AMC Theatres

To celebrate both its centennial anniversary and the theater chain reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown, AMC offered 1920s-era prices for movie tickets at 15 cents a pop on August 20th.

Stanley Durwood, son of Edward Durwood, joined AMC Theatres in 1945 after serving in the U.S. Air Force, contributing to the expansion of the company.

In 1960, Stanley's father passed away, leading Stanley and his siblings to take over the family business.

In 1961, AMC was rebranded as American Multi-cinema (AMC) under the leadership of Stanley Durwood.

In 1962, AMC opened the world's first multiplex, the Parkway Twin in Kansas City, revolutionizing the cinema industry.

In 1963, Stanley Durwood built the first multiscreen theater, introducing the concept of multiplex cinemas which revolutionized the theater industry.

On October 1, 1968, Stanley Durwood renamed Durwood Theatres as American Royal Cinema, which was later changed to American Multi-Cinema, Inc. after facing legal challenges from the producers of the American Royal livestock and horse show.

In 1969, AMC opened its first six-screen theater, expanding its footprint and setting the stage for further growth and success.

In 1981, AMC innovatively introduced cup holders in the armrests of their theaters.

In 1983, AMC, previously 100 percent owned by Durwood and his family, went public as part of their expansion strategy, with about 12 percent of the company's stock being sold.

AMC Theatres built its first multiplex overseas in 1985, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion.

By 1986, AMC had over 200 theater complexes with more than 1,100 screens in the United States, and also expanded into western Europe, Australia, and Singapore.

By 1988, the U.S. theater industry faced criticism for overbuilding as theater demand declined. AMC alone had 1,500 screens, and competitors were also rapidly adding screens to their complexes. Critics noted AMC's lack of market presence in key metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, and Boston.

By 1990, AMC aimed to operate 2,500 screens in the United States and an additional 1,500 screens overseas, showcasing their ambitious growth strategy.

In 1991, AMC introduced Clip®, a film strip character, as the ambassador of the brand and its Silence is Golden® program, emphasizing the importance of a quiet movie-watching experience.

In July 1994, AMC signed an agreement with Sony to install SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) in auditoriums, marking a significant advancement in sound technology.

In 1995, AMC opened the world's first megaplex, which led to the installation of luxurious seats.

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

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

In December 1998, due to financial strains, Planet Hollywood declared bankruptcy, leading to the failure of the partnership with AMC for the Planet Movies venture.

In the summer of 1999, the only Planet Movies location opened in Columbus, Ohio, featuring a 30 screen megaplex alongside an Official All Star Café and Planet Hollywood restaurant.

In 2000, AMC generated annual ticket sales of nearly $1,030 million, showcasing its financial success and popularity among movie-goers.

The Planet Movies by AMC joint venture was formally dissolved on January 9, 2001, following the financial struggles and bankruptcy of Planet Hollywood.

In March 2002, AMC purchased General Cinema Corporation and Gulf States Theaters, expanding its theater assets with additional screens in various locations.

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.

In 2005, AMC co-founded National CineMedia to manage all preshow entertainment and in-theatre advertising, enhancing the overall moviegoing experience.

On January 26, 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment, incorporating Loews and American Cineplex chains, along with other theaters like Magic Johnson Theatres and Star Theatres, into its operations.

In 2007, AMC partnered with IMAX to bring larger screens and better projection to their theaters.

On December 5, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of AMC Theatres in an ADA lawsuit. The court found the initial order excessive and a violation of AMC's due process rights, highlighting discrepancies in ADA guidelines for movie theaters at the time.

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

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

On March 30, 2009, AMC revealed plans to convert all 4,500 screens in their chain to 4K digital projectors provided by Sony, enhancing the viewing experience.

In 2010, AMC introduced the AMC Independent program to support independent films by promoting and distributing them to AMC theaters, aiming to help these films reach a wider audience.

On April 1, 2011, AMC introduced the AMC Stubs rewards program where members could purchase benefits for a fee, including discounts on purchases, free size upgrades on popcorn and drinks, and waived ticketing fees for online purchases.

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

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. started trading on the New York Stock Exchange on December 18, 2013.

On December 25, 2015, AMC Theatres closed the deal to acquire competitor Carmike Cinemas, becoming the largest cinema chain in the United States.

In March 2016, AMC announced its intention to acquire Carmike Cinemas in a billion-dollar deal, solidifying its position as the largest movie theater chain in the United States upon completion of the merger in December 2016.

The fair market value of one share of AMC Class A common stock was determined to be $33.45 as of December 21, 2016, based on the last trading price on the New York Stock Exchange the previous day.

On March 1, 2017, AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron announced the rebranding of Carmike Cinemas locations under the AMC name, with smaller locations rebranded as AMC Classic.

On April 21, 2017, the AMC Citywalk Stadium 19 located on Universal Studios Hollywood's CityWalk was relaunched as 'Universal Cinema, an AMC Theatre', featuring advanced technologies like IMAX Laser and Dolby Atmos speakers.

On September 14, 2018, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. announced a special dividend of $1.55 per share for all AMC Class A and Class B common shareholders.

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.

On March 18, 2020, AMC announced the closure of all its theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, complying with CDC guidance against large gatherings.

On April 28, 2020, AMC announced it would no longer carry films from Universal Pictures after a dispute over releasing films via premium video-on-demand.

On July 28, 2020, AMC and Universal resolved their dispute, agreeing to a shorter theatrical window before Universal could release films via premium VOD.

AMC began reopening selected locations in the United States in honor of its centennial year, offering a special 15-cent ticket promotion. The company aimed to have at least two thirds of its locations open by September 3.

AMC announced raising $917 million in new funding, including equity and debt financing, to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.

AMC experienced a major surge in its share price, reaching a peak of $20.36 as part of a short squeeze coordinated by the Reddit community r/wallstreetbets.

Silver Lake Partners reached an agreement to convert $600 million of its debt holdings in AMC to equity at $13.51 per-share.

A U.S.-based subsidiary of Wanda Group converted its Class B common stock to Class A shares, surrendering its majority control over AMC.

Wanda Group filed a 0.002% stake with the SEC, largely confirming the end of their involvement in AMC.

On August 4, 2022, AMC surprised Wall Street with the announcement of 'AMC Preferred Equity Units' after market close, a new preferred share class listed on the NYSE under the symbol 'APE'.

Information about the reverse split, conversion of APE units into AMC shares, and the Litigation Settlement Payment can be found in the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 14, 2023. The filing includes the expected timeline of events and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

AMC had a 1 for 10 stock split on August 24, 2023.

AMC Preferred Equity Units (NYSE:APE) ceased trading on August 25, 2023, with zero shares outstanding as of that date.

As of February 21, 2024, there were 263,278,238 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding.

As of March 31, 2024, AMC owned or operated around 900 theatres and 10,000 screens worldwide, making it the largest movie exhibitor in the U.S., Europe, and globally.