Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob to Receive Legend of Cinema Award, Joining Martin Scorsese

Ellis Jacob, the long-serving CEO of Canadian cinema powerhouse Cineplex, is set to join an exceptionally exclusive club this April. He will be honored with the prestigious Legend of Cinema Award, an accolade that has only been bestowed once before—to the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese in 2023.

A Rare Honor in the Film Industry

The award, presented by the international industry group Cinema United, is not an annual prize. Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United, emphasized its selective nature, stating that it is reserved for individuals who rise to a significant level of contribution to the cinematic arts. "I couldn’t tell you when it will be awarded again," O’Leary noted, highlighting the rarity of this recognition.

Jacob, who is retiring later this year after decades in the industry, expressed profound honor at the distinction. "I feel very honoured," he said. "Joining Martin Scorsese is a pretty big distinction and recognition."

Connective Tissue: A Shared Passion for the Big Screen

O’Leary explained that the award celebrates a deep, abiding love for the theatrical movie experience—a quality that binds both Jacob and Scorsese. "That is the connective tissue between Ellis and Martin Scorsese," O’Leary told National Post. "They obviously both have a well-documented love of movies in the theatre. They are tireless promoters of them."

He added that while their approaches differ—Scorsese through filmmaking and preservation, Jacob through exhibition and innovation—their ultimate goal aligns: to reinforce the unique magic of watching films in a cinema.

Ellis Jacob's Storied Career

Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India in 1953, Jacob immigrated to Canada in 1969. His career path took him through the auto sector and a stint at Motorola before he found his calling in the motion picture business. His journey includes:

Working for Cineplex Odeon during the 1980s and 1990s.
Co-founding Galaxy Cinemas in 1999.
Becoming CEO of the merged Cineplex Galaxy (later Cineplex Entertainment) in 2003, a position he has held for over two decades.

Under his leadership, Cineplex has pioneered numerous innovations that have reshaped the Canadian cinema landscape:

The introduction of adult-only VIP theatres, including an all-VIP location in Toronto.
The launch of Rec Room gaming and dining venues.
The creation of the Scene Card loyalty program, which now boasts over 11 million members. Jacob recalled initial skepticism about the program, but emphasized its value: "It wasn’t about the points; it was about the data. And today that data is invaluable."

A Leader with Global Influence

Jacob's impact extends far beyond Canada's borders. In 2022, he became the first Canadian to receive Cinema United's Marquee Award for exceptional executive leadership. In 2018, he was the first from Canada to chair Cinema United's executive board. "It’s important that Canada be part of the world when it comes to this," Jacob remarked.

O’Leary concurred, praising Jacob's global stature. "Ellis has a huge impact in the country of Canada," he said. "But he hasn’t stopped there, and he’s a leader across this industry. People look to him for guidance and advice, and he has a leading voice in a lot of the big decisions that the industry is facing, not just in Canada but everywhere in the world."

As Jacob prepares to accept this singular honor in April, his legacy is cemented not only as a transformative figure in Canadian cinema but as a visionary whose influence resonates throughout the international film community.