West Side Story (1961)

“Just play it cool, boy… Real cool.” In anticipation of Steven Spielberg‘s upcoming WEST SIDE STORY, we felt the time was right to re-visit the incomparable 1961 film adaptation – and tip our hat to the late, great composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Buoyed by Robert Wise‘s dazzling direction, Bernstein‘s magnificent score, and Stephen Sondheim‘s … Read more

Some Like It Hot

“I wanna be loved by you, Just you, nobody else but you. I wanna be loved by you alo-o-one…. Boop boop e doo.” In anticipation of Netflix’s upcoming feature BLONDE (adapted from Joyce Carol Oates‘ biographical novel of the same name), we thought the time was right to revisit one of Marilyn Monroe‘s best-loved performances … Read more

L’Avventura

“L’AVVENTURA gave me one of the most profound shocks I’ve ever had at the movies.” – Martin Scorsese As part of Italian Heritage Month in Vancouver, the Rio Theatre has included screenings of select Italian titles in June, including a night dedicated to one of Italy’s most famous cinematic exports: Michelangelo Antonioni. On Tuesday, June … Read more

To Kill a Mockingbird

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Based on Harper Lee‘s semi-autobiographical and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD remains a classic of American cinema that is as relevant today … Read more

Lemmy

“More than any other rock musician, he is the baddest motherfucker in the world.” – Dave Grohl Raise a glass (or two, or three) and toast the life of one of the music world’s most innovative artists and genuine rock heroes, Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, with the phenomenal documentary LEMMY. Over four decades, Motörhead frontman … Read more

House (“Hausu”)

The Rio Theatre‘s Friday Late Night Movie series continues on  with a screening of one of our favourite and most frequently requested titles – the bizarro 70’s Japanese cult-classic oddity that is HOUSE (“Hausu”). Some movies can’t be explained; they need to be experienced. HOUSE is one of those movies. (Trust.) How to describe Nobuhiko … Read more

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (60th Anniversary Screening)

Caw, caw. Join us for the ornithological film of your dreams (and nightmares), courtesy of the Master of Horror, Alfred Hitchcock. Tippi Hedren stars in her career-defining role as Melanie Daniels, a wealthy San Francisco socialite who pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town. Slowly, life takes a turn for the bizarre … Read more

The Gentlemen Hecklers Present: Plan 9 from Outer Space

Join the Gentlemen Hecklers on Thursday, October 22 as they return to the Rio to take a gander at at, perhaps, the ultimate in cinematic sci-fi camp: Ed Wood’s PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, starring Bela Lugosi and Vampira. (Yes, this is actually happening.) Thursday, October 22 Doors 8:30/Show 9:00pm Advance tickets $10 online by … Read more

Re-Animator (1985)

Loosely based on a short story by author H.P. Lovecraft, RE-ANIMATOR (1985) is a body horror comedy about a medical college and his girlfriend who become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead people. Friday, June 26 REANIMATOR Doors 11:00 / Movie 11:30 Tickets $6 in advance / $8 door Advance tickets … Read more

Psycho

“A boy’s best friend is his mother. “ Phoenix secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), on the lam after stealing $40,000 from her employer in order to run away with her boyfriend, Sam Loomis (John Gavin), is overcome by exhaustion during a heavy rainstorm. Traveling on the back roads to avoid the police, she stops for … Read more