Free street parking, tons of leg room, great popcorn, local, nostalgic, a balcony, the best! I hate going downtown and dealing with traffic and being ripped off to park for a couple hours. This is none of that! Make your way to the Dunbar Theatre while you can. Saw Deadpool & Wolverine and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice recently here and plan to come back as much as I can. read more

Simply a terrific place to watch films. Great admission prices, concessions and community spirit above all. they have upgraded to modern cinema seats but retains that classic old theatre feel. I love they have balcony seating. Plenty of free parking in the streets around. I just wished i lived closer to the location. The staff are all just wonderful & on weekends one can order Krispy Kreme donuts ahead of time and pick them up from the theatre concession . read more

I was invited to an event here watching Solo: A Star Wars Story, and I have heard of this place, but never ever venturing out here to watch a movie, as this is a little out of my way, I am glad I came to feel what an old time theatre feels like. This place brings me back, probably even before my time, a place right in the neighbourhood which would show the next new flick practically in a residential district. When you get to the front, you see the aged pillar of a sign that says 'Dunbar Theatre', there is a small desk up front selling tickets to the movie and before hitting the one theatre venue there are concessions on the left side serving up freshly cooked popcorn and whatever junk you can muster before claiming your non-assigned seating and to be prepared to be whisked away to another place for 2 hours. I am surprised, that they are able to enhance the viewing pleasure by offering 3D movies here. If you haven't been here before, the best similar example would be that of the Rio (Broadway & Commercial) or the Park theatre (Cambie), the seating arrangement is not that sloped, so if you have a tail individual sitting in front of you, hopefully the angle and place you chose just gets you a good view, but Cineplex this is not, and do not expect that. The picture and sound are great here, and that is what you come for, the movie itself, and since they serve up all the top movies, just one at a time, it is a nice feel, come early to get your seats. The surprising thing for me was the amount of leg room and the amount of seat space, these things feel like big couches, and if you are one to get comfy at a movie, and want to support an independent theatre you can check off those two points. You can watch the screen before the movie as you will see local advertisements and a small stick-man cartoon about turning off your cell phone before the movie, all the little charms you will not be getting at the big guys. This place is a part of history and it is nice that it is still going strong. read more

Dunbar Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Popcorn is still so deliciously buttery that you'll be slipping out of your seat while you're eating it. Seriously. BEST POPCORN IN THE CITY. The seats? Still, THE BEST SEATS IN THE CITY. Don't waste your time at other theaters. This one is truly a gem. read more

Dunbar Theatre - Best movie theatre popcorn in the city. - Cinema Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I remember going to Dunbar Theater as a little kid, since it was the only cinema in the area. The floors were sticky, the seats were creaky, and the price was right! Now, Dunbar Theater's had an upgrade, makeover, and overhaul, though it still only shows one movie at a time on its one screen. However, the seats are comfier and don't squeak every time you shift, though you'll likely pay higher admission prices than I did back in 89. read more

Dunbar Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

terribly ran, i believe Manny, one of the bosses, every time i walk in she's slumped over with a nasty face. while booking with her she's very angry seeming making me wonder if she even enjoys her job. overall the younger staff are incredible, there bosses are letting the theatre go to shit with their poor working attitudes. read more

Shhhhh, this place is one of the best kept secret on Dunbar...so let's keep it that way. But I must compliment them on the reno with new cushy seats with armrests that go up for the couples (or parents with little kids). The balcony seats offer a different experience watching movies. Staff is friendly, and the popcorn is always fresh. Ticket prices are reasonable and include Tuesday specials. Best part is they're now showing first runs, instead of seconds. My only wish is that they can get a larger screen in the future. read more

The Dunbar Theatre combines the best of the old with the best of the new with plenty of good and a little bad. The old and the good are the buttery popcorn at prices from decades past and free street parking as you are in a residential 'hood along a commercial strip. The new are the big comfy seat that allows one to recline back and relax with plenty of leg room. The bad is that it can be challenging to coordinate a trip to the Dunbar given the uncertainty of the scheduling of movies and only one viewing screen. This is a minor inconvenience which can be addressed thru a little planning. TIP: Front row balcony are the best seats in the house but one has to get there early to secure them. read more

this place is not your Scotia Cineplex but guess what, it has real organic butter for you popcorn so I like to go here

Dunbar Theatre isn't new to the neighborhood, and that's a good thing. The single-screen​ movie house plays recent releases, however, and has amazing popcorn. Sooooo delicious and perfectly hot and salty. Plus, they offer more than just fountain drinks. The seating is spacious and so comfortable. I love Dunbar Theatre! read more

I watched Little Women here. It was my first time at the Dunbar Theater, and I loved my experience. The popcorn was layered with butter, and the seats were very comfy. I will definitely recommend this theater to my friends and family! read more

A bit of a hike from where I live (Kitsilano), but very well worth the trip. They installed new seats some time ago and they're incredibly comfortable - the seats actually recline (to a degree) and are generously wide (that's not a phrase I say usually, by the way). The arm rests lift up, so you can take someone on a date and get in some nice cuddle time, or just hog two seats to yourself, I guess, and pretend that you're home. The price is also very nice. For a 3D movie it's $12.50 (incl. tax), compared to, inexplicably, $15.50 + tax at Scotiabank Theatre. A non-3D movie will run you under $10 and if you have valid student ID, including university students, it's just $7 from Sunday through Thursday. Again: Most comfortable seats in the city and great prices. Concession is cash only, but a $20 will take you a long, long way, and their most expensive combo is $10. Sweet. read more

I go to a lot of movies, and I have to say I've been pretty happy since I moved closer to Dunbar Theatre. The seating, picture and sound are all now excellent, and for my money at least, it has the best popcorn in the city. It's also rarely crowded, meaning you can get excellent seats in the balcony practically up until showtime. If you're taking public transit, the 7 will get you there. read more

We live at UBC and this is the closest theatre that plays blockbuster movies. Located on Dunbar street with lots of free street parking in the area. Definitely a old school theatre which has the added benefit of REAL popcorn nicely buttered. Only one large screen, all of the seats are new and are like a modern recliner seat, very comfortable and spacious. There is a balcony which has a great view and is where people usually try to get the front row for a ultimate view. Ground floor views are fine as well unless the person in front is extremely tall. They have free boosters for kids so kids can see better if needed. Other than opening nights, usually do not have a problem getting in. They often feature deals on Groupon where you can snag a 2 adults and 1 popcorn combo for $16. The adult tickets are around $14 so this works out to a nice night at the movies for a decent price. Large pop is around $5.50 and is bottomless so drink as much as your bladder will allow! read more

Attending this theatre evokes a nostalgia that I'm too young to hold about the movies. Their popcorn is a big buttery deal, in the largest serving I've ever seen, there's a grandiose balcony, and the seats throughout the cinema are huge and plush. It's amazing to think that people have been eating popcorn in those chairs for the last 80 years, but hopefully it's not the same batch. They don't even have the mass produced Real-D glasses for their 3D movies, which is a new option here. Instead they provide their own brand of no-names, which is very bizarre. There's a huge pile at the door for you to return them/pick them up for your next movie experience. For an enhanced nostalgia experience, remember fondly that those glasses you're wearing were previously worn by someone equally amazed at the newest in theatre technology. The only place in the theatre they haven't carefully maintained is the bathroom, but that might have just been the best lit place in the faculty. I'd need to take a tour without the film to really get to know what 80 years of age will do. read more

You want the real deal in movie experiences? Because this place has "IT". Yes, "IT", that nostalgic feel of what it must have been like before all the fancy jiggly seats, the screens spanning wider than the eye can see, and the abundant concession items with suggary popcorn flavours. Not that theres anything at all wrong with the fancy doohickies, but this place, how should I put it? The new age theatres are like mid grade Vodka, they do the trick, they're enjoyed by most, lead to fun times, but best going down fast. Whereas Dunbar is like aged Whiskey, the good stuff, meant to be savoured slowly and with a side of introspection, maybe not for everyone, yet, but really worth the time to get to know it and fall in love it. I doubt anything has changed decor wise since it was first razed but that just adds to its charm. The ticket prices are reasonable, the seats are amazingly comfy and the balcony is pure perfection. And don't worry, I'm not forgetting the popcorn. They tout their popcorn as being the best in Vancouver. I disagree. It is the best in BC from my experience. THE BEST popcorn. Always hot, always bursting with buttery flavour and salted to perfection. Portion size? Enough that you'll want for nothing. Cheese topping you say? TRAVESTY! Take your sinful words to downtown! You'll be lucky to get through the first 1/4 of the movie without putting yourself into the most wonderous popcorn induced food ecstacy. I'm lucky if I get throught the first 10 minutes without devouring the whole thing. Wrapping this up, I always have the fear that this place will go the way of all the other amazing theatres we used to have and pack up shop to be replaced by more condos. So I send out a plea for everyone to see (I'm rhyming....) make Dunbar your next uhhhhh....uhhhh.... Funbar! read more

One of the few if only independent theatres left in Vancouver. Great popcorn, comfy seats and lots of room. Support this place!

I love this little neighbourhood theatre! Cushy seats and delicious popcorn, paired with very wallet-friendly prices make this a winner. The staff are always very nice too. I want it to be a wee bit busier so it stays open forever, but not TOO busy!! I still want my cushy seat with legroom to spare! read more

Okay... I'm going to go ahead and give away my secret stash place for cinematic excursions. Yes.. this is an older theater. Old skool flat layout, older camera and screen. It's definitely not an Imax 3-D cinema. But therein lies it's perfect qualities. It 'feels' like your in a movie theatre.. it just has that rustic feel to it that if you were watching a horror, you wouldn't put it past your own imagination that a zombie would pop thru the screen. There's even a balcony level if that's not enough. You still get good popcorn. And the seats are AMAZINGLY huge... like, G6 jet luxury set huge. But best of all.. There's always a few seats available. I've watched a few big blockbuster opening nights here... and capacity was perfect. Not too busy and certainly not dead. This sure beats all the waiting in line and advance ticket purchase. So there you go. Now you know my secret. See you there for the opening of TRON Legacy!! read more

Had a great time in the theater. However, it was spoiled by the terrible customer service and rudeness from the lady at the counter. Because of her, we will not be coming back. I advise management to resolve this poor customer service immediately as they are likely losing a lot of business because of it. read more

Awesome local theatre that always has wicked social shopper deals. Usually $13 for 2 plus popcorn (extra for 3D). The most delicious fresh popcorn and it feels so old school to come here. Usually we prefer here to the other theatres when we are going out on a date night. The seats are super comfy, wide enough to cross my legs, lean back and enjoy a non obstructed view of the screen any where I sit. It's also rarely full so you don't have to come super early just to get good seats. read more

Great neighborhood theater. This place should be strongly supported by the community. Owner supports local charities, community events and other charities: ie: Philippine disaster relief..... But besides that, the popcorn is excellent, the seats are deluxe and the worst seat in the house is still a great seat!! read more

I love Dunbar Theatre for its super yummy popcorn, super comfy seats and lots of leg room. I come here for everything I love. One thing I am not too happy with is that since its a one screen cinema, it sometimes doesn't show movies that I want to watch. We also don't know what the movies would be until a few days before. It's a bit frustrating when I'm trying to watch a specific movie with friends. read more

Apologies to the woman with blonde dreadlocks for offending you with our groupon tickets and not reading the fine print. We will take our business else where next time. read more

Great theatre, but lady at the front ticket counter is very rude (especially if you have Groupon tickets). Prime example of poor customer service. Someone should tell her to smile - it's free and it goes a long way. read more

The Dunbar Theatre is my favourite place to see a movie on the entire planet Earth. It's so awesome, I wouldn't be surprised to see aliens from another planet, visiting Earth for the first time, and going out of their way to come see a movie at this theater. Best popcorn ever. A good selection of snacks, coffee and tea. And at 6 foot two, I find that the Dunbar theatre has the most legroom of any theatre I've ever been to, lots of room to stretch out! And a balcony! You just can't beat that. read more

best popcorn ever.... but the new seats you recently put in are awful compared to the old ones.

The most charming and endearing movie theatre you'll find in Vancouver ( even beats the Rio, Sorry east siders ;) ). The seats are very comfortable and large, and the popcorn is really delicious. Tastes like real popcorn as opposed to Cinemax style plastic tasting stuff. I feel bad taking one star away because this place is the so great, but I did so because they only have one movie playing at a time... and it's often a kids movie and major action films. Not opposed to that, and I do love my Disney films, but I haven't seen a film that I wanted to see there in a few months now. BUT this is all a matter of opinion and doesn't take away from the theatre quality itself. read more

A fantastic independent cinema. The Dunbar Theatre has larger, more comfy seats than the highest price multiplexes, with tons of leg room. A great quality digital projection, good screen size and good quality sound. The theatre itself is unexpectedly large, with a gentle slope providing all with a good view. The balcony is a nice old school touch also. Excellent popcorn, friendly people and with all the big blockbusters, why would I go back downtown? Worth supporting, worth telling your friends about. A very cool place. read more

My favourite theatre! Best popcorn ever with real organic butter, roomy and comfortable seats etc. Great experience every time.

A great little neighbourhood theatre. We live close by, so no reason to go downtown. The seats are comfortable, and the popcorn really is as good as everyone says! It's a good place to go and watch a movie with a nice screen and good sound. Fun and friendly atmosphere. read more

This is not a top of the line, high-tech theatre with 4D effects in the seats. It is an older local theatre that caters to the local neighbours and students. I love that this place values their neighbours and work to keep that warm local feel. The bathroom for me is a little odd with no mirrors above the sink, but hey the plumbing still works! No automatic faucets or toilets here.:)...Their popcorn is one of the best, except this time I think there was too much butter lol...The best thing here is the leg room and i mean you can seriously stretch your legs all the way out! Great for the taller customers out there but hey petite me also enjoy it. One thing to remember is that the concession only takes cash so remember to bring some change! On another plus and cute side is the fact that they have a KEurig machine where you can pay for a nice cup of coffee. I usually order the Peach stone drink as only they have it here. read more

Dunbar Theatre - Butter!!! - Cinema Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Great popcorn, sound and after the new seats were installed - comfiest seats in town! I wish they had more shows playing, but I will always opt for dunbar if I have a choice of theatre. read more

Nothing beats seeing a movie at an old single screen theatre. The Dunbar makes it even better with modern updates. They removed the old seats and replaced them with new semi-reclining ones that are very comfortable. Better yet, there's a huge amount of legroom between rows, so you won't miss stadium seating at all. And there's even a balcony. I saw Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 and the sound was excellent - clear and crisp. And no horrendous downtown parking challenges! Prices were good, my only complaint was the doorman could have looked up from his texting to acknowledge customers! read more

All the features of a classic cinema. A single, large screen, slightly dusty, worn decor, big seats, good selection of 'treats' and kids-friendly. An original balcony too. A hard-to-beat venue. The usherettes need to glam-up a bit though. read more

This is fab, and the only independent theatre left on the westside. They're great for supporting local businesses, have huge seats, great popcorn and none of the crazy crowds that you see down at Scotia. If the movie is playing here, this is where I go to see it. read more

Now that Hollywood and the Ridge are long gone, this is as old school as you can get on the west side. If you go to the movies for the ultimate in sensory stimulation then this is NOT the place for you, as I recall watching The Hobbit here a while back was quite an underwhelming experience. But if you value nostalgia above all else and also want to support independently-owned businesses then Dunbar Theatre's definitely your joint! read more

We watched Harry Potter 6 here on a warm July night and the heat in the theatre was near unbearable. They need to turn up their air-con! People were fanning themselves. I complained to the guy at the ticketbooth afterwards and he made some lame comment about how it will get that way with 350 people inside. So, based on this alone, we will not be seeing a summer movie here again. Pros: the ticket prices are reasonable ($9), the concession prices are fair ($10 for a regular combo) and the seats are comfortable, with a folding armrest and a lot of leg room. They recline a bit, but they are not high-backs. Cons: The screen is not that big. It's not SilverCity. The sound system was just okay (could have been louder). They did not turn up the air-con enough! Don't know if it is underpowered, or if they are trying to save money. Mens washrooms are a little dated (only two sinks, and the urinals are too close to each other with no privacy barriers.) read more

With the demise of the Ridge, the Dunbar and the Park theatres are the last of a dying breed in Vancouver ... the single screen theatre! The great thing about the Dunbar is the massive, I mean seriously massive legroom for each row of seats ... it is incredible. You could be 7 feet tall and comfortable! The upstairs balcony seating is not so roomy however. read more

The seats with lots of leg room sure make up for the teenagers with attitude running the till & the concession stand.