History of AMC Theatres in Timeline
AMC Theatres is the world's largest movie theater chain, founded in 1920 in Kansas City, Missouri. Headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, it boasts approximately 860 theaters and 9,600 screens globally. Through acquisitions like Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas in 2016, AMC solidified its position as a leader in the film exhibition industry. Currently, it operates 7,755 screens in 593 American theaters and 2,807 screens in 353 European theaters, making it a dominant force in both the US and European cinema markets.
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: Maurice, William, Irvin, Edward, and Barney.
1929: Death of Maurice Dubinsky
In 1929, Maurice, the oldest of the Dubinsky brothers, passed away.
1936: Barney Dubinsky Leaves the Company
In 1936, Barney Dubinsky left AMC Theatres after being injured in an auto accident.
1945: Stanley Durwood Joins the Company
In 1945, Stanley Durwood, Edward's son, joined AMC Theatres after leaving the U.S. Air Force.
1947: AMC Acquires Liberty Theater
In 1947, AMC Theatres expanded by acquiring the Liberty Theater in downtown Kansas City, which they remodeled and renamed the Roxy.
1961: Stanley Takes Control of Durwood Theatres
In 1961, after Ed Durwood died, his son Stanley took control of Durwood Theatres, a small ten-theatre chain.
1962: Stanley Durwood conceives of Multiplex concept
In 1962, Stanley Durwood realized he could double his box office by adding a second screen and still operate with the same size staff.
1963: Parkway Twin Theatre Opens
In 1963, AMC Theatres opened the Parkway Twin Theatre, its first foray into the multiplex model, with two theaters side-by-side on Kansas City's Ward Parkway.
1966: Embassy 3 Triplex Opens
In 1966, AMC Theatres followed up on the success of the Parkway Twin with the Embassy 3 triplex at the Country Club Plaza.
October 1, 1968: Company Renamed American Royal Cinema
On October 1, 1968, Durwood Theatres was renamed American Royal Cinema, after the American Royal livestock and horse show. However, due to an injunction, the name was later changed to American Multi-Cinema, Inc.
1969: Six-Screen Theater Opens in Omaha
In 1969, AMC Theatres opened a six-screen theater in Omaha.
1981: AMC Patents Cup Holder Armrests
In 1981, AMC patented cup holder armrests for movie theater seating, enhancing the moviegoing experience for its patrons.
1983: Initial Public Offering
In 1983, AMC Theatres had its initial public offering.
1985: First Overseas Multiplex Opens
In 1985, AMC Theatres built its first multiplex overseas, a 10-screen multiplex at The Point, Milton Keynes, in the United Kingdom.
October 1988: Joint Venture Announced in the UK
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: Kinepolis Brussels Opens
In 1988, Kinepolis Brussels, the first megaplex in the world with 25 screens and 7,600 seats, was opened by Kinepolis.
July 1994: AMC and Sony Agreement
In July 1994, AMC signed an agreement with Sony to begin installing Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) in auditoriums
1995: AMC Introduces "Love Seat" Style Seating
In 1995, AMC introduced "Love Seat" style seating with retractable armrests so that there can be no barrier between two seats.
April 1996: Canal City 13 Opens in Japan
In April 1996, AMC Theatres opened Canal City 13 in Fukuoka, Japan.
December 13, 1996: Ontario Mills 30 Opens
On December 13, 1996, AMC opened the Ontario Mills 30, a 30-screen theater in Ontario, California, which at the time was the largest multiplex in the world.
December 20, 1996: AMC Arrábida 20 Opens in Portugal
On December 20, 1996, AMC Theatres opened the AMC Arrábida 20 in Porto, Portugal.
1996: AMC Dine-In Disney Springs 24 Opens
In 1996, the AMC Dine-In Disney Springs 24, an all-stadium-seating megaplex with Dolby Cinema and Dine-In Theatres, opened at Walt Disney World Resort.
December 1998: Planet Hollywood Declares Bankruptcy
The continued poor financial performance of Planet Hollywood led the company to declare bankruptcy in December 1998, and even before the first location had opened stated that "the joint venture has no definitive plans to expand this concept once the Columbus site is completed".
October 1999: Planet Hollywood Focuses on Restaurant Business
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: Stanley Durwood Dies
In 1999, Stanley Durwood passed away, and Peter Brown became his successor as head of AMC Theatres.
1999: Planet Movies Location Opens at Easton Town Center
In the summer of 1999, a 30-screen Planet Movies megaplex opened at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. The location was also located alongside an Official All Star Café and Planet Hollywood restaurant.
2000: Planet Hollywood Restaurant and All Star Cafe 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 as it was rebranded AMC Easton 30, and continues to operate.
January 9, 2001: Planet Movies by AMC Joint Venture Dissolved
On January 9, 2001, the Planet Movies by AMC joint venture was formally dissolved.
2001: AMC Downtown Disney 12 Opens
In 2001, the AMC Downtown Disney 12, a stadium-seating multiplex, opened at Disneyland Resort.
January 2002: Great Northern Theatre Opens in the UK
In January 2002, the 16-screen Great Northern theatre was opened in Manchester in the UK, marking AMC's return to the UK market.
March 2002: Purchase of General Cinema Corporation and Gulf States Theaters
In March 2002, AMC Theatres acquired General Cinema Corporation, adding 66 theaters with 621 screens, and Gulf States Theaters, adding five theaters with 68 screens in the New Orleans area.
October 2003: Broadway Plaza Cinema Opens
In October 2003, AMC opened a 12-screen cinema on the Broadway Plaza site in Birmingham.
2004: AMC Acquired by Marquee Holdings
In 2004, AMC Theatres was acquired by Marquee Holdings Inc., 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 Theatres merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment, creating AMC Entertainment and incorporating the Loews, American Cineplex, Magic Johnson Theatres, and Star Theatres chains.
2006: Initial Public Offering Announced
In 2006, AMC Theatres announced a new initial public offering (IPO) expected to be worth approximately $789 million.
May 3, 2007: IPO Withdrawn
On May 3, 2007, AMC Theatres withdrew from its planned initial public offering (IPO) due to adverse market conditions.
December 5, 2008: Appeal Success in ADA Lawsuit
On December 5, 2008, AMC Theatres successfully appealed a U.S. Department of Justice order to retrofit over 1,990 screens for ADA compliance, with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling that the order was excessive and violated AMC's due process rights.
March 2, 2009: Gerardo I. Lopez Appointed CEO
On March 2, 2009, Gerardo I. Lopez succeeded Peter Brown as president and CEO of AMC Theatres.
March 26, 2009: AMC Announces Conversion to Digital 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 all Screens to 4K Digital Projectors
On March 30, 2009, AMC announced they would convert all 4,500 screens in their chain to 4K digital projectors provided by Sony.
July 14, 2010: AMC Files 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 Film Distribution Program Announced
In 2010, AMC Independent (AMCi), an AMC film distribution program, was announced to help independent films reach a theatrical audience. The program has been responsible for promoting and distributing all independent films to AMC theaters since.
April 1, 2011: AMC Stubs Rewards Program Launched
On April 1, 2011, AMC started a new rewards program known as AMC Stubs, which could be purchased for a fee of $12 for an entire year. Members would receive $5 on every $50 spent between the box office and the concession stand at any AMC theater nationwide. AMC Stubs members also received a free size upgrade with every popcorn and drink they purchase.
September 2011: Headquarters Move Announced
In September 2011, AMC Theatres announced plans to move its headquarters to Leawood, Kansas, in suburban Kansas City, from downtown Kansas City.
March 29, 2012: AMC Stubs Membership Reaches 3.2 Million
As of March 29, 2012, AMC Stubs had 3.2 million members, which represents approximately 18% of AMC attendance during fiscal 2012.
April 2012: Settlement with Illinois
In April 2012, AMC Theatres reached a settlement with the state of Illinois regarding complaints from a disability rights organization.
May 2012: AMC Acquired by Wanda Group
In May 2012, AMC Theatres was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group for $2.6 billion.
July 2012: Canadian Theaters Sold
In July 2012, AMC Theatres sold four of its Canadian locations to Cineplex Entertainment and two more locations to Empire Theatres, which were later acquired by Landmark Cinemas.
September 4, 2012: Acquisition Finalized
On September 4, 2012, the acquisition of AMC Theatres by Wanda Group was finalized.
2012: Wanda Group Acquired Majority Stake
From 2012 to 2018, the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group owned a majority stake in AMC Theatres.
2012: Completion of Digital Projector Replacement
In 2012, AMC Theatres completed the replacement of all of its reel projectors with digital cinema projectors, in collaboration with Sony, starting in the second quarter of 2009.
2014: Accessibility Improvements
By 2014, AMC Theatres pledged to equip all of its theaters in Illinois with captioning and description services, as part of a settlement reached in April 2012.
August 2015: CEO Resignation
In August 2015, Gerardo I. Lopez announced his resignation as CEO of AMC Theatres.
December 2015: Adam Aron Announced as CEO
In December 2015, AMC Theatres announced that Adam Aron would be the company's president and chief executive officer, beginning on January 4, 2016.
December 2015: Sale of Starplex Cinemas to AMC
In December 2015, Starplex Cinemas was sold to AMC Theatres for approximately $175 million.
January 4, 2016: Adam Aron Begins 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 Theatres announced plans to acquire Carmike Cinemas in a $1.1 billion deal, pending approval, which would have made it the largest movie theater chain in the United States.
March 2016: AMC Announces Carmike Cinemas Acquisition
In March 2016, AMC Theatres announced it would acquire competitor Carmike Cinemas.
July 2016: Acquisition of UCI & Odeon Cinema Group
In July 2016, AMC Theatres acquired UCI & Odeon Cinema Group for approximately $1.21 billion, pending approval from the European Commission.
July 2016: Carmike Accepts Revised Acquisition Offer
In July 2016, Carmike's management accepted a revised acquisition offer from AMC Theatres, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.
December 25, 2016: Carmike Cinemas Acquisition Closed
On December 25, 2016, the deal to acquire Carmike Cinemas was closed, making AMC the largest cinema chain in the United States.
2016: AMC Acquires 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: Acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group
In January 2017, AMC Theatres acquired Nordic Cinema Group, a leading movie theater operator in the Nordic and Baltic area, for approximately $929 million.
March 1, 2017: Carmike Cinemas Rebranding
On March 1, 2017, AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron stated that the company would rebrand Carmike Cinemas locations under the AMC name, with smaller locations rebranded as AMC Classic and kitchen-equipped theaters as AMC Dine-In.
April 21, 2017: Universal Cinema, an AMC Theatre Relaunches
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". This location includes a seven-story IMAX screen with IMAX 70mm and IMAX Laser film, as well as "Black Box"-inspired auditoriums.
July 2017: Cost Reduction Announced
In July 2017, AMC Theatres announced they would cut $30 million in expenses by the end of the year through reduced operating hours and staffing levels.
2017: AMC Unifies Theaters Under Main Banners
Following the acquisition of Carmike Cinemas, AMC began to unify its theaters under one of three main banners in 2017.
2017: Settlement of Federal Securities Law Charges
In 2017, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. settled federal securities law charges for $18 million. The case accused AMC of defrauding investors by misrepresenting the financial health of acquired theater operators and integration challenges, and artificially inflating stock prices.
July 2018: AMC Stubs Program Split Into Three Tiers
In July 2018, AMC Stubs was split into three programs: the free AMC Stubs Insider, the yearly fee-based AMC Stubs Premiere, and the monthly fee-based AMC Stubs A-List.
September 2018: Universal Cineplex 20 Becomes a Cinemark
At Universal Orlando Resort, AMC had the Universal Cineplex 20 (also a former Cineplex Odeon), until September 2018 when it became a Cinemark.
September 2018: Silver Lake Partners Invests in AMC
In September 2018, Silver Lake Partners invested $600 million in AMC Theatres, but Wanda Group maintained majority control of the board.
October 2019: AMC Theatres On Demand Launched
In October 2019, AMC began offering on-demand rentals and purchases of digital film releases under the banner AMC Theatres On Demand, tied to the company's Stubs loyalty program.
2019: Wanda Group Reduced Ownership
By the end of 2019, Wanda Group reduced its ownership of AMC common stock to just under 50%, but still retained 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, in compliance with CDC guidance against gatherings of over ten people. AMC anticipated 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, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furloughed employees retained active employment status, including health benefits.
April 28, 2020: AMC Threatens to Boycott Universal Films
On April 28, 2020, AMC announced they would no longer carry films from Universal Pictures after the release of Trolls World Tour on video on demand. This announcement followed NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell's comment that the studio wanted to release films via premium video on demand simultaneously with theatrical releases. AMC threatened to boycott any studio "who unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, so that they as distributor and we as exhibitor both benefit and neither are hurt from such changes."
June 3, 2020: AMC Expresses Doubt About Remaining in Business
On June 3, 2020, AMC stated that it had "substantial doubt" about its ability to remain in business due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2020: Mask Policy Controversy During COVID-19 Pandemic
In July 2020, when AMC Theatres announced the reopening of most of their theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial policy recommended but did not require masks. After significant public backlash, AMC CEO Adam Aron reversed the policy, requiring masks.
July 28, 2020: AMC and Universal Resolve Dispute
On July 28, 2020, AMC and Universal resolved their dispute over theatrical windows, with AMC agreeing to a shorter 17-day theatrical window before Universal could release their films via premium VOD, along with revenue sharing on the premium VOD window.
August 20, 2020: AMC Reopens Selected Locations with 15-Cent Ticket Promotion
On August 20, 2020, AMC began reopening selected locations in the United States where allowed under local health orders. To honor the company's centennial year, AMC offered a special 15-cent ticket promotion that day, promoted as "Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices." The company aimed to have at least two-thirds of its locations open in time for the September 3 release of Tenet.
October 2020: AMC Reports Potential Cash Depletion
In October 2020, AMC reported that its existing cash resources "would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021" due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 2021: Wanda's Ownership Diluted
In January 2021, Wanda's ownership in AMC was increasingly diluted due to new financing and debt conversion by Silver Lake.
January 26, 2021: AMC Raises $917 Million in New Funding
On January 26, 2021, AMC stated 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. The company stated that this new funding "should allow the company to make it through this dark coronavirus-impacted winter".
February 5, 2021: Wanda Group Surrenders Majority Control of AMC
On February 5, 2021, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Wanda Group issued a filing with the SEC, stating that it had converted its Class B common stock to Class A shares to permit their sale. While Wanda remained AMC's largest single shareholder, the conversion, as well as AMC's financing efforts taking its stake below 37%, effectively surrendered its majority control since Class A stock only provides one vote per-share.
February 2021: Wanda Reduces Voting Power
In early February 2021, Wanda converted its Class B shares to Class A shares, reducing its voting power in AMC to less than 50%.
March 2021: AMC Reports 88% Revenue Fall, Wanda Relinquishes Control
In March 2021, during its fourth-quarter earnings call, AMC reported an 88% year-over-year revenue decrease. CEO Adam Aron cited progress on COVID-19 vaccinations and cinema re-openings as signs of optimism. Aron also confirmed that Wanda no longer had majority control, and the company would now "be governed like most other publicly traded companies with a wide array of shareholders".
May 21, 2021: Wanda's Involvement in AMC Ends
On May 21, 2021, Wanda filed a 0.002% stake with the SEC, largely confirming the end of their involvement in AMC.
June 2021: AMC Stock Soars Amid Short Squeeze
In June 2021, retail investors poured into AMC stock, propelling shares to an all-time high of $77.26 in another alleged short squeeze. AMC issued more shares during the surge, and warned potential investors against buying the shares "unless you are prepared to incur the risk of losing all or a substantial portion of your investment".
July 2021: Acquisition of Leases from Pacific Theatres
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, with plans to reopen them in August as part of the AMC chain.
July 2021: Collaboration with Chance the Rapper's House of Kicks
In July 2021, AMC Theatres partnered with Chance the Rapper's House of Kicks to distribute the concert film Magnificent Coloring World internationally. This marked the first time an individual recording artist distributed a film through AMC.
August 2021: AMC Announces Cryptocurrency Acceptance Plans
In August 2021, AMC revealed plans to begin accepting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for purchases in the future.
November 2021: AMC Begins Accepting Bitcoin Payments via PayPal
In November 2021, AMC began accepting Bitcoin payments for online purchases via PayPal.
December 2021: Acquisition of Leases to Former Pacific Theaters and Arclight Chicago 14
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, which both opened in 2022.
January 2022: AMC Theatres Starts Selling Popcorn via Food Delivery
In January 2022, AMC Theatres began selling popcorn through food delivery services, and later in supermarkets, as a way to offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on movie theater attendance.
February 2022: Acquisition of Leases to Arclight Theaters and Century 12 Evanston
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. During the same month, the company reached an agreement to acquire the lease to the Century 12 Evanston, previously owned by Cinemark Theatres, in Evanston, Illinois.
March 2022: Acquisition of Hycroft Mining Share
In March 2022, AMC Theatres acquired a 22% stake in Hycroft Mining, a gold and silver mining company located 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 Laser Projector Installations
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.
August 4, 2022: AMC Announces "APE" Preferred Equity Units
On August 4, 2022, AMC announced its "AMC Preferred Equity Units" (APE), a new preferred share class. Over 516 million APE units were subsequently issued to AMC shareholders in a 1:1 special dividend, with the units wielding similar economic properties as common shares. The preferred shares began trading under the "APE" ticker on the New York Stock Exchange, starting August 22.
December 2022: Acquisition of Former Arclight Cinemas at The Hub on Causeway
In December 2022, AMC Theaters 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 for showings that occur after 4pm based on seat location. Seats located near the front of the theatre and select ADA seats will be priced less than other seats and will only be made available to members of the Stubs rewards program and seats in the middle of the theatre will be priced more than the other non-front row seats.
July 2023: AMC Abandons Dynamic Pricing
In July 2023, AMC chose to abandon dynamic pricing after testing showed that customers were still not likely to choose front-row seats despite their lower prices, with most customers still sitting in the middle of the theatre or other non-front seats despite the upcharge. This made AMC believe their prices were less competitive as competitors did not also adapt dynamic pricing.
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.
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