History of AMC Theatres in Timeline
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., founded in 1920 and headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, is the largest movie theater chain globally. It holds the largest share of the U.S. theater market, surpassing Regal Cinemas and Cinemark Theatres. Through acquisitions like Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas in 2016, AMC expanded its global reach. The company operates a significant number of screens across both American and European theaters, solidifying its position as a leader in the movie exhibition industry.
8 hours ago : AMC Theatres slashes ticket prices: 50% off on Wednesdays and summer discounts.
AMC Theatres decided to slash ticket prices, offering 50% off every Wednesday. Additionally, they have summer discounts to attract moviegoers. Regal also offers discounts.
1920: AMC Theatres was founded by the Dubinsky Brothers
In 1920, AMC Theatres was founded by Maurice, William, Irvin, Edward, and Barney Dubinsky, sons of Russian Jewish immigrants Simon and Sarah Dubinsky.
1920: AMC Theatres Founded
In 1920, AMC Theatres, originally known as American Multi-Cinema, was founded in Kansas City, Missouri.
1929: Maurice Dubinsky died
In 1929, Maurice, the oldest Dubinsky brother, died.
1936: Barney Dubinsky left the company
In 1936, Barney Dubinsky left the company after being injured in an auto accident.
1945: Stanley Durwood joined the company
In 1945, Stanley Durwood joined the company after World War II.
1947: Liberty Theater acquisition
In 1947, the company expanded further with the acquisition of the Liberty Theater in downtown Kansas City which they remodeled and renamed the Roxy.
1961: Stanley Durwood took control of Durwood Theatres
In 1961, Stanley took control of Durwood Theatres after Ed died.
1962: Stanley Durwood conceived the multiplex concept
In 1962, Stanley Durwood claimed he conceived the multiplex concept, realizing he could double the box office by adding a second screen.
1963: Parkway Twin Theatre Opened
In 1963, AMC opened the Parkway Twin Theatre, its first foray into the multiplex model, at a shopping center on Kansas City's Ward Parkway.
1966: Metro Plaza Opened
In 1966, AMC opened the Metro Plaza, a four-screen theater in Kansas City.
October 1, 1968: American Royal Cinema Name Change
On October 1, 1968, Durwood Theatres was renamed American Royal Cinema, but the name was later changed to American Multi-Cinema, Inc.
1969: Six-Screen Theater in Omaha Opened
In 1969, AMC opened a six-screen theater in Omaha.
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 to run cinemas in the UK and Ireland
In October 1988, AMC announced a joint venture with United Artists Theaters and Cinema International Corporation to run their combined cinemas in the UK, Ireland under the AMC name.
December 1988: AMC Pulled out of the joint venture in the UK and Ireland
In December 1988, AMC pulled out of the joint venture in the UK and Ireland and sold their U.K. assets, including their 12 cinemas, to the new entity (later called United Cinemas International) for $98 million and withdrew from the UK market.
1988: Kinepolis Brussels opened
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 signs agreement with Sony to install SDDS
In July 1994, AMC signed an agreement with Sony to begin installing SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) in auditoriums.
1995: AMC Builds Early Versions of Stadium-Style Seating
In 1995, AMC built early versions of stadium-style seating, but these designs initially posed accessibility issues for wheelchair users, leading to ADA lawsuits.
April 1996: Canal City 13 Opened
In April 1996, AMC opened Canal City 13 in Fukuoka, Japan.
December 13, 1996: Ontario Mills 30 Opened
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 opened
On December 20, 1996, AMC opened the AMC Arrábida 20 in Porto, Portugal.
1999: Stanley Durwood died
In 1999, Stanley Durwood died and Peter Brown became his successor.
January 2002: Return to the UK market
In January 2002, the 16-screen Great Northern theatre was opened in Manchester in the U.K., marking the chain's return to the UK market after 14 years.
March 2002: AMC Acquires General Cinema Corporation
In March 2002, AMC bought General Cinema Corporation, adding 66 theaters with 621 screens to its assets, along with Gulf States Theaters, which had five theaters with 68 screens in the New Orleans area.
October 2003: Opening of a 12-screen cinema in Birmingham
In October 2003, a 12-screen cinema opened on the Broadway Plaza site in Birmingham.
2003: AMC Acquires Megastar Theatres
In 2003, AMC acquired MegaStar Theatres, expanding its presence in the Atlanta and Minneapolis–St. Paul markets.
2004: AMC Theatres Acquired by Marquee Holdings Inc.
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: AMC Merges with Loews Cineplex Entertainment
On January 26, 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment, creating AMC Entertainment and incorporating the Loews, American Cineplex, Magic Johnson Theatres, and Star Theatres chains.
2006: Announcement of a new Initial Public Offering (IPO)
In 2006, the company announced a new initial public offering (IPO) expected to be worth approximately $789 million.
May 3, 2007: Withdrawal from the IPO
On May 3, 2007, adverse market conditions convinced the company's management to withdraw from an initial public offering.
December 5, 2008: AMC Wins Appeal in ADA Lawsuit
On December 5, 2008, AMC successfully appealed an order to retrofit over 1,990 screens for ADA compliance. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the order was excessive, as there were no specific guidelines for wheelchair sightlines in movie theaters at the time stadium-style theaters were built.
March 2, 2009: Gerardo I. Lopez Succeeded Brown as president and 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 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: Filing for a $450 million IPO
On July 14, 2010, the company filed for a $450 million IPO.
2010: AMC Acquires Kerasotes Showplace Theatres
In 2010, AMC acquired Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC for $275 million, combining the second and sixth largest movie theater chains in the U.S., excluding the Showplace 14 in New Jersey and the Showplace ICON theatres.
April 1, 2011: AMC Stubs rewards program launches
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. For that initial fee, members would receive $5 on every $50 spent between the box office and the concession stand.
September 2011: Headquarters Move Announced
In September 2011, AMC Theatres announced plans to move its headquarters to a new building in Leawood, Kansas.
March 29, 2012: AMC Stubs reaches 3.2 million members
As of March 29, 2012, AMC Stubs had 3.2 million members, which represented approximately 18% of AMC attendance during fiscal 2012.
April 2012: Settlement Reached with Disability Rights Organization
In April 2012, AMC reached a settlement with the state of Illinois regarding complaints from a disability rights organization.
May 2012: Acquisition by Wanda Group
In May 2012, AMC Theatres was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group for $2.6 billion.
July 2012: Sale of Canadian Locations
In July 2012, AMC Theatres sold four of its eight Canadian locations to Cineplex Entertainment.
September 4, 2012: Acquisition by Wanda Group Finalized
On September 4, 2012, the acquisition of AMC Theatres by Wanda Group was finalized, making Wanda the world's largest cinema chain.
2012: Digital projector implementation completed
In 2012, AMC Theatres completed the project of replacing all of its reel projectors with digital cinema projectors, started in the second quarter of 2009.
2012: Wanda Group Acquired Majority Stake in AMC
In 2012, the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group owned a majority stake in AMC.
2014: Pledge to equip all of its theaters in the state with captioning and description services fulfilled
By 2014, AMC fulfilled its pledge to equip all of its theaters in the state of Illinois with captioning and description services.
August 2015: Gerardo I. Lopez Resigned as CEO
In August 2015, Gerardo I. Lopez announced his resignation as CEO of AMC.
December 2015: AMC Acquires Starplex Cinemas
In December 2015, AMC acquired Starplex Cinemas for approximately $175 million.
December 2015: Adam Aron Appointed as CEO
In December 2015, AMC announced that Adam Aron would be the company's president and chief executive officer, beginning on January 4, 2016.
January 4, 2016: Adam Aron started as CEO
On January 4, 2016, Adam Aron began his role as AMC's president and chief executive officer.
March 3, 2016: AMC Announces Intent to Acquire Carmike Cinemas
On March 3, 2016, AMC announced its intent to acquire Carmike Cinemas in a deal valued at $1.1 billion, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. This acquisition would position AMC to surpass Regal as the largest movie theater chain in the United States.
March 2016: AMC Theatres announced it would acquire competitor Carmike Cinemas
In March 2016, AMC Theatres announced it would acquire competitor Carmike Cinemas.
July 2016: Carmike Cinemas accepted a revised acquisition offer
In July 2016, Carmike's management accepted a revised offer by 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: AMC Acquisition of UCI & Odeon Cinema Group Approved and Closed
In November 2016, the European Commission approved AMC's acquisition of UCI & Odeon Cinema Group, and the deal was subsequently closed.
December 2016: AMC Merger with Carmike Cinemas Officially Closed
In December 2016, the merger between AMC and Carmike Cinemas was officially completed.
December 25, 2016: AMC became the largest cinema chain in the United States
On December 25, 2016, the deal with Carmike Cinemas was closed, making AMC the largest cinema chain in the United States.
2016: AMC became the largest movie theater chain in the world
In 2016, after acquiring Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas, AMC became the largest movie theater chain in the world.
January 2017: AMC to Acquire Nordic Cinema Group
In January 2017, AMC announced its intention to acquire Nordic Cinema Group, the leading movie theater operator in the Nordic and Baltic regions, for approximately $929 million.
March 1, 2017: Plans to rebrand Carmike Cinemas Locations
On March 1, 2017, AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron announced that the company would rebrand Carmike Cinemas locations under the AMC name; smaller locations were rebranded under the new banner AMC Classic.
March 2017: AMC Completes Acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group
In March 2017, AMC completed its acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group after receiving clearance from the European Commission.
April 21, 2017: Universal Cinema relaunched as an AMC Theatre
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: Starplex Theaters Rebranded as AMC Classic
As of July 2017, most of the Starplex Cinemas theaters acquired by AMC were rebranded and began operating as AMC Classic locations.
July 2017: Cost Reduction Plan 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 Settles Federal Securities Law Charges
In 2017, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., along with some executives and underwriters, agreed to an $18 million settlement related to federal securities law charges. The case accused AMC of misleading investors about the financial health of acquired theater operators and artificially boosting stock prices.
July 2018: AMC Stubs split into three programs
In July 2018, AMC Stubs was split into three programs: AMC Stubs Insider, AMC Stubs Premiere, and AMC Stubs A-List.
September 2018: Silver Lake Partners Made a $600 Million Investment
In September 2018, Silver Lake Partners made a $600 million investment in AMC Theatres to repurchase approximately 32% of Wanda Group's class B common stock.
September 2018: Silver Lake Partners Invests in AMC
In September 2018, private equity firm Silver Lake Partners invested $600 million in AMC.
October 2019: AMC Theatres On Demand Launched
In October 2019, AMC began to offer on-demand rentals and purchases of digital film releases under the banner AMC Theatres On Demand. The service is tied to the company's Stubs loyalty program.
2019: Wanda Group reduced its ownership of AMC common stock
By the end of 2019, Wanda Group had reduced its ownership of AMC common stock to just under 50%.
March 18, 2020: Closure of all AMC theatres due to the COVID-19 pandemic
On March 18, 2020, AMC announced the closure of all of its theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for at least six to twelve weeks.
March 25, 2020: Furlough of all corporate employees
On March 25, 2020, AMC furloughed all of its 600 corporate employees, including CEO Adam Aron, retaining their active employment status and health benefits.
April 28, 2020: AMC to no longer carry Universal Pictures films
On April 28, 2020, AMC announced it would no longer carry films from Universal Pictures after NBCUniversal's CEO expressed the studio's intent to release films via premium video-on-demand simultaneously with theatrical releases. AMC threatened to do this with any studio abandoning current windowing practices without good faith negotiations.
June 3, 2020: AMC expresses doubt about remaining in business
On June 3, 2020, AMC stated that it had "substantial doubt" that it would remain in business.
July 2020: AMC Initially Recommends Masks, Then Requires Them
In July 2020, AMC initially announced that masks would be recommended but not mandatory upon reopening theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following public backlash, the policy was changed to require masks.
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 films via premium VOD. The agreement also included revenue sharing on the premium VOD window.
August 20, 2020: AMC begins reopening with 15-cent tickets
On August 20, 2020, AMC began reopening selected locations in the U.S., offering 15-cent tickets in honor of its centennial. This promotion was advertised as "Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices."
October 2020: AMC reports cash depletion concerns
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 Ownership Diluted
In January 2021, Wanda's ownership in AMC was increasingly diluted due to new financing by AMC, and 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 it had raised $917 million in new funding, including $506 million in equity and $411 million in debt financing. AMC stated that this new funding "should allow the company to make it through this dark coronavirus-impacted winter".
February 5, 2021: Wanda Group reduces stake in AMC
On February 5, 2021, Wanda Group's U.S. subsidiary filed with the SEC, stating it had converted Class B common stock to Class A shares to permit their sale. Wanda's stake fell below 37%, effectively surrendering majority control of AMC.
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 significant revenue decline
In March 2021, during its fourth-quarter earnings call, AMC reported an 88% year-over-year revenue decline. CEO Adam Aron cited the "most challenging market conditions in the 100-year history of the company" but remained optimistic.
May 21, 2021: Wanda Group's Involvement 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 surges amid short squeeze
In June 2021, AMC's stock experienced a surge, reaching an all-time high of $77.26 amid another alleged short squeeze. Short sellers incurred losses of over $2.8B. AMC issued more shares and warned investors of potential losses.
July 2021: AMC Theatres to Acquire Leases from Pacific Theatres
In July 2021, AMC Theatres announced it would acquire the leases for the Americana at Brand in Glendale and The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, previously operated by Pacific Theatres. These locations were slated to reopen in August as part of the AMC chain.
July 2021: AMC partners with Chance the Rapper
In July 2021, AMC Theatres partnered with American artist Chance the Rapper and his content production company House of Kicks in a trailblazing international distribution agreement to bring his concert film Magnificent Coloring World to cinemas internationally.
August 2021: AMC plans to accept cryptocurrency
In August 2021, AMC revealed plans to begin accepting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for purchases in the future.
November 2021: AMC accepts cryptocurrency for online purchases
In November 2021, AMC began accepting cryptocurrency for online purchases via PayPal.
December 2021: AMC Theatres Acquires More Leases from Pacific Theaters
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 planned to expand into supermarkets. This move was aimed at offsetting financial losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic-induced downturn affecting movie theaters.
February 2022: AMC Theaters Reaches Deal to Acquire Leases to Arclight Montgomery 16 and Arclight UTC 14
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, with the former reopening that month and the latter in March of that year. 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: AMC Theatres Acquires Share in Hycroft Mining
In March 2022, AMC Theatres acquired a 22% share in Hycroft Mining, a gold and silver mining company based in Nevada, which had been facing a liquidity crisis.
April 2022: AMC Theaters Acquires Seven Bow Tie Cinemas Locations
In April 2022, AMC Theaters acquired seven Bow Tie Cinemas locations situated in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland.
April 2022: AMC announces agreement with Cinionic to install 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.
August 4, 2022: AMC announces APE 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 issued to shareholders in a 1:1 special dividend.
December 2022: AMC Acquires Former Arclight Cinemas in Boston
In December 2022, AMC reached a deal to acquire the former Arclight Cinemas located at The Hub on Causeway in Boston.
February 2023: AMC Announces Dynamic Pricing Test
In February 2023, AMC announced that they would 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 abandoned its dynamic pricing model after testing showed customers were still not likely to choose front-row seats, and it made the prices less competitive. The company also stated that it would test seats that recline further back in the front rows that would potentially allow better views.
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