There are just a few more bags of popcorn and drinks to fill at the current Carnival Cinemas concession for staff member Aliya Gladue (pictured) and crew during the theatre's final week in Capstone. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

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Carnival Cinemas set for final weekend in Capstone, and preparing for move

Dec 30, 2025 | 5:09 PM

It’s almost time for the final curtains on Carnival Cinemas’ three-decade run at its current location in Red Deer’s Capstone area.

As reported by rdnewsNOW in June 2025, the theatre, which has always shown movies after they were done at the bigger player, will be relocating to downtown Red Deer, into what was most recently the Red Deer Polytechnic-owned Welikoklad Event Centre.

Owner Bill Ramji said at the time that he had his eyes on the end of 2025 for the move to become a reality.

That’s pretty much coming true, as Carnival will shut its doors on Alexander Way after its final weekend, Jan. 2-4.

Now playing a standard slate of movies that have been out for varying times, the closing three days will feature a marquee of 12 popular movies from the past, and you can get a ticket to any screening for just a loonie.

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They include Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman (1989), Blazing Saddles, Superpets, Detective Pikachu, Kung Fu Panda, The NeverEnding Story, Scooby Doo The Movie, Superman (1978), The Goonies, The Matrix, and The Lost Boys.

Speaking with rdnewsNOW Dec. 30, Ramji explained he will remain owner of the current building, and could only say that a major national tenant will be moving into the 18,000 square foot space. He said the previously reported on bank will be going in a different building.

Meanwhile, Ramji aims to re-open Carnival — perhaps under a slightly rebooted name — no later than June 2026 at the new spot.

Bill Ramji (pictured) is the longtime owner of Carnival Cinemas. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“When you’ve been in a place which has been home for almost 30 years, and we opened in 1996, there are going to be some mixed feelings, no question,” Ramji said.

“In a way, it’s exciting we will be moving, and I would be totally sad if we were shutting it down altogether, but the hope is that the move into a theatre in the centre of downtown, which used to be an auditorium, and a cinema, will make up for closing this place.”

Carnival used to have eight screens, then realignment on Alexander Way forced them down to six. The new spot will have four, but Ramji, whose favourite movie he’s ever seen at Carnival was Happy Gilmore (the original, of course), said what the downtown location offers should make for a more sustainable business model.

One of the cinemas also has a stage, built by former ownership, and that will be put to good use with Carnival continuing to collaborate with local arts organizations.

Ramji shared some thoughts on the necessity of leaving Capstone, and why it just wouldn’t work there any longer for Carnival.

“We have to go back a few years, pre-COVID, and understand that we have to clear the other theatre in town before we get any product. There are times we’ve opened up product, and there are some art shows we cater to, but by and large, we have to clear the mainstream before we get anything,” he began.

With the building being repurposed for a “major national tenant,” work is underway to transform it for its new purpose. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“When we first opened as a discount house, even though Cineplex was around, there was no cheap offering, so people gravitated here. There were also no streaming services. We go as far back as VHS and the days of Blockbuster. But we still believe that coming to a movie theatre is one of the most cost-effective forms of entertainment.”

COVID took the bottom right out, he said.

The location too, though he owns it, is expensive when it comes to maintenance and property taxes.

Add all that up, and it forces one to look at other options.

“During COVID, people stayed home, they had more funds, they had nothing to do. They went out and got nice TVs, home theatre equipment, signed up for all the streaming services, and then movie production halted,” he continued.

“Now with the development of Capstone, which I’ve always been a believer in from day one, we had an opportunity to pivot. This is why we’re moving.”

But before the lights go down on the final movie at 5402 47 Street (Alexander Way) Ramji just wants to be clear that this is not goodbye, but rather see you later.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

He added that one reason Happy Gilmore is his favourite movie seen there is because it ran and ran and ran for what seemed like forever, longer than any other film in the theatre’s history, he believes.

That was back in 1996 when they opened.

“It kept bringing in the crowd. It was never-ending and we could never get rid of it,” he recalled.

“I really want to thank the people and the community of Red Deer, and the surrounding communities. From day one, they’ve been supporters of Carnival. It’s served its purpose and I hope we can see the same happen downtown.”

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READ MORE

• Drive-thru bank approved for soon former Carnival Cinemas site
• Former Welikoklad Event Centre to become new home for Carnival Cinemas
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