History of AMC Theatres in Timeline

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC Theatres) is the world's largest movie theater chain, with headquarters in Leawood, Kansas. Founded in 1920 in Kansas City, Missouri, it expanded rapidly, becoming a dominant force in the film exhibition industry. Through acquisitions like Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas in 2016, AMC solidified its position as the global leader, currently operating approximately 860 theaters and 9,600 screens worldwide, including significant presence in both Europe and the United States.

December 20, 1920: AMC Theatres Founded

On December 20, 1920, AMC Theatres, originally known as American Multi-Cinema, was founded in Kansas City, Missouri.

1920: AMC Theatres Founded

In 1920, AMC Theatres was founded by the Dubinsky brothers, who purchased the Regent Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.

1929: Death of Maurice Dubinsky

In 1929, Maurice, the oldest Dubinsky brother, died.

1936: Barney Dubinsky Leaves AMC

In 1936, Barney Dubinsky left the company after an auto accident.

1945: Stanley Durwood Joins the Company

In 1945, Stanley Durwood, Edward's son, joined the company after World War II.

1947: Acquisition of the Liberty Theater

In 1947, the company expanded with the acquisition of the Liberty Theater in downtown Kansas City, remodeling it and renaming it the Roxy.

1961: Stanley Durwood takes control of Durwood Theatres

In 1961, after Ed Durwood died, Stanley took control of Durwood Theatres, a small ten-theatre chain.

1962: Stanley Durwood's Multiplex Idea

In 1962, Stanley Durwood conceived the idea of doubling box office revenue by adding a second screen to his Roxy theater, while maintaining the same staff size.

1963: Opening of the Parkway Twin Theatre

In 1963, AMC opened two theaters side-by-side as the Parkway Twin Theatre on Kansas City's Ward Parkway, marking the company's first foray into the multiplex model.

1966: Opening of the Metro Plaza

In 1966, following the success of the Parkway Twin, AMC opened the Metro Plaza, a four-screen theater in Kansas City.

October 1, 1968: Renaming to American Royal Cinema and Subsequent Change

On October 1, 1968, Durwood Theatres was renamed American Royal Cinema after the American Royal livestock and horse show. Due to an injunction, the name was changed to American Multi-Cinema, Inc.

1969: Opening of a Six-Screen Theater in Omaha

In 1969, AMC opened a six-screen theater in Omaha.

1981: AMC Patented Cup Holder Armrests

In 1981, AMC patented cup holder armrests.

1983: Initial Public Offering

In 1983, AMC Theatres had its initial public offering.

1985: First Overseas Multiplex

In 1985, AMC Theatres built its first multiplex overseas, the 10-screen multiplex at The Point, Milton Keynes, in the United Kingdom.

October 1988: Joint Venture Announcement

In October 1988, AMC Theatres announced a joint venture with United Artists Theaters and Cinema International Corporation to run their combined cinemas in the UK and Ireland under the AMC name.

1988: Opening of Kinepolis Brussels

In 1988, Kinepolis Brussels, the first megaplex in the world with 25 screens and 7,600 seats, was opened by Kinepolis, the European chain.

July 1994: AMC Signed Agreement With Sony to Install SDDS

In July 1994, AMC signed an agreement with Sony to begin installing Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) in auditoriums.

1995: Opening of the AMC Grand 24

In 1995, AMC Theatres opened the first North American megaplex, the AMC Grand 24 in Dallas, Texas.

1995: Stadium-Style Seating Built By AMC

In 1995, AMC built stadium-style seating that had auditoriums configured with an entrance to a flat area immediately in front of the screen for wheelchair users.

1995: AMC Introduced Love Seat Style Seating

In 1995, AMC introduced "Love Seat" style seating with retractable armrests.

April 1996: Opening of Canal City 13 in Fukuoka, Japan

In April 1996, AMC Theatres opened Canal City 13 in Fukuoka, Japan.

December 13, 1996: Opening of the Ontario Mills 30

On December 13, 1996, AMC opened the Ontario Mills 30 in Ontario, California, which was the largest multiplex in the world at the time.

December 20, 1996: Opening of AMC Arrábida 20 in Porto, Portugal

On December 20, 1996, AMC Theatres opened the AMC Arrábida 20 in Porto, Portugal.

1996: AMC Dine-In Disney Springs 24 Opened

In 1996, the AMC Dine-In Disney Springs 24 megaplex opened at Walt Disney World Resort. It was formerly known as AMC Pleasure Island 24.

December 1998: Planet Hollywood Declares Bankruptcy

In December 1998, Planet Hollywood declared bankruptcy. They stated "the joint venture has no definitive plans to expand this concept once the Columbus site is completed".

October 1999: Planet Hollywood Reorganization Plan

As Planet Hollywood was preparing to emerge from bankruptcy in October 1999 their re-organization plan emphasized focus back on their core restaurant business and away from side-ventures like Planet Movies and their Cool Planet ice cream chain.

1999: Death of Stanley Durwood

In 1999, Stanley Durwood died, and Peter Brown became the new head of the company.

1999: Planet Movies Location Opened

In the summer of 1999 a 30-screen megaplex Planet Movies location opened at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio.

2000: Planet Hollywood Restaurant and All Star Café Closed

In late 2000, the Planet Hollywood restaurant and All Star Café in Columbus were closed, and the film memorabilia were also removed from the theater.

January 9, 2001: Planet Movies Joint Venture Dissolved

On January 9, 2001, the Planet Movies by AMC joint venture was formally dissolved.

2001: AMC Downtown Disney 12 Opened

In 2001, AMC Downtown Disney 12 opened at Disneyland Resort.

January 2002: Return to the UK Market

In January 2002, the 16-screen Great Northern theatre was opened in Manchester in the UK, marking AMC Theatres' return to the UK market after 14 years.

March 2002: Purchase of General Cinema Corporation

In March 2002, AMC purchased General Cinema Corporation, adding 66 theaters with 621 screens to the company.

October 2003: Opening of Cinema in Birmingham

In October 2003, AMC Theatres opened a 12-screen cinema on the Broadway Plaza site in Birmingham.

2003: AMC Started Upgrading Older Auditoriums

In 2003, AMC began upgrading selected older auditoriums.

2004: Acquisition by Marquee Holdings Inc.

In 2004, AMC Theatres was acquired by Marquee Holdings Inc., an investment vehicle controlled by affiliates of J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC, and Apollo Global Management.

January 26, 2006: Merger with Loews Cineplex Entertainment

On January 26, 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment to form AMC Entertainment, incorporating the Loews, American Cineplex, Magic Johnson Theatres, and Star Theatres chains.

2006: Announcement of New Initial Public Offering

In 2006, AMC announced a new initial public offering (IPO) expected to be worth approximately $789 million.

May 3, 2007: Withdrawal from Initial Public Offering

On May 3, 2007, AMC Theatres withdrew from its planned initial public offering due to adverse market conditions.

December 5, 2008: Appeal Ruling on ADA Compliance

On December 5, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that an order requiring AMC to retrofit over 1,990 screens for ADA compliance was excessive and violated AMC's due process rights.

March 2, 2009: Gerardo I. Lopez Appointed as CEO

On March 2, 2009, Gerardo I. Lopez succeeded Brown as president and CEO of AMC Theatres.

March 26, 2009: AMC to Convert Auditoriums to 3D Screens

On March 26, 2009, AMC announced an agreement to convert 1,500 existing auditoriums to fully digital 3D screens using RealD technology.

March 30, 2009: AMC to Convert Screens to 4K Digital Projectors

On March 30, 2009, AMC announced it would convert all 4,500 screens in their chain to 4K digital projectors provided by Sony.

July 14, 2010: Filing for $450 Million IPO

On July 14, 2010, AMC Theatres filed for a $450 million IPO, its third such filing since 2006.

2010: AMC Independent (AMCi) Film Distribution Program Announced

In 2010, AMC Independent (AMCi), an AMC film distribution program designed to help independent films reach a theatrical audience, was announced via the AMC Blog.

2010: Acquisition of Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC

In 2010, AMC acquired Chicago-based Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC for $275 million, combining the nation's second- and sixth-largest movie theater chains, except for the Showplace 14 in New Jersey and the Showplace ICON theatres.

April 1, 2011: AMC Launches AMC Stubs Rewards Program

On April 1, 2011, AMC introduced AMC Stubs, a new rewards program that could be purchased for $12 annually, offering members $5 for every $50 spent and a free size upgrade on popcorn and drinks.

September 2011: Headquarters Relocation Announcement

In September 2011, AMC Theatres announced plans to move its headquarters to Leawood, Kansas.

March 29, 2012: AMC Stubs Membership Reaches 3.2 Million

As of March 29, 2012, AMC Stubs had 3.2 million members, representing approximately 18% of AMC attendance during fiscal 2012.

April 2012: Settlement with Illinois Regarding Disability Access

In April 2012, AMC Theatres reached a settlement with the state of Illinois, pledging to equip all of its theaters in the state with captioning and description services by 2014.

May 2012: Acquisition by Wanda Group

In May 2012, AMC Theatres was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group for $2.6 billion.

July 2012: Sale of Canadian Locations

In July 2012, AMC Theatres sold four of its Canadian locations to Cineplex Entertainment, and two more to Empire Theatres (later acquired by Landmark Cinemas).

September 4, 2012: Finalization of Wanda Group Acquisition

On September 4, 2012, the acquisition of AMC Theatres by Wanda Group was finalized.

2012: Wanda Group Owned Majority Stake

From 2012 to 2018, the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group owned a majority stake in AMC.

2012: Completion of Digital Cinema Projector Replacement

In 2012, AMC completed the replacement of all of its reel projectors with digital cinema projectors in collaboration with Sony.

2014: Implementation of Captioning and Description Services in Illinois

By 2014, AMC pledged to equip all of its theaters in the state of Illinois with captioning and description services.

August 2015: Resignation of Gerardo I. Lopez as CEO

In August 2015, Gerardo I. Lopez announced his resignation as CEO of AMC Theatres.

December 2015: Adam Aron Appointed CEO

In December 2015, AMC Theatres announced that Adam Aron would become the company's president and chief executive officer, starting on January 4, 2016.

December 2015: Sale of Starplex Cinemas to AMC

In December 2015, Starplex Cinemas was sold to AMC for approximately $175 million.

January 4, 2016: Adam Aron Starts as CEO

On January 4, 2016, Adam Aron began his role as president and chief executive officer of AMC Theatres.

March 3, 2016: Announcement of Intent to Acquire Carmike Cinemas

On March 3, 2016, AMC announced its intent to acquire Carmike Cinemas in a $1.1 billion deal, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.

March 2016: Announcement of Carmike Cinemas Acquisition

In March 2016, AMC Theatres announced its intention to acquire competitor Carmike Cinemas.

July 2016: Carmike Accepts Revised Offer

In July 2016, Carmike's management accepted a revised acquisition offer from AMC Theatres, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.

July 2016: UCI & Odeon Cinema Group Sold to AMC

In July 2016, UCI & Odeon Cinema Group was sold to AMC for approximately $1.21 billion, subject to European Commission approval.

November 2016: Acquisition of UCI & Odeon Cinema Group Approved

In November 2016, the acquisition of UCI & Odeon Cinema Group by AMC was approved by the European Commission, and the deal was finalized.

December 2016: Carmike Cinemas Merger Officially Closed

In December 2016, the merger between AMC and Carmike Cinemas officially closed.

December 25, 2016: Acquisition of Carmike Cinemas Completed

On December 25, 2016, AMC Theatres closed the deal to acquire Carmike Cinemas, becoming the largest cinema chain in the United States.

2016: Acquisition of Odeon, UCI, and Carmike Cinemas

In 2016, AMC Theatres acquired Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas, becoming the largest movie theater chain in the world.

January 2017: Sale of Nordic Cinema Group to AMC

In January 2017, Nordic Cinema Group, the leading movie theater operator in the Nordic and Baltic area, was sold to AMC for approximately $929 million.

March 1, 2017: Rebranding Announcement

On March 1, 2017, AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron announced that the company would rebrand Carmike Cinemas locations under the AMC name, with smaller locations becoming AMC Classic and kitchen-equipped theaters rebranded as AMC Dine-In.

March 2017: Acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group Completed

In March 2017, the acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group by AMC was completed after receiving clearance from the European Commission.

April 21, 2017: "Universal Cinema, an AMC Theatre" Relaunched

On April 21, 2017, the AMC CityWalk Stadium 19 located on Universal Studios Hollywood's CityWalk was relaunched after a renovation as "Universal Cinema, an AMC Theatre".

July 2017: Cost Reduction Announcement

In July 2017, AMC Theatres announced that they would cut $30 million in expenses by the end of the year through reduced operating hours, staffing levels, and other measures.

2017: Settlement of Securities Law Charges

In 2017, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., and some of its executives and underwriters agreed to settle federal securities law charges for $18 million.

2017: AMC Unifies Theaters Under Three Banners

In 2017, following the acquisition of Carmike Cinemas, AMC began to unify its theaters under one of three main banners.

July 2018: AMC Stubs Split into Three Programs

In July 2018, AMC Stubs was split into three programs: the free AMC Stubs Insider, the fee-based AMC Stubs Premiere, and the monthly fee-based AMC Stubs A-List.

September 2018: Universal Cineplex 20 became a Cinemark

In September 2018, AMC's Universal Cineplex 20 at Universal Orlando Resort became a Cinemark.

September 2018: Silver Lake Partners Investment

In September 2018, Silver Lake Partners invested $600 million in AMC, but Wanda Group retained majority control of AMC's board of directors.

October 2019: Launch of AMC Theatres On Demand

In October 2019, AMC Theatres began offering on-demand rentals and purchases of digital film releases under the banner AMC Theatres On Demand, tied to the Stubs loyalty program.

2019: Wanda Group Reduces Ownership

By the end of 2019, Wanda Group had reduced its ownership of AMC common stock to just under 50%, but continued to retain majority control over AMC's board of directors.

March 18, 2020: AMC Theatres Closure Due to COVID-19

On March 18, 2020, AMC announced the closure of all its theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, complying with CDC guidelines against gatherings of over ten people. AMC projected the shutdown to last at least six to twelve weeks.

March 25, 2020: AMC Furloughs Corporate Employees

On March 25, 2020, AMC furloughed all 600 of its corporate employees, including CEO Adam Aron, while maintaining their active employment status and health benefits.

April 28, 2020: AMC Announces No Longer Carrying Universal Pictures Films

On April 28, 2020, AMC declared they would no longer carry films from Universal Pictures after NBCUniversal's CEO suggested releasing films via premium video on demand simultaneously with theatrical releases following the release of Trolls World Tour on VOD. AMC also threatened to do this with any studio that unilaterally abandons current windowing practices.

Loading Video...

June 3, 2020: AMC States Doubt About Remaining in Business

On June 3, 2020, AMC publicly stated that it had "substantial doubt" about its ability to remain in business.

July 2020: Mask Policy Controversy During Reopening

In July 2020, AMC initially announced that masks would be recommended but not mandatory for reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, but reversed the decision after public outcry.

July 28, 2020: AMC and Universal Resolve Dispute

On July 28, 2020, AMC and Universal resolved their dispute, with AMC agreeing to a shorter theatrical window of 17 days before Universal could release their films via premium VOD, and also agreeing to revenue sharing on the premium VOD window.

August 20, 2020: AMC Reopens Selected Locations with Special Promotion

On August 20, 2020, AMC started reopening selected locations in the United States where allowed under local health orders. To celebrate its centennial year, AMC offered a 15-cent ticket promotion, marketed as "Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices".

October 2020: AMC Reports Cash Resources Depletion

In October 2020, AMC reported that its existing cash resources "would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021."

January 2021: Wanda Group's Ownership Diluted

In January 2021, Wanda's ownership was increasingly diluted due to new financing by AMC, as well as short squeezes that resulted in Silver Lake converting its $600 million debt holding to equity.

January 26, 2021: AMC Raises $917 Million in New Funding

On January 26, 2021, AMC announced that it had raised $917 million in new funding, including $506 million in equity and new common shares, and commitments for $411 million in debt financing.

February 5, 2021: Wanda Group Surrenders Majority Control of AMC

On February 5, 2021, Wanda Group's U.S. subsidiary filed with the SEC, stating that it had converted its Class B common stock to Class A shares to permit their sale, effectively surrendering its majority control of AMC.

February 2021: Wanda Group's Voting Power Reduced

In early February 2021, Wanda converted its Class B shares to Class A shares, reducing its voting power to less than 50%.

March 2021: AMC Reports Significant Revenue Decline and Wanda's Reduced Stake

In March 2021, during its fourth-quarter earnings call, AMC reported an 88% year-over-year revenue decline. CEO Adam Aron mentioned progress on COVID-19 vaccinations, cinema reopenings, and upcoming blockbuster films as signs of optimism. Aron also confirmed that Wanda no longer had majority control of the company.

May 21, 2021: Wanda Group's Involvement Ends

On May 21, 2021, Wanda filed a 0.002% stake with the SEC, confirming the end of their involvement in AMC.

June 2021: AMC Shares Soar Amid Short Squeeze

In June 2021, retail investors propelled AMC stock to an all-time high of $77.26 in another alleged short squeeze. Short sellers betting against AMC incurred losses of over $2.8B as a result. AMC issued more shares during the surge.

July 2021: Acquisition of Pacific Theatres Leases

In July 2021, AMC Theatres announced it would acquire the leases to the Americana at Brand in Glendale and The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, formerly owned by Pacific Theatres.

July 2021: Collaboration with Chance the Rapper

In July 2021, AMC Theatres partnered with Chance the Rapper's House of Kicks to distribute his concert film Magnificent Coloring World, marking the first time a recording artist distributed a film through AMC.

Loading Video...

August 2021: AMC Announces Cryptocurrency Acceptance Plans

In August 2021, AMC revealed plans to begin accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for purchases in the future.

November 2021: AMC Implements Bitcoin Payments

In November 2021, AMC began accepting Bitcoin for online purchases via PayPal.

December 2021: Acquisition of Additional Pacific Theaters Leases

In December 2021, AMC Theaters announced that they had acquired the leases to the former Pacific Theaters location at Northridge Fashion Center in Northridge, Los Angeles and the Arclight Chicago 14 in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

January 2022: Selling popcorn via food delivery

In January 2022, AMC Theatres began selling popcorn via food delivery services, a move designed to offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on movie theater attendance.

February 2022: Acquisition of Additional Arclight Theaters Leases

In February 2022, AMC Theaters reached a deal to acquire the leases to the Arclight Montgomery 16 at Westfield Montgomery in Washington D.C. and the Westfield UTC mall's Arclight UTC 14 in La Jolla.

March 2022: Acquisition of Hycroft Mining Share

In March 2022, AMC Theatres acquired a 22% share in Hycroft Mining, a gold and silver mining company in Nevada.

April 2022: Acquisition of Bow Tie Cinemas Locations

In April 2022, AMC Theaters acquired seven Bow Tie Cinemas locations in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland.

April 2022: AMC Announces Agreement with Cinionic for Laser Projectors

In April 2022, AMC announced an agreement with Cinionic to install laser projectors at 3,500 of its screens in the United States through the end of 2026.

April 2022: AMC Adds Crypto Payment Integration

In April 2022, AMC integrated BitPay into its mobile app, enabling customers to use crypto payments such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.

August 4, 2022: AMC Announces "AMC Preferred Equity Units"

On August 4, 2022, AMC announced its "AMC Preferred Equity Units" (APE), a new preferred share class, to be listed on the NYSE. Over 516 million APE units were subsequently issued to shareholders in a 1:1 special dividend.

December 2022: Deal on Acquisition of Arclight Cinemas at The Hub on Causeway

In December 2022, AMC reached a deal on the acquisition of the former Arclight Cinemas located at The Hub on Causeway in Boston.

February 2023: AMC Announces Dynamic Pricing Model Test

In February 2023, AMC announced plans to test a dynamic pricing model for tickets based on seat location for showings after 4pm. Seats near the front were priced lower for Stubs members, while middle seats were priced higher.

July 2023: AMC Abandons Dynamic Pricing

In July 2023, AMC abandoned dynamic pricing after tests showed customers were still unlikely to choose front-row seats despite lower prices. AMC also stated it would test reclining seats in the front rows.

July 8, 2025: Discount Wednesdays added to AMC Stubs

On July 8, 2025, Discount Wednesdays was added as part of an expansion of AMC Stubs, in addition to the 50%-off savings on movie tickets on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays.