Famous Players operated numerous movie theatre locations in Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Prior to its retirement, Famous Players operated its theatres under its traditional namesake, SilverCity, Paramount, Coliseum, and Colossus brands.

Famous Players Canadian Corporation dates back to the early days of Famous Players Film Company (later Paramount Pictures), founded in 1912, as its earliest predecessor, though that company did not have any operations in Canada until 1920, when it bought Nathan Nathanson's Paramount Theatre chain, which Nathanson had established four years earlier.

Some of the most high-profile and popular theatres in the Famous Players chain were the Imperial and the Uptown in Toronto, and the Capitol, Orpheum, Stanley, and Strand in Vancouver.

Originally began with 13 theatres located in Ontario and British Columbia, the company quickly expanded its holdings to 100 by the end of 1926.

In 1971, the company sold off the majority of its shareholdings in its movie theatre and other non-TV-related entertainment holdings to Gulf + Western Canada and subsequently changed its name to Canadian Cablesystems Limited, reflecting the new focus of its operations.

Cineplex immediately took over the lease, denying Famous Players Theatres access to the portion of the property that they already owned outright.

Famous Players eventually sold its property to Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, on the condition it never again be used to show filmed entertainment.

[8] Under chairman John Bailey, Famous Players re-built its infrastructure from 1996 to 2003 with new "megaplex" theatre brands featuring stadium seating, such as SilverCity and Coliseum, with food courts and video games.

To satisfy antitrust concerns, on August 22, 2005, the group announced the sale of 27 locations in Ontario and western Canada to Empire Theatres.

Cineplex re-acquired the former Famous Players locations in Atlantic Canada that were owned by Empire when it began to shut down operations in 2013.

In December 2019, UK-based Cineworld plans to acquire the now renamed Cineplex Entertainment which will see the former 47 Famous Players theatres into the fold.

The Pickering Town Centre first opened in 1989 and was renovated in 1998, featuring traditional movie screens and a small arcade, before it was closed by Cineplex in 2018.

Some of the new amenities include an UltraAVX theatre, an Xscape Entertainment Centre with party rooms, and a VIP Cinemas licensed lounge.

The last Famous Players in Ontario was the Canada Square Cinemas location, which opened in 1985 as a Cineplex Odeon at the Yonge–Eglinton intersection in Toronto.

Famous Players acquired this location in 2001, due to expansion limitations at the company's nearby SilverCity Yonge and Eglinton.

[14] The StarCité at Sainte-Foy, Quebec City opened on April 12, 2000, and closed on February 27, 2007, because the Cineplex Odeon Ste-Foy next door outperformed it.

[17] Five larger suburban theatres were originally built by Famous Players under the Coliseum (French: Colisée) banner, and are notable for their round façade.

In the lobby, hangs several figures with costumes, objects, and characters from popular movies on display, and bright neon lights (since removed).

This brand focused on city suburbs and was built to challenge then-competitor AMC Theatres entry into the Canadian market.

Many theatres had served Pepsi products in addition to popcorn with restaurants such as Burger King, New York Fries, Wetzel's Pretzels, Taco Bell, TCBY, Baskin Robbins and Starbucks.