The Rio Theatre

THRILLING LIVE SHOWS AT THE RIO! - Live music, comedy, burlesque, drag and celebrity apearances are taking centre stage this season at The Rio Theatre! https://mailchi.mp/riotheatre/live-shows-rio-fall-7588213

WE’RE #1!!!! Thanks to everyone who voted for the Rio Theatre in the Georgia Straight’s 28th annual Best Of Vancouver poll.

We are humbled!
We are grateful!
We are stoked!

We look forward to seeing all of you again soon for more great live entertainment, movies and buttery popcorn.

As always, head to www.riotheatre.ca for complete listings and showtimes.

NOW PLAYING! A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, SUGARCANE, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning.

In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. After years of silence, the forced separation, assimilation and abuse many children experienced at these segregated boarding schools was brought to light, sparking a national outcry against a system designed to destroy Indigenous communities. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, SUGARCANE illuminates the heartbreak and beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to survive.

“Sears the mind and haunts the soul” (Toronto Star)

Friday, September 6 6:00 pm
Saturday, September 7 3:15 pm

Tickets in advance or at the door. 🎟️

www.riotheatretickets.ca

FRIDAY! “I see dead people.” /// Kickstart your weekend with one of cinema’s greatest ghost stories, in the dark and on the big screen.

M. Night Shyamalan’s white knuckle chiller THE SIXTH SENSE was a heart-stopping game changer when it was released in 1999 - and it holds up! Join us for an encore, 25th Anniversary screening on September 6 (see what we did?) at 8:30 pm.

Tickets available in advance or at the door.

JUST ANNOUNCED! Comedian Romesh Ranganathan is bringing the HUSTLE to the Rio Theatre’s stage on Monday, January 20.

Pre-sale tickets available September 5 at 9:00 am.
General on sale tickets available September 6 at 9:00 am.

All tickets 🎟️ available via www.riotheatretickets.ca

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER AT THE RIO! - Break The Game, Sugarcane, Seinfeld Burlesque, Kevin Smith LIVE with The 4:30 Movie, Stormy Daniels LIVE, Paris Texas and Gilda in new 4k Restorations, Chinese Film Week screenings, a Friday The 13th Double Bill and much more!https://mailchi.mp/riotheatre/september-4

A powerful storm is heading this way Tuesday Sept 10th! Stormy Daniels LIVE at the Rio premiering her new acclaimed documentary STORMY! Limited VIP Meet and greet tickets still available!

LOW TICKET ALERT! Join us on September 5 at 9:30 pm for the Vancouver Premiere of GOAT! Tickets going fast!

Encore screening September 8 @ 3:00 pm.

Tickets 🎟️ www.riotheatretickets.ca

QUEEN: It's A Kinda Magic LIVE at The Rio Theatre! Direct from Australia, the acclaimed Queen tribute experience returns to Canada by popular demand, Thurs. Sept 19! - https://mailchi.mp/riotheatre/queen-tribute-7588201

BREAK THE GAME screens Wednesday, September 4th at 6:30pm.

After coming out as a trans woman, world-record-holding gamer, Narcissa Wright loses her massive fanbase. To win them back, she attempts to set a new world record in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, while live-streaming every minute of her mythic quest. Drawing from an archive of more than 3,000 hours of Narcissa’s livestreams, intimate verite, and 8-bit animation, BREAK THE GAME is a moving exploration of gamer culture, the realities of online harassment, and the mental health implications of living a digital life.

Stick around after the film screening for a live “speedrun”, wherein gamer LovelySirius will attempt to break the world record time for completing one of the Zelda series games.

LovelySirius will be providing some live commentary to both the live and online audience, as they run through the game. Audience members will have the opportunity to interact with LovelySirius and others through the live chat in the dedicated Twitch stream for the speedrun. Ticketholders are encouraged to download the Twitch app and create an account before the event if they haven’t already.

***rvancouver

PARIS, TEXAS screens Wednesday, September 11th at 6:15pm with a new 4K restoration for its 40th anniversary.

Written by the late, great Sam Shepard, and directed by Wim Wenders, this sweetly desolate road movie takes place in a mythologized Reagan-era America, and follows a disheveled man named Travis Henderson who wanders out of the desert, seemingly with no idea of who he is. When a stranger manages to contact his brother, Walt, Travis is awkwardly reunited with his sibling. Travis has been missing for years, and his presence unsettles Walt and his family, which also includes Travis’s own son, Hunter. Soon Travis must confront his wife, Jane , and try to put his life back together. With Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, Nastassja Kinski and Hunter Carson.

Tickets at riotheatretickets.ca

THE SIXTH SENSE screens Sunday, September 1st at 10pm

The Rio Theatre‘s deep dive into Y2K movie goodness continues with a 25th Anniversary screening of one of the heaviest hitters – of any genre – from that era, M. Night Shyamalan’s palpably epic, game-changing white knuckle-thrill ride, THE SIXTH SENSE

Young Cole Sear is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. Cole is frightened by visitations from those with unresolved problems who appear from the shadows. He is too afraid to tell anyone about his anguish, except child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe. As Dr. Crowe tries to uncover the truth about Cole’s supernatural abilities, the consequences for client and therapist are a jolt that awakens them both to something unexplainable.With Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette.

Tickets at riotheatretickets.ca

Major props to trend pimps .hewson for genius -ing a pretty purrrr-fect midweek fundraiser screening of JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and big thanks to everyone who joined us last week!

Let’s do it again some time, kittens.

😻😽

MONDAY! Cut loose (and kick off your Monday shoes) with a 40th Anniversary screening of the 1980s pop-culture classic FOOTLOOSE.

In this iconic 80s romantic drama, Bacon stars as a kid from the big city who finds himself in a small, kinda backward hick town that has outlawed… dancing. Making matters worse, the girl he’s falling for (Lori Singer, the one with the red cowboy boots) is the daughter of the local preacher (John Lithgow) who kinda hates him, because… dancing. There’s some fight scenes, country kids playing chicken on tractors, not one but two Oscar-nominated songs (Kenny Loggins‘ ‘Footloose’ and Deniece Williams’ ‘Let’s Hear it For the Boy’), Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Penn, Dianne Weist, and yet more… dancing.

September 2 6:30 pm

Tickets 🎟️ in advance or at the door.

TONIGHT /// Make your Saturday sizzle, ! Have we got a show for you…. Join us at 9:00 pm as a copious cavalcade of top notch talent and captivating cabaret at The Rio Theatre Burlesque and Variety Show.

Local luminary April O’Peel has curated a show full of wonder sure to dazzle and delight our fun loving audience. The theme is… NO THEME. That’s right! These talented performers will each be performing one act of their choosing.

What act will they decide to bring to The Rio Theatre Burlesque and Variety Show!?

Featuring performances from:

Batty Banks
Cleo Victory
Heavy Duty Dance Collective
Madame Merlot
Maverick
Rainbow Glitz
Victoria Kourt
What Surname
Yuki the Juggler
April O‘Peel
The Lolas

Hosted by Gia Sangria

Tickets 🎟️ www.riotheatretickets.ca

LONG WEEKEND AND BEYOND AT THE RIO! - Kneecap, Le Samourai, Cannibal Holocaust, Rio Burlesque & Variety Show, Stop Making Sense, The Sixth Sense, Footloose and more! https://mailchi.mp/riotheatre/august30

SARIPODAH SANIVARAAM screens in Telegu with EST this Saturday, Aug. 31 and THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME screens in Tamil with EST Sept. 4 w/ additional dates!- https://mailchi.mp/692ad8dfc8b4/saripodah_goat

SUNDAY! A psychedelic fairy tale years in the making comes from the imagination of director Benoît Chieux. With captivating creatures and a vibrant Seussian world, ‘Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds’ is a kaleidoscopic fantasy adventure bursting with charm and wonder.

“This is a distinctive and original piece of world-building that, at the same time, pays homage to legendary figures in animation – mainly Hayao Miyazaki. ” (Screen International)

“A truly spectacular psychedelic excursion in the vein of head-trip classics “The Fantastic Planet” and ‘The Yellow Submarine.’” (Variety)

Kids pricing in effect!! (English dub.) Tickets 🎟️ available in advance or at the door.

September 2 12:30 pm

Mee-owe! Our special screening of JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (hosted by .hewson liv.hewson and ) at 9:30 tonight just got a little more purrrr-fect…. 😻🐈🌈

Because prizes! Check out some of the sweet, sweet swag that will be on the table tonight as we raise a little cash for our friends at . 🏳️‍🌈🦄

Join us! Cat ears, and trend pimps of all ages are very welcome. It’s looking like a busy show, so come early for great seats. Doors 9:00 pm.

Tickets 🎟️ available in advance or at the door.

NOW SHOWING AT THE RIO THEATRE - The Critical Hit Show, Pretty in Pink, Kneecap, Le Samourai, Rio Burlesque & Variety Show, Stop Making Sense, The Sixth Sense, Footloose, Sugarcane and more! https://mailchi.mp/riotheatre/august23-7588180

SUNDAY! Same as it ever was…. Still making long weekend plans? Make some with us!

Our deep dive into 80s and Y2K movie goodness continues on September 1 with standouts from both of those eras, including the truly glorious 40th Anniversary restoration of Jonathan Demme’s iconic concert film featuring New Wave pioneers, the Talking Heads, in STOP MAKING SENSE at 7:45 pm.

Follow that up with a 25th Anniversary screening of M. Night Shyamalan’s game-changing thriller THE SIXTH SENSE at 10:00 pm.

Tickets for both films available either in advance or at the door.

NOW PLAYING! In a career-defining performance, the late, great Alain Delon plays Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts. After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.

An elegantly stylized masterpiece of cool by maverick director Jean‑Pierre Melville, LE SAMOURAI is a razor-sharp cocktail of 1940s American gangster cinema and 1960s French pop culture—with a liberal dose of Japanese lone-warrior mythology.

“Minimal and breathtaking, Jean-Pierre Melville’s ‘Le Samourai’ features an icy and smoldering lead performance from one of the most beautiful human beings to ever grace the big screen: Alain Delon.” (Cinapse)

“Fedoras and trench coats. Film noir in cool blues and greens. Frenchman 🇫🇷Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film ‘Le Samourai’ is the real deal.” (Austin Chronicle)

August 30 8:45 pm
September 1 5:15 pm

Restored in 4K by Pathé and the Criterion Collection at L’Immagine Ritrovata from the 35 mm original camera negative.

Tickets 🎟️ available in advance or at the door.

WEDNESDAY! More magic. More mayhem. More off-brand soda!

’s most intrepid improv performers return to the Rio Theatre’s stage on August 28 for another instalment of the epic fantasy comedy saga, THE CRITICAL HIT SHOW!

has been performing at the Rio (and beyond!) since 2012. Inspired by tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, 13th Age, and Pathfinder, movies like The Lord of the Rings, Vancouver’s best comedic talent will find themselves on dangerous and hilarious quests. Along the way, players and heroes will be helped (or hindered) by YOU!

All you need to know is how to have fun! Roll the dice and join us.

Tickets 🎟️ available in advance or at the door.

Happy Tuesday, ! Join us tonight for encore screenings of the stunning restoration CALIGULA: THE ULTIMATE CUT at 5:55 pm and Ti West’s MA # # at 9:30 pm.

Tickets 🎟️ for both available either in advance or at the door.

WEDNESDAY! Meee-owe…
The oh-so-very-often requested, Vancouver-lensed 2001 musical comedy and q***r cult-classic, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, is taking over our big screen on August 28.

Even better? The night is being hosted by actor Liv Hewson (YELLOWJACKETS) and filmmaker Ally Pankiw (I USED TO BE FUNNY).

But wait… There’s more! JOSIE’s writer-director Deborah Kaplan has even sent along some signed merch from the original film and some shirts from Super Yaki to make the night totally purrrfect. So don’t forget your cat ears and, well, honk if you love pussy….cats! 😻

Partial proceeds from the screening will benefit one of our favourite social advocacy organizations, 🌈🦄

Tickets 🎟️ available in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca

Minors welcome! (So are cat ears and fuzzy tails.)

August 28 9:30 pm

COMING SOON! Join us on September 4 at 9:30 pm for the of the Tamil-language action thriller THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (GOAT).

An explosive thriller inspired by the 2004 Moscow Metro bombing, where a su***de bomber detonated in a crowded subway, killing dozens. It delves into the aftermath and pursuit of those responsible. Starring Vijay, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Prasanth, Malvika Sharma, Raghava Lawrence.

Tickets 🎟️ on sale now www.riotheatretickets.ca

FRIDAY! The Rio Theatre‘s Friday Late Night Movie series continues on August 30 with one of the all-time classic grindhouse films ever made, Ruggero Deodato’s exploitation staple CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Since its release in 1980, the film has been both banned and heavily censored throughout the world; decades after its release it continues to be a film that surpasses its reputation and legacy as a shotgun blast to the senses. (In other words… This is not for the faint of heart!)

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST presents the ‘found footage’ of four documentary filmmakers who experience brutal death at the hands of a savage South American tribe of flesh-eaters. The footage is so intense so graphic and so unflinching in its realism that the director and producer of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST were arrested on its original release and the film was seized.

Predating THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT in its use of ‘found footage’, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST also served as a key inspiration for Eli Roth’s THE GREEN INFERNO.

Be forewarned: This is the one that goes ALL THE WAY! With Robert Kerman, Carl Yorke, Francesca Ciardi, Luca Barbereschi, Salvatore Basile, Perry Pirkanen.

“…the film is, to put it bluntly, one of the most intentionally distasteful and violent experiences one could ever watch. It also remains one of the genre’s most enduring, for better and worse, after all these years.” (Collider)

“… This is well made, uniquely unpleasant and almost deserving of its huge cult status.” (Time Out)

“Whether or not it was his intention, it is also possible to discern a message amid the cruelty: read this as a savage indictment of the power of the media in general, and exploitative documentary filmmaking in particular.” (Film 4)

August 30 11:00 pm

Late Night Date Night! Entry is two-for-one!

With guest introduction and intro from ’s

THURSDAY! Try a little tenderness… /// Our deep dive into 80s movie goodness continues with one of the most requested romantic coming-of-age titles we get from that era, PRETTY IN PINK. With Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Jon Cryer, James Spader, Harry Dean Stanton, and Annie Potts.

80s prom attire is (always) welcome and encouraged.

August 29 7:00 pm

Tickets 🎟️ available in advance or at the door.

Happy Monday, ! Welcome to a fresh week.

Join us tonight at 6:30 pm for one of the more thrilling cinematic discoveries of the year, the newly restored 1973 film THE BLUES UNDER THE SKIN. Part feature, part documentary, the simple story of love and misery follows of a young couple from the Harlem ghetto to meetings with twelve great blues singers (BB King, Mance Lipscomb, Robert Pete Williams, Roosevelt Sykes), filmed in their social milieu.

At 8:45 pm, we’ve got the musical-comedy hip-hop drama KNEECAP (Ireland’s 🇮🇪☘️ entry for the 2025 Oscars).

Tickets 🎟️ for both films available in advance or at the door.