Regal Cinemas facts for kids
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The Regal theater at the Irvine Spectrum Center
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| Subsidiary | |
| Predecessors |
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| Founded |
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| Headquarters | , |
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Number of locations
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511 |
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Key people
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| Revenue |  US$3,197.10 million (2016) |
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Operating income
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US$339.40 million (2016) |
| US$170.40 million (2016) |
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| Total assets | US$2,645.70 million (2016) |
| Total equity | US$839.10 million (2016) |
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Number of employees
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26,047 (2018) |
| Parent | Cineworld |
| Subsidiaries | Cinebarre United Artists Theatres Edwards Theatres |
Regal Cinemas, also known as Regal Entertainment Group, is a large American movie theater company. Its main office is in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal is part of Cineworld, a British theater chain.
Regal runs the second-largest number of movie screens in the United States. As of late 2021, it had 6,853 screens in 511 theaters. The company uses three main names for its theaters: Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres, and United Artists Theatres.
Even though they have different names outside, inside the theaters, you'll mostly see the Regal Entertainment Group name and logo. New theaters usually open as Regal Cinemas. Regal has bought many smaller theater chains over time. These have all been renamed Regal Cinemas.
In 2017, Cineworld bought Regal for $3.6 billion. This made Cineworld the second-biggest movie theater company in the world. In 2022, Cineworld faced financial difficulties and filed for a special type of bankruptcy to reorganize its business.
Contents
Regal's Journey: From Separate Chains to a Giant Company
How Regal Cinemas Started (1989-2002)
Regal Cinemas began in 1989 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Campbell was its first CEO. The very first Regal theater was the Searstown Cinema in Florida. Regal grew quickly, opening bigger movie theaters in many towns. These new theaters often had a "premium" cafe and looked more modern than other theaters at the time.
Regal expanded a lot during the 1990s. It bought smaller theater companies and built new, modern movie complexes. One of its biggest purchases was Act III Theatres in 1998. Regal also bought other smaller chains like Cobb Theatres and RC Theatres.
By 2001, Regal had grown too fast and faced financial problems. It had to go through a process to reorganize its business. Later, it became the main name for the new company that combined Regal, Edwards, and United Artists theaters.
Regal had a famous "Regal Roller Coaster" video that played before movies. It showed a fun roller coaster ride. This video was used from the early 1990s until 2004. It was brought back in 2010, and a new version was made in 2015.
United Artists Theatres' Story
United Artists Theatres started in 1924. It was connected to the famous United Artists movie studio. This studio was founded by movie stars like Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin. Over time, the theater chain became separate from the movie studio.
In the late 1940s, the Naify Brothers bought United Artists Theatres. They owned theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company grew by buying other theater chains. By the 1980s, a company called Tele-Communications, Inc. owned most of United Artists Theatres. In 1992, the theater chain was sold to a group of investors.
Edwards Theatres' History
Edwards Theatres was a family-owned company in California. William James Edwards Jr. started it in 1930. It became one of California's most popular theater chains. By 1997, Edwards Theatres had about 90 locations with 560 screens. Its main office was in Newport Beach, California.
After William Edwards Jr. passed away, his son, W. James Edwards III, took over. He planned to make the company much bigger. But this expansion led to a lot of debt. In 2000, Edwards Theatres also faced financial problems and had to reorganize its business.
Regal Entertainment Group Forms (2002-2017)
When all three chains (Regal, United Artists, and Edwards) faced financial trouble, an investor named Philip Anschutz bought a lot of shares in each company. In 2002, Anschutz brought all three theater companies together under one new parent company: Regal Entertainment Group.
Mike Campbell from Regal and Kurt Hall from United Artists became co-CEOs. Campbell managed the theater operations from Knoxville. Hall led a new company called Regal CineMedia, which focused on digital content for theaters. The Edwards corporate offices were closed.
Regal CineMedia created a new "preshow" that played before movies. Instead of old slides and film ads, it showed digital content. This preshow, first called "The 2wenty," started in 2003. Now, it's known as "Regal FirstLook." Regal CineMedia later joined with AMC Theatres' National Cinema Network to form National CineMedia.
Since 2002, Regal Entertainment Group has bought many smaller theater chains. These include Hoyts Cinemas (2003), Signature Theatres (2004), Eastern Federal (2005), Hollywood Theaters (2013), and Warren Theaters (2017). Unlike the earlier merger, Regal rebranded all these new theaters as Regal Cinemas.
In 2007, Regal opened its first theater that used only digital projectors in Nevada. Regal also sold its online ticket service, Fandango, to Comcast Corporation in 2007.
Regal bought Consolidated Theatres in 2008. This added 28 theaters and 400 screens to Regal's network. To make sure Regal didn't have too much control in some areas, the government asked Regal to sell a few theaters where it would have had a monopoly.
In 2009, Regal made a deal with Sony to put Sony 4K digital projectors in all its theaters. This was a big step for better picture quality.
In 2010, Regal launched Regal Premium Experience (RPX). This is an upgraded movie format. RPX theaters have huge 60-foot screens, powerful digital projectors, and amazing sound systems. They also have comfortable reclining leather seats.
In 2011, Regal made changes to how its theaters were run to save money. This included changing how managers worked and removing projectionists as theaters became more automated.
In 2014, Regal started adding 4DX screens. This is a special movie format where your seat moves with the action on screen. It also has environmental effects like wind, water, and even scents! By 2018, Regal had six 4DX screens and planned to add many more.
In 2015, Regal took over managing Cinebarre locations. These theaters offer a full bar and a restaurant menu. You can order food and drinks and have them delivered right to your seat during the movie.
Regal Joins Cineworld (2018-Present)
In 2017, Regal began talking about merging with the UK theater chain Cineworld. On December 5, 2017, it was officially announced that Cineworld would buy Regal for $3.6 billion. This created the world's second-largest movie theater group.
In October 2018, Regal introduced a new logo. It looks like a camera lens and a crown. Regal also started using orange as a company color. This is a nod to its Knoxville roots and the Tennessee Volunteers sports teams.
In July 2019, Regal launched Regal Unlimited. This is a movie ticket subscription service. It lets users watch an unlimited number of movies. Subscribers also get a discount on snacks and drinks. There's a small extra fee for special movie formats.
In 2020, PepsiCo became the only supplier of drinks for all Regal cinemas. This ended a long-standing agreement with The Coca-Cola Company. Pepsi also became the main sponsor for Regal's 4DX screens.
Regal During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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On March 16, 2020, Regal Cinemas closed all its theaters in the United States. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regal was the first major theater chain in the U.S. to close all its locations because of the pandemic.
Regal Cinemas started reopening most of its theaters in August 2020. However, some openings were delayed due to local rules. Others remained closed because of restrictions or plans to close them before the pandemic.
On October 5, 2020, Cineworld announced it would close most Regal theaters again. This was because new Hollywood movies were being delayed. The CEO said that New York state not allowing cinemas to open was a big problem. He felt studios were waiting for New York to reopen before releasing big films. Regal planned to reopen only when there was a clear lineup of new movies.
In March 2021, Cineworld announced that Regal theaters would start reopening. This was because theaters in New York City and Los Angeles were allowed to open again. Regal aimed to have most locations open by April 16, 2021.
In June 2021, Regal took over a former ArcLight Cinemas location in Los Angeles. They planned a big renovation to add premium screens like 4DX and IMAX. In 2023, Regal reached a new agreement to keep this theater open. Regal also acquired another former ArcLight theater in Pasadena, California, which reopened in June 2023.
Cineworld's Financial Challenges
In August 2022, news reports said that Cineworld would file for a type of bankruptcy. This was because it was struggling to get moviegoers back after the pandemic. Cineworld confirmed that Regal Cinemas would continue to operate. On September 7, 2022, Cineworld officially filed for this bankruptcy.
Cineworld plans to get out of this financial reorganization in 2023. They also plan to make changes to their theater locations. This might include closing or selling some theaters. They are also talking with landlords about their lease agreements for Regal cinemas.
In September 2022, there were reports that Cineplex, a Canadian theater company, might merge with Regal. Cineworld had tried to buy Cineplex in 2020 but had to pay a large amount of money for backing out of the deal. In May 2023, Cineworld said it expected to finish its financial reorganization by July of that year.
Awesome Ways to Watch Movies at Regal
- RealD 3D: This is a special technology that lets you watch movies in 3D. It makes the movie feel like it's popping out at you!
- Regal Premium Experience (RPX): RPX is Regal's own super-sized movie experience. It has amazing Dolby Atmos sound, seats that vibrate with the movie, and super clear 4K laser projection on a huge screen.
- IMAX: Regal has many IMAX locations. IMAX screens are extra large and curved, with powerful sound. This makes you feel like you're right inside the movie.
- 4DX: Get ready for an adventure! 4DX theaters have seats that move and shake with the action on screen. You might also feel wind, water, air blasts, or even smell different scents!
- ScreenX: This is a unique movie experience with three screens! Besides the main screen, there are two extra screens on the side walls. This gives you a super wide, 270-degree view of the movie.
See also
- AMC Theatres
- Cinemark Theatres
