In what many believe is a battle for free speech in Canada, the movie Unplanned will finally be shown in selected theaters across Canada between July 12th and 18th.

The controversial movie starring Ashley Bratcher portrays the story of Abby Johnson’s conversion from a former director of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in the US to a strong pro-life advocate in 2009. Abby walked out of Planned Parenthood after being traumatized as she watched the abortion of a 13-week-old baby.

The movie was shown in selected theaters across the US earlier in the year earning revenues of $18 million compared to production costs of $14 million. For two weeks it ranked as one of the top ten most watched movies in American theaters.

Though Rotten Tomato Reviewers hated the movie, often a good indicator it is probably worth seeing, the viewer rating was overwhelming positive.

When there were talks of Unplanned being shown in Canada there was a huge uproar on social media with some theaters actually receiving threats if they decided to show the film.

The initial problem involved finding a distributor and none of the typical distributors were willing to pick it up because of the controversy and threats.

But that changed when God spoke to Cinedicom president B.J. McKelvie. Though Cinedicom normally just books films in an interview with Lifesitenews, McKelvie, who is also a pastor and agrees with the movie’s pro-life message, said he had been complaining to himself about the rancid conversation swirling on social media about the movie when God spoke to him:

“‘Well why don’t you distribute it?’ and that was rather different.”

McKelvie decided to distribute the film and added that nobody is forcing anyone to see the movie, they have the choice to view it or not.

Though Cineplex had initially decided to not show the film, it has since changed its mind. In an unusual move, its CEO Ellis Jacob felt it necessary to release a letter on Twitter explaining  why it will be showing Unplanned in 14 of its theaters.

An open letter from Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob, on our decision to screen Unplanned. pic.twitter.com/bkA7tx2NWt

— Cineplex (@CineplexMovies) July 8, 2019

Jacob stated it was ultimately a ‘freedom of speech’ issue adding that it is a person’s decision whether to see the film or not. He stated in his letter that choosing not to show the film would have been an act of censorship. He wrote:

“Canada is a country that believes in and rallies behind freedom of expression, but that isn’t always an easy thing to do and it certainly doesn’t always make you popular. In this instance many of us will have to set aside our own personal beliefs and remember that living in a country that censors content, opinions and points of view because they are different from our own is not a country that any of us would want to live in.”

It’s ironic that abortion activists who demand that women should have the same freedom or choice to abort their baby are now against giving women the same choice to view a film. In fact some were even outraged that ‘free speech’ argument was being used as the reason for showing Unplanned in Canada. Apparently ‘free speech’ only runs one way. You are completely free to choose and speak as long as you totally agree with their opinions on issues.

Unplanned will be showing in 14 Cineplex and 10 Landmark theaters across Canada from July 12 to July 18th. Since the announcement, there has been a surge in theaters saying they will now show the film and according to Unplanned, new theaters are being added daily as several independent theaters and others are now picking up the film.

However, all is not going smoothly.  According to an article on Breitbart, two independent theaters previously scheduled to show Unplanned cancelled a few days back after owners and managers received  death threats. Police are investigating. It is part of a trend of growing violence being displayed by some on the extreme left.

Click here for latest times and locations.

Below is a list of theaters and others who have agreed to show Unplanned as of July 10th:

Alberta

• INDEPENDENT – MOVIE MILL LETHBRIDGE AB 7/12-18
• MAGIC LANTERN – CARNIVAL CINEMA RED DEER AB 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – COCHRANE MOVIE HOUSE COCHRANE AB 7/15
• INDEPENDENT – JEWEL THEATRE STETTLER AB 7/20-21
• CINEPLEX – ODEON SOUTH EDMONTON COMMONS 16 EDMONTON AB 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SCOTIABANK CHINOOK 17 CALGARY AB 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 10 SHAWNESSY CALGARY AB 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – ROXY THEATRE BARRHEAD AB 7/13&15
• INDEPENDENT – LEDUC CINEMAS LEDUC AB 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – GRAND SQUARE CINEMA COLD LAKE AB 7/12-17

British Columbia

• INDEPENDENT – HOLLYOOD 3 PITT MEADOWS BC 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – COTTONWOOD 4 CINEMAS CHILIWACK BC 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX CINEMA LANGLEY LANGLEY BC 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SILVERCITY MISSION CINEMAS MISSION BC 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – HOLLYWOOD 3 SURREY BC 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 4 UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS VICTORIA BC 7/15&17
• LANDMARK – COLUMBIA THEATRE CRANBROOK BC 7/17
• INDEPENDENT – VERNON TOWNE CINEMA VERNON BC 7/12-18
• LANDMARK – AVALON CINEMAS NANAIMO BC 7/12-18

Manitoba

• INDEPENDENT – ROBLIN THEATRE ROBLIN MB 7/12-13
• CINEPLEX – SCOTIABANK THEATRE WINNIPEG WINNIPEG MB 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 5 WINKLER WINKLER MB 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 9 BRANDON BRANDON MB 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – KEYSTONE CINEMA STEINBACH MB 7/19-25

New Brunswick

• INDEPENDENT – APOLLO CINEMAS BATHURST NB 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – CINEMA V EDMUNSTON NB 7/12-18
• CINEDICOM BIG SCREEN – GLAD TIDINGS CHURCH MONCTON NB 7/26

Newfoundland

• INDEPENDENT – CINEMA BURIN BURIN ARMS NL 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – CLARENVILLE TWIN CINEMAS CLARENVILLE NL 7/19-25

Nova Scotia

• CINEPLEX CINEMAS DARTMOUTH CROSSING DARTMOUTH NS 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – PORT THEATRE CORNWALL ON 7/12-18

Ontario

• IMAGINE CINEMAS DOWNTOWN MOVIE LOUNGE SUDBURY ON 7/12-18
• IMAGINE – LAKESHORE CINEMAS WINDSOR ON 7/12-18
• IMAGINE – IMAGINE CINEMAS ST LAURENT OTTAWA ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – YONGE & DUNDAS TORONTO ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX CINEMAS VAUGHAN VAUGHAN ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX WINSTON CHURCHILL 24 OAKVILLE OAKVILLE ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SILVERCITY LONDON 12 LONDON ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SILVERCITY WINDSOR WINDSOR ON 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SCOTIABANK THEATRE OTTAWA OTTAWA ON 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – CINE STARZ MISSISSAUGA MISSISSAUGA ON 7/12-17
• INDEPENDENT – CINE STARZ BURLINGTON BURLINGTON ON 7/12-17
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 12 KITCHENER KITCHENER ON 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 24 KANATA KANATA ON 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 24 WHITBY WHITBY ON 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – KINGSWAY THEATRE TORONTO ON 7/12-18
• IMAGINE CINEMAS CINEMA 6 TIMMINS ON 7/15&17
• INDEPENDENT – UPTOWN THEATRE BARRIE ON 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – RIDGE FILM HOUSE RIDGEWAY ON 7/12-18
• LANDMARK CINEMAS 10 PEN CENTRE ST. CATHARINES ON 7/12, 15, 17
• INDEPENDENT – WOODSIDE CINEMA SCARBOROUGH ON 7/12-18

Quebec

• CINEMA GUZZO – CINEMA DES SOURCES 10 DOLLARD-DES-ORMEAUX QC 7/12-18
• CINEMA GUZZO – MEGAPLEX SPHERETECH VILLE SAINT-LAURENT QC 7/12-18
• CINEMA GUZZO – MEGAPLEX MARCHE CENTRAL 18 MONTREAL QC 7/12-18
• CINEMA GUZZO – MEGAPLEX LACORDAIRE 16 MONTREAL QC 7/12-18
• CINEMA GUZZO – MEGAPLEX TASCHEREAU 18 GREENFIELD PARK QC 7/12-18

Saskatchewan

• INDEPENDENT – KAMASACK PLAYHOUSE THEATRE KAMSACK SK 7/12-14
• CINEPLEX CINEMAS NORMANVIEW REGINA SK 7/12-18
• CINEPLEX – SCOTIABANK THEATRE SASKATOON SASKATOON SK 7/12-18
• INDEPENDENT – MAY CINEMA 6 LLOYDMINSTER SK 7/12-18

Sources:

• Theater-chain CEO doubles down on decision to show ‘Unplanned’: WND
• BREAKING: Cineplex explains decision to screen Abby Johnson’s ‘Unplanned’ in Canada: Lifesitenews
• Unplanned movie: Unplanned
• Police Investigate Death Threats to Movie Theater Owners Screening Pro-Life Film ‘Unplanned’:Breitbart