Comparison

NFB Films vs Cineplex Entertainment

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NFB Films

Explore a vast library of Canadian films, including award-winning documentaries, animations, and Indigenous productions. Stream content in English or French, with options for offline viewing and personalized recommendations. Discover cinematic classics and new releases without any subscription fees or ads.

Highlights
  • Thousands of Canadian films
  • Award-winning works
  • Indigenous-made films
  • Documentaries and animation
  • English and French content
  • Offline viewing
  • Personalized recommendations
Features
Read full description

Access the largest collection of Canadian films online, with no subscription and no ads. Award-winning works with more than 7,000 accolades, including 13 Oscars®. The NFB Films app offers: * Thousands of films, series, and collections * GROUND-BREAKING works by the biggest names in Canadian cinema * 500+ INDIGENOUS-MADE films * Documentaries, animation and auteur cinema, featuring both CLASSICS AND NEW RELEASES * Available in both ENGLISH AND FRENCH * Easily find your WATCHLIST on NFB.ca, mobile, and TV * Sign in to CONTINUE WATCHING anywhere and get PERSONALIZED recommendations * Cast films to your TV through AIRPLAY or CHROMECAST * Download content for OFFLINE viewing * Find NFB Events near you The National Film Board is Canada's public producer and distributor of audiovisual works. Find out more at http://www.nfb.ca/about   Enjoying this app? Please write a review for the App Store. Please send your feedback to info@nfb.ca.

About

Cineplex Entertainment

Easily browse movie showtimes, purchase tickets, and pre-order snacks for pickup. Explore a wide range of films and special events, including premium formats like IMAX and VIP experiences. Earn and redeem rewards with your Scene+ account.

Highlights
  • Browse movies and events
  • View showtimes and buy tickets
  • Pre-order snacks for pickup
  • Scan tickets from the app
  • Access premium experiences (UltraAVX, VIP, IMAX, etc.)
  • Earn and redeem Scene+ rewards
  • Join CineClub for exclusive perks
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the Cineplex Entertainment mobile app, your ultimate companion for an extraordinary cinematic journey! With showtimes, tickets, snack ordering and more at your fingertips, get ready to dive into a world of entertainment and experience where escape begins. +Movies and Events Your next escape is a scroll away with the Cineplex app. Browse the latest and coming-soon new releases, indie films, International cinema, live concerts, opera, documentaries, art exhibitions, and more. Whether you're an opening night diehard, an opera fanatic, or an action junkie, the Cineplex app has you covered. +Showtimes and Tickets Made Easy Plan your movie night in just a few clicks: simply find your preferred Cineplex Theatre, browse showtimes, and purchase your tickets. Once you get to the theatre, scan your tickets straight from the app and head straight to the popcorn! +Premium Experiences Elevate your movie-going escapades with our premium experiences: UltraAVX - UltraAVX offers stunningly crisp picture quality with larger screens and dynamic surround sound. Find Dolby Atmos™ speakers at select locations. VIP - Enjoy an elevated night out in an intimate, adults-only theatre with indulgent dishes and signature cocktails delivered right to your seat. IMAX - Immersive, heart-pounding audio combined with crystal clear images on the largest screens take you beyond the standard cinema experience. D-BOX - Perfectly synchronized with the action on-screen, D-BOX's realistic motion experience will immerse you in movies like never before. ScreenX - ScreenX offers a 270-degree panoramic experience that expands the film, surrounding you with extended imagery, naturally filling your peripheral vision and transporting you into the movie. 4DX - 4DX is a multi-sensory cinema experience that immerses you through motion, vibration, water, wind, lightning, and other special effects. RealD 3D - Watch your movie come to life in RealD 3D! Enjoy a premium large format movie theatre designed with cutting-edge cinema technologies. Sensory Friendly - Sensory Friendly Screenings provides a lights up, sound down environment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and others to enjoy. Stars & Strollers - Parents-escape to watch new releases in a baby-friendly environment with soft lighting, reduced volume and other amenities. +Pre-order snacks for pickup Indulge in your favourite movie snacks and treats ahead of time. Pre-ordering ensures that your popcorn, soda, and other classic concessions are ready and waiting for you upon arrival, which lets you get to the previews earlier. +Get more Connect your Scene+ account and start earning and redeeming rewards points towards movies, dining, and more at Cineplex Theatres. Want to take your movie-love to the next level? Join CineClub, the movie lover’s membership! Get access to awesome perks like one movie ticket every month, 20% off concessions, no online booking fees, and much more! So, sit back, grab your popcorn, and experience the magic of movie-going like never before. Let your escape begin with the Cineplex app!

Screenshots

NFB Films4 screens
Cineplex Entertainment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cineplex Entertainment at 4.9 against NFB Films's 4.0. Cineplex Entertainment also leads on ratings volume (47K vs 8) and review sentiment (54% vs 41%). NFB Films's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cineplex Entertainment holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cineplex Entertainment has 47K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of NFB Films's written reviews are positive against 54% of Cineplex Entertainment's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, Cineplex Entertainment fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NFB Films versus Cineplex Entertainment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFB FilmsCineplex Entertainment
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (8 ratings)4.9 (47K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.0% of reviews54.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings847K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB142 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperNational Film Board of Canada – Office national du film du CanadaCineplex Entertainment

Customer experience

NFB Films

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews161 reviews
Positive41.0%
Neutral9.9%
Negative49.1%

Cineplex Entertainment

All ratings9 ratings
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%
Written reviews438 reviews
Positive54.1%
Neutral6.2%
Negative39.7%

User reviews

NFB Films

From 8 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📚 Extensive free library of films and documentaries
  • 🎨 High-quality diverse content including animations
  • 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV)
  • 💾 Offline download capability for 48-hour viewing
  • ❤️ Favorites/bookmarking feature

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
  • ⚪ Blank/white screen issues
  • ⏸️ Freezing when paused for extended periods
  • 🔄 Syncing issues between devices
  • 🎬 Limited film selection on some platforms (e.g., Apple TV)

Cineplex Entertainment

From 47K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Convenient app
  • 💰 Lots of discounts
  • 🎥 Great movie experience
  • ⭐ Smooth and responsive

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Payment method issues
  • 🔒 Mandatory 2FA concerns
  • 💸 Booking fees
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate
  • 🤖 Buggy and crashes

Bugs and requests

NFB Films

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes on launch or during playback
  • Blank white screen on startup
  • Freezing after pausing for several minutes
  • Video plays without audio or audio without video
  • Offline downloads lost upon app restart
Show 9 more
  • Favorites list deleted after updates
  • Crashes when removing favorites
  • Language switching doesn't work
  • Incompatibility with iOS 9, iOS 11, and older iPad models
  • App closes unexpectedly after watching films
  • Search results don't match query terms
  • Requires local network access permission (iOS 14+)
  • Streaming continuously stalls at dark screen
  • App won't open on certain devices despite compatibility claims

Requested features

10 requests
  • Chromecast support
  • Language selection for audio tracks
  • Watch later/queue list feature
  • Cross-device favorites synchronization
  • User account login system
Show 5 more
  • Full-screen landscape mode support
  • Better search and sort options
  • Improved navigation menu
  • More subtitle language options
  • Better film descriptions and summaries

Cineplex Entertainment

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent login issues
  • Payment processing errors
  • Inconsistent app performance
  • Seat selection problems
  • Ticket purchase failures

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add a watchlist/favorites feature
  • Improve theatre information
  • Allow refunds/exchanges in-app
  • Implement landscape mode support
  • Integrate Apple Wallet for tickets

In-app purchases

None

NFB Films

No in-app purchases

None

Cineplex Entertainment

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NFB Films free?
NFB Films is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cineplex Entertainment free?
Cineplex Entertainment is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NFB Films or Cineplex Entertainment?
Cineplex Entertainment is rated higher. NFB Films averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Cineplex Entertainment averages 4.9 from 47K ratings.
Do NFB Films or Cineplex Entertainment have ads?
Cineplex Entertainment shows ads; NFB Films does not.
Which is updated more often, NFB Films or Cineplex Entertainment?
NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cineplex Entertainment fortnightly. Most recently, NFB Films was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cineplex Entertainment on November 4, 2026.

Other comparisons