The Best Video Stores in Toronto

The best thing about Queen Video is that they never have what you want to rent so you're forced to rent something you've been meaning to see for years but never got around to it.

I mean that in a good way, but also in a bad way. New Releases are consistently OUT for months. I don't know if it's because everyone else is reserving them or if it's just bad timing but it is very frustrating.

but yes, that's where I rent my movies.

Shame about Suspect burning down. Never got there myself, but I know my fair share of Queen West folks who swore by it.

Matt - you can ask put your name on a waiting list for a specific movie and they will call you when it comes in.

I vote on 7-24 Video, on Church & Wellesley. A real gem...

It's not technically a Toronto place -- or a video store -- but I vote for Zip.ca. They have pretty much any DVD you can think of, and they mail them right to your house. Perfect for lazy bums such as myself.

My favorite place is Vintage Video in Mirvish village. John is real nice and knowledgeable about videos. The store only sells vintage films. No renting. Check it out for the nice interior. His selection isn't as large as Bay St. Video, but it's got lots of character and a nice place to shop for classic videos of all kinds. I just moved to Winnipeg and dearly miss that store.

If you live midtown i FULLY recommend going to 'DVD Film Fest'on Eglinton and Duplex (one West of Yonge).
They have amazing selection! and really nice categorization by generes, directors, countries, etc.
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
They also take requests if you don't find what you are looking for.

vintage video is the worst store ever. the mark up on dvds is inane and insane. the owner was a really mean person as well. he basically told me leave...it was nuts

OH! You mean the $50 OOP (aka Pirated/Illegal) VHS Tapes?

Make sure you look out for the "DO NOT TOUCH" signs, they will getcha.

Store is a joke, just hop across to Suspect if you want rare items at human being pricing.

Sonic Boom on Bloor has a great used DVD section, good new music dvds and an OK selection for other New DVD's.

OHH MANNNNN.. 100% true about vintage video.. the prices were RIDICULOUS.. The pirated crap in there was priced at like $10000 and the old man was such a jerk.. my buddy walked in with a bag, and the old man told him in a rude manner to be careful.. i hate that store.. i want everyone to know my hatred for VINTAGE VIDEO.. CUZ IT IS HORRIBLE!!! go there just to laugh at the prices and the old horrible man.. cuz it sucks.. sorry !!suspect was great though

Wow, I am not alone on Vintage video. Trish and James nailed it right on the head, and your posts are from today! I went there this weekend and had VERY similar experiences.
The owner refused to sell things to me and goods were labeled improperly (out of print stickers were on things that WERE NOT out of print, items with Import stickers on them WERE NOT I REPEAT were not out of North America Imports.) He had some cool stuff, but it was just riddled with DO NOT TOUCH signs and he eyed me like a wild hawk preying on his blood meal. I felt really uncomfortable. I am never going back.
I think I was look down upon because of my age. Just because i'm 25, does not mean I am an idiot...I sure was treated like one!

Too bad about Vintage. I remember going there a few times but never bought anything due to price. I have been going to a place called Film Fiends on College, tons and tons of really cool used DVDs, they only sell DVDs though. You can save a lot from buying new. I got a copy of Fulci's Beyond for $30. I couldn't find that anywhere! It'll take you about an hour to go thru their stock.

Bay St. Video is the most sterile, boring store I've ever shopped. I would as soon have Christmas dinner in a 7-11, which has considerably more charm.

The uppity staff, including the owner, like to pretend they are more intelligent than their customers, which begs the question, "Why are such geniuses "working" in a video rental store?

That 24-7 and More dump on Church St. has employees of similar attitude, but not nearly as good a selection as Bay St. Video (if you consider Bay St.'s numerous defective disks part of that selection).

I once told 24-7 and More that a disk didn't work, and the thmartie-pansths answered: "Well, you could always rent it, again, and see if it works."

What IS it about video store employees? Are they all Cinema Studies failures? Too dumb to make french-fries? Raised by their aunties? Why the big chip? Because they're doing a job that requires about as much intelligence as wetting the bed?

To hell with THEM ALL! Very soon, there will be so much pay-per-view (on your PC!) they'll be looking for work in an equally lunkheaded "vocation" -- selling basketballs to munchkins.

ditto about vintage video. Its amazing that anyone actually buys anything there. the owner is rudest person in retail

All great stores in the list for sure! Black Dog and 2Q on Queen are awesome! You should also check out MovieXpress in King West village (King and Shaw): http://www.kingwestxpress.com
It's automated, and once a member - you have 24 HOUR access to cheap DVDs (starting at $2.50!). They also rent the Nintendo Wii console, Guitar Hero and Wii Fit!

Check em out!

s.

I second the vote for MovieXpress at King and Shaw! Cheap, open 24 hours, and the dude that works there really knows his stuff... he's good at pickin just the right movie to fit your mood. You can also browse the whole library from the internet and reserve online!!

MOVIEXPRESS ALL THE WAY!
-Jilly

Hey - don't forget Videoflicks - one of the oldest video stores in the city! Thousands of movies on 2 floors...great rental packages - 5 for $10 for a week!!
Check out www.myvideoflicks.ca ..

Film Fest near Yonge and Eglinton is the best video store in the city, hands down. I've sworn off Queen Video - the staff is snotty, the music pretentious, and so many of the film cases depict explicitly misogynist imagery.