Express |
There’s no Family Favourites movie listed for Saturday, Nov. 14. Screenings start around 11 a.m., but times can vary by theatre. Tickets go on sale the Friday before each show.
Cineplex says movies and times are subject to change, so check before you head out.
Where to watch $3.99 Cineplex movies in Alberta
Family Favourites only plays at participating Cineplex theatres, and not every location shows every movie.
To find one near you, open the Family Favourites page on Cineplex’s website or app, pick the movie, and choose your city. If you’re in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge or anywhere else in Alberta, look for a Saturday morning showtime at a theatre close to home.
The French screening of Arthur Christmas on Nov. 28 will likely play at far fewer theatres, so check that one before you promise it to the kids.
This Saturday: the movie Warner Bros. tried to bury
Coyote vs. Acme has had a stranger trip to the big screen than Wile E. Coyote’s falls off cliffs.
The live-action and animated comedy picks up after years of rockets that explode early and anvils that land on the wrong head. The Coyote finally takes Acme, the company that sold him all of it, to court. Will Forte plays his personal injury lawyer.
The real story is almost as wild.
Warner Bros. Discovery finished the roughly $70-million movie, then shelved it in November 2023. The studio was widely reported to be planning to write it off for tax purposes rather than release it. Filmmakers and animation fans were furious.
Ketchup Entertainment bought the film in 2025 and put it in theatres on Aug. 28, 2026. It opened to an estimated $15.5 million in Canada and the U.S., second only to the new Spider-Man, and the biggest debut in Ketchup’s history.
A movie that wasn’t supposed to come out at all is now a $3.99 Saturday matinee.
The Christmas movies
The Polar Express (Nov. 21 and Dec. 12): Tom Hanks’ 2004 animated adventure about a boy who rides a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. It’s the only movie in the lineup that plays twice.
A PAW Patrol Christmas (Nov. 28): Santa catches a cold, and Rubble and the pups have to save Christmas from Mayor Humdinger. PAW Patrol comes from Toronto’s Spin Master, so this one’s Canadian.
Arthur Christmas (Nov. 28, French): Aardman’s 2011 comedy about Santa’s clumsy son racing to deliver one forgotten present before morning.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (Dec. 5): the 2018 animated version, with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch.
What a family pays for $3.99 movies in Alberta
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so a box office ticket only adds the 5% GST:
| Tickets | Before tax | With GST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.99 | $4.19 |
| 2 | $7.98 | $8.38 |
| 3 | $11.97 | $12.57 |
| 4 | $15.96 | $16.76 |
| 5 | $19.95 | $20.95 |
Buying online costs more, unless you’re a member:
CineClub members: $3.99. The booking fee is waived.
Scene+ members: $4.99, with a $1 booking fee.
Everyone else: $5.49, with a $1.50 fee that includes advance seat selection and digital tickets.
All online prices are before tax. The booking fee applies to the first four tickets in each order.
Quick answers
Is it only for kids? The price is per ticket. Cineplex doesn’t list a separate adult or child rate for Family Favourites screenings.
Is every showing of these movies $3.99? No. The price only applies to the Family Favourites screening, usually around 11 a.m. A later showing of the same movie at the same theatre is regular price.
Are snacks discounted? No. The deal is on the ticket. Popcorn and drinks are regular price.
How do I get the cheapest tickets? Buy at the box office, or sign up for Scene+, which is free and cuts the online fee to $1. Holiday titles like The Polar Express and The Grinch can sell out, so for those, book online the Friday before.
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