Decarie Theatre

For nearly two decades, Dollar Cinema inside Décarie Square was an institution. Founded in 2004 by Bernie Gurberg, the theatre became famous for its no-frills pricing: first-run tickets went for a dollar, later creeping up to $2.50, with popcorn to match. Gurberg ran the cash himself, greeting regulars by name, slipping kids an extra chocolate bar, and turning the space into a makeshift community hall. For families, special-needs groups, and anyone priced out of multiplexes, it was a rare pocket of accessibility in Montreal’s cinema landscape. But by 2022, the combined weight of streaming platforms, COVID closures, and thinning margins finally closed the curtain. Today, the theatre has been reimagined as the Decarie Theatre—a venue built for concerts, screenings, and private events.