The Clyde Theatre

Great local theatre that stays up to date with most modern technology, without charging an arm and a leg for everything. Like any business, there can always be improvements, the owners seem to know that, which is why they take care of things when they can.

I love this little theater! My partner and I don’t go out to movies much but when we do we keep it local. They have some great movies that pass through their screen and have a super friendly, helpful and charming staff.

My welcoming island neighbors invited me to see the picture show with them, and I’m glad I accepted — it turns out I love the Clyde!
The Clyde was packed on a Monday night. Most of the locals know one another so there’s lots of greeting and socializing before and after the movie, fun for city visitors like me to see. Good selection of movies, cheap snacks and a small town feel.
If you absolutely require the latest in stadium seating, multiplex options or cinema tech, the Clyde might not be your bag but it’s a great local experience — at about half the ticket price I pay at home.

5-​stars for location, ambience, selection of off-​kilter films, and ridiculously affordable (albeit deadly unhealthy) snacks. 1-​star deduction for the seating, which leaves me restless and uncomfortable after about an hour.
For a great Langley evening, dine at one of the restaurants on 1^st St (Village Pizzeria, Prima Bistro, Café Langley), and then check out a 7:30 pm viewing, stuffing yourself on popcorn, soda and chocolatey goods.
Upcoming films can be found on the Clyde’s website.

I’m always torn with this theatre, which I suppose is why I’m just now writing a review despite having first visited way back in 2005 (and periodically since). It’s such a sweet little place, from the volunteer (yes, volunteer!) ticket takers to the post-​movie hangout-​and-​discuss sesh that invariably follows every showing. If you live on-​island, you already know The Clyde and probably have a soft spot for it… and this review is not for you. You don’t need me to tell you about the only theatre in town.
I write much more for the Langley tourist-​type, the visitor to this little island community that thinks they might like to catch a showing to kill a couple hours. Here’s the thing: this is a small-​town theatre through and through, complete with creaky seats, a too-​flat seating area which means you see more of the head (s) in front of you than the action on the screen, and the most frustrating of all: all the island-​dwelling retiree types who don’t give a darn about theatre etiquette and will let their cell phones ring all the way to voicemail (four separate times during Life of Pi), ask their hard-​of-​hearing spouse what just happened because they missed a snippet of dialogue (two couples within my earshot), and trip past you in a mad dash to the bathroom during the most dramatic scene of the film.
Moral of the story being: The Clyde CAN be a lot of fun, in a very sweet small-​town way, but really only if you are not super invested in the film that’s showing (did I forget to mention? Only one screen = only one movie option at a time). There’s no real reason to rush in to see Zero Dark Thirty. See something you’ve already seen, or something that doesn’t require your full attention at all times.

Speaking as a local. I love this place.