Police were called to the Empire Studio 16 Country Hills movie theatre on Dec. 21, during a showing of the Johnny Depp film Sweeney Todd.
Acting Det. Asif Rashid of the Calgary Police Service said the suspect was spotted in the back of the theatre.
"The camcorder was concealed in his clothing," Rashid said.
This is only the second time in Canada that someone has been charged with the illegal recording of a movie since the Criminal Code was amended in June.