AMC Theatres facts for kids
Logo since 1994
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AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. previous headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri
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Trade name
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AMC Theatres |
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Formerly
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Dubinsky Bros. (1920–31, 1932–39) Publix-Dubinsky Bros. (1931–32) Durwood-Dubinsky Bros. (1939–47) Durwood Theatres (1947–68) American Royal Cinemas (1968–69) American Multi Cinema (1969–80) |
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| Industry | Entertainment |
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| Founded | 1920 in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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898 theaters and 10,059 screens |
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Key people
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| Revenue |  US$4.81 billion (2023) |
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Operating income
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US$-0.07 billion (2023) |
| US$-0.39 billion (2023) |
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| Total assets |  US$9.00 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | US$-1.84 billion (2023) |
| Owner | Adam Aron (0.23%) |
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Number of employees
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33,812 (December 2023) |
| Divisions | Odeon Cinemas Group |
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AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. is a huge American movie theater company. It's often called AMC Theatres or just AMC. It started in Kansas City, Missouri, and is now based in Leawood, Kansas.
AMC is the biggest movie theater chain in the whole world! It began in 1920. In the U.S., AMC sells more movie tickets than any other chain. It's bigger than Regal and Cinemark Theatres.
In 2016, AMC bought other big theater companies like Odeon Cinemas and Carmike Cinemas. This made it the largest movie theater company globally. It has thousands of screens in Europe and the U.S.
AMC's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. For a while, a Chinese company called Wanda Group owned most of AMC. Later, a company called Silver Lake Partners also invested a lot of money.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AMC faced tough times. But new investments and interest from online communities helped the company. Eventually, Wanda Group's ownership became smaller.
Contents
History of AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres was started in 1920 by five brothers: Maurice, William, Irvin, Edward, and Barney Dubinsky. They used to travel around putting on shows. They bought their first theater in Kansas City, Missouri.
Over time, some brothers left the company. Edward, the youngest, changed his last name to Durwood. The company then became known as Durwood Theatres. They had theaters in several cities in Missouri and Kansas.
Stanley Durwood Joins the Business
After World War II, Edward's son, Stanley, joined the company in 1945. He convinced his father to build drive-in theaters. These were outdoor theaters where people watched movies from their cars.
They also bought and improved theaters in downtown Kansas City. They won a legal case to show the newest movies. This helped them get more theaters in the city.
The Idea of Multiplex Theaters
In 1961, Stanley took over the company. He had an idea to build two theaters next to each other. This was because one of his theaters wasn't making much money. He realized he could have two screens with the same number of staff.
This idea led to the first "multiplex" theater in 1963. It was called the Parkway Twin Theatre. It had two screens. This was a new way to show movies.
After this success, AMC built more theaters with multiple screens. They built a three-screen theater, then a four-screen, and even a six-screen theater.
The movie industry quickly liked the multiplex idea. More screens meant more movie choices for people. It also meant theaters could show popular movies on many screens. This helped them make more money.
Stanley changed the company name to American Multi-Cinema, Inc. He wanted to run the business like a military operation. He believed every customer was a "guest."
How AMC Grew Over Time
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By the 1980s, AMC was growing fast. In 1983, the company offered its shares to the public for the first time.
AMC built its first multiplex outside the U.S. in 1985. It was a 10-screen theater in the United Kingdom. They opened more locations there. However, AMC later sold its UK theaters and left that market for a while.
In 1995, AMC opened the first "megaplex" in North America. This was the AMC Grand 24 in Dallas, Texas. It had 24 screens and could hold thousands of people. AMC continued to open more huge theaters. One of the busiest is the AMC Empire 25 in New York City.
In 1996, AMC opened the Ontario Mills 30 in Ontario, California. It had 30 screens and was the biggest multiplex in the world at that time. AMC's megaplexes were also successful in other countries like Japan and Portugal.
Sometimes, AMC theaters are used for business meetings too. Companies can use their projectors for presentations.
In 2004, AMC Theatres was bought by investment companies. Later, in 2009, Gerardo I. Lopez became the new CEO. Under his leadership, AMC started to use digital cinema projectors instead of old reel projectors.
In 2011, AMC moved its main office to Leawood, Kansas. The state of Kansas offered money to help the company move its jobs there.
Wanda Group Takes Over (2012–2021)
In 2012, a large Chinese company called Wanda Group bought AMC Theatres. They paid $2.6 billion for AMC's theaters in the U.S. and Canada. This deal made Wanda Group the largest movie theater owner in the world. Wanda Group planned to spend a lot of money to improve AMC theaters.
AMC used to have eight theaters in Canada. Most of these were sold to other Canadian companies.
In 2015, Adam Aron became the new CEO of AMC. In 2016, AMC bought another big theater chain called Carmike Cinemas. This made AMC the largest cinema chain in the United States.
In 2017, AMC started to change the names of Carmike Cinemas locations. Smaller ones became "AMC Classic." Theaters with kitchens became "AMC Dine-In."
In 2018, Silver Lake Partners invested $600 million in AMC. This helped AMC buy back some shares from Wanda Group. Even so, Wanda Group still had a lot of control over AMC's decisions for a while.
In 2019, AMC started offering movies to rent or buy online. This service is called AMC Theatres On Demand.
How COVID-19 Affected AMC
On March 18, 2020, AMC had to close all its theaters. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many employees, including the CEO, had to take time off.
AMC had a disagreement with Universal Pictures about releasing movies online too soon. But they later worked it out. AMC agreed to let Universal release movies online after 17 days in theaters.
In August 2020, AMC started to reopen some theaters. They offered special 15-cent tickets to celebrate their 100th year. They also improved their air filters to make theaters safer.
Stock Changes and Wanda Group's Control Ends
In January 2021, AMC got a lot of new money. This helped the company during the pandemic. Then, something interesting happened. Many individual investors, especially from a group on Reddit called r/wallstreetbets, started buying AMC shares. This caused the share price to go up a lot.
This big increase in stock price helped AMC even more. It also meant that Wanda Group's ownership became much smaller. By May 2021, Wanda Group had very little involvement in AMC.
In March 2021, AMC said its income had dropped a lot. But the CEO, Adam Aron, was hopeful. More people were getting vaccinated, and big movies were coming out. He also said that AMC was now controlled by many different shareholders, not just one big company.
In June 2021, AMC's stock went up again. This was because many small investors kept buying shares. AMC warned people that the high price might not last. But it showed how much support the company had.
In August 2021, AMC announced it would start accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for tickets. They did this in November 2021.
In August 2022, AMC surprised everyone by creating new "AMC Preferred Equity Units," called "APE" shares. This was a nod to the "apes" (the individual investors) who supported the company. These new shares were given to existing AMC shareholders.
In February 2023, AMC tried a new way to price tickets. Seats in the middle of the theater cost more. Seats closer to the front cost less. But they stopped this plan in July 2023 because customers still preferred the middle seats.
In July 2023, AMC had its best week ever for ticket sales. This was thanks to the popular movies Barbenheimer. Later, AMC partnered with music stars Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to release their concert films directly in theaters. This was a new way to distribute movies.
In January 2022, AMC also started selling its popcorn outside of theaters. They began offering it for delivery and in supermarkets. In March 2022, AMC even bought a share in a gold and silver mining company!
Features of AMC Theatres
AMC has introduced many cool features to movie theaters. In 1981, they patented cup holder armrests. They also brought in stadium-style seating. This means seats are on steps, so everyone has a clear view of the screen. In 1995, they added "Love Seat" style seating with armrests that can be moved up.
AMC also uses advanced sound and projection systems. They use RealD technology for 3D movies. They also use 4K digital projectors for super clear pictures. Since 2022, they have been adding laser projectors to many screens.
Special Movie Experiences
Some AMC locations offer special screens and features for a higher ticket price. These are called "premium large formats."
- Dolby Cinema offers amazing picture and sound. It uses two 4K laser projectors for bright, colorful images. It also has Dolby Atmos sound, which makes sound come from all around you. The seats are recliners with subwoofers that make you feel the movie.
- IMAX theaters have huge screens. They use special IMAX digital or laser projectors. Some even use traditional 70 mm film projectors for a classic feel.
- Prime at AMC auditoriums have large screens and powerful sound systems like Dolby Atmos. They also have comfy recliners with seat shakers.
- BigD is a large-screen format that AMC got from Carmike Cinemas. It has a 70-foot screen and stadium seating.
Old Special Formats
- ETX (Enhanced Theatre Experience) was an older premium format. It had bigger screens and special sound. AMC later replaced many ETX screens with Dolby Cinema.
Virtual Reality Fun
AMC has also invested in virtual reality (VR). They put money into VR arcades and VR movie productions. This shows they are interested in new ways to entertain people.
Rewards Programs for Movie Fans
AMC has loyalty programs for frequent movie-goers.
- AMC Stubs Insider is a free program.
- AMC Stubs Premiere costs a yearly fee. Members get $5 back for every $50 they spend. They also get free size upgrades on popcorn and drinks. Plus, they don't pay extra fees for online tickets.
- AMC Stubs A-List is a monthly plan. It lets you see up to 3 movies a week in any format for a set price.
AMC also has "Discount Tuesdays." On Tuesdays, members can buy tickets for a lower price, usually around $6.
MacGuffins Bar and Lounge
Some AMC theaters have a bar called MacGuffins. Here, adults can buy drinks to enjoy in the lounge or take into the movie. Some AMC Dine-in theaters even have MacGuffins as a full restaurant.
Vouchers and Gift Cards
AMC offers different ways to pay for movies.
- Black and Yellow tickets can be bought in bulk at stores like Costco. They are cheaper than regular tickets.
- Gift cards can be used to buy tickets and food online or at the theater.
- Snack vouchers are coupons for popcorn or drinks.
Types of AMC Theatres
After buying Carmike Cinemas, AMC organized its theaters into three main types in 2017:
- AMC is the main type of theater. These are regular cinemas with premium features and special screens. Some still use the "Magic Johnson Theatres" name, like AMC Magic Johnson.
- AMC Classic theaters are smaller locations with fewer special features. Many of these used to be Carmike Cinemas. They often have a classic movie theater feel. Some have been updated with better food and reclining seats.
- AMC Dine-In theaters offer expanded food service. You can order food and have it brought to your seat while you watch the movie. These theaters often have reserved seating.
Other Things AMC Does
AMC has tried other projects too. They once partnered with Planet Hollywood to open movie complexes. Only one of these, in Columbus, Ohio, actually opened. It later became a regular AMC theater.
AMC also had theaters at Disney Parks and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Universal CityWalk theater was updated and renamed "Universal Cinema, an AMC Theatre."
AMC Independent (AMCi) is a program that helps independent films get shown in AMC theaters.
In 2021, AMC worked with artist Chance the Rapper to show his concert film in theaters. Later, they did the same with Taylor Swift's and Beyoncé's concert films. AMC acted as both the company showing the film and the company distributing it.
How AMC Grew by Buying Other Companies
AMC has bought many other theater chains over the years. This has helped it grow to have hundreds of theaters and thousands of screens around the world.
In 2002, AMC bought General Cinema Corporation. In 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment. This added many more theaters, including Magic Johnson Theatres. In 2010, AMC bought Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC.
In 2015, AMC bought Starplex Cinemas. Most of these theaters are now "AMC Classic" locations.
In 2016, AMC bought Carmike Cinemas for $1.1 billion. This made AMC the biggest movie theater chain in the U.S. In the same year, AMC also bought UCI & Odeon Cinema Group in Europe.
In 2017, AMC bought Nordic Cinema Group, a big movie theater company in Northern Europe.
More recently, in 2021 and 2022, AMC acquired leases for several former Pacific Theatres and Arclight Cinemas locations. They also bought seven Bow Tie Cinemas locations in 2022.
Images for kids
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AMC Promenade 16 megaplex in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, California, which closed on June 1, 2022 and replaced by AMC Dine-In Topanga 12 in Canoga Park, which opened on the next day
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The original appearance of AMC Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX in Universal City, California. It was rebranded and renovated as "Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood" in 2017.
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The mall entrance to AMC Garden State 16 with IMAX at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey
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AMC 30 at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio in 2008. This was converted into AMC Dine-In Easton Town Center 30 in 2012.
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AMC Broadway Plaza 12 in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2007. This location became Odeon Birmingham Broadway Plaza in 2012 and became Odeon Luxe Birmingham Broadway Plaza in 2018.
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AMC Palisades 21 (formerly a Loews, later branded as an "AMC Loews" before renovation) at Palisades Center shopping mall in West Nyack, New York
See Also
In Spanish: AMC Theatres para niños
- Cinemark Theatres
- Cineworld
- Regal Cinemas
