AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens and one of the United States's four national cinema chains (Regal Entertainment Group, National Amusements, Inc. and Cinemark Theaters being the others) of the 12 largest on the continent that did not go bankrupt during the 2001-2002 recession, due in part to the fact that its theatres often dominate lists of the top 50 most profitable theatres in North America. Its mascot is the animated filmstrip Clip who has starred in the pre-show policy trailers from 1991 until a brief hiatus for most of 2009 until the autumn of 2009. While it also has locations in Canada, within the United Kingdom, France, and Hong Kong the chain is known as AMC Cinemas. Within Spain the chain is known as AMC Cines. The company was founded in 1920 by the Dubinsky Brothers (Maurice, Edward and Barney) who had been traveling the Midwest performing melodramas and tent shows with actress Jeanne Eagels. They purchased the Regent Theatre on 12th Street between Walnut and Grand in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
The Dubinskys eventually changed their name to Durwood and the company was called Durwood Theatres.
In 1961, Edward's son, Stanley, took control of Durwood Theatres when his father died. Stanley had attended Harvard University and served as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.
He renamed Durwood Theatres to "American Multi-Cinema, Inc.", and began to apply military management and the insights of management science to revolutionize the movie theatre industry. As he later explained to Variety, "We needed to define what our company was doing in the (exhibition) business. My dad wasn't that organized." It was founded on the belief that every "guest" (as AMC calls them) was to be treated first.
Distribution strategy
AMC and Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that Anchor Bay Entertainment will distribute AMC’s original hit series, “The Walking Dead,” on Blu-ray™ and DVD in the U.S. and Canada. “The Walking Dead” premiered on AMC on Sunday, October 31st – Halloween night and its debut reigns as the biggest series debut in cable’s history among Adults 18-49 with 4.2 million*. The series is based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Season one consists of six, one-hour episodes. Today’s announcement was made jointly by Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment and Marci Wiseman, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for AMC.
“We’re pleased to be working on ‘The Walking Dead’ series with the team at AMC,” Clark said. “We have some unique plans for the release and can’t wait to put them into motion. We’re lucky to have such talented and committed partners at the network.”
“Anchor Bay is the leading distributor for the horror genre, and we could not have a better partner as we expand into this lucrative new market,” Wiseman said. “‘The Walking Dead’ is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama and we are excited to extend its life into the retail marketplace.”
“Anchor Bay is the perfect home for ‘The Walking Dead,’” added Kevin Kasha, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions and Co-Productions of Anchor Bay Films. “Over the years, the Anchor Bay Entertainment brand has become synonymous with the horror genre and this series is horror at its absolute best.”
“The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years that ensue after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. He goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.
AMC has been successful in integrating competitive theater circuits into its family. In March 2002, AMC bought General Cinema Corporation, which added 621 screens to the company assets as well as Gulf States Theaters which had 68 screens in the greater New Orleans area. In late 2003, AMC acquired MegaStar Theatres, adding top-quality assets to its Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul markets. Then on January 26, 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment; AMC was the winner in the merger and the newly acquired Loews company was renamed AMC Entertainment, Inc.
The company has interests in 385 theaters with 5,128 screens in six countries. Some of the U.S. theaters are named for basketball legend and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who became a partner of Loews in the mid-1990s. AMC also owns and operates a small series of theatres in the Metro Detroit area known as Star Theatres. The Star Theatres chain was acquired in the Loews Cineplex Entertainment merger, as it was one of Loews' assets.
The company has theaters in the United States and Canada. In addition the company operates two cinemas in the United Kingdom (inBirmingham and Manchester), one cinema in Dunkirk, France, and two in Hong Kong. AMC previously operated theaters in Brazil,Chile, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay. January 19, 2010, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to sell most of the assets to AMC Entertainment, Inc., combining the nation's second and sixth largest movie theater chains.
On May 25, 2010, the $275 million sale between Kerasotes Theatres and AMC Entertainment, Inc. was completed.
Richard M. Fay serves as President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution of Summit Entertainment, LLC. Mr. Fay develops, oversees and executes the distribution strategy for Summit Entertainment's domestic film slate. Mr. Fay served as President of AMC Film a subsidiary of AMC Entertainment Inc., for 10 years since September 8, 1995 .During his tenure at AMC, he was also responsible for negotiating all the film settlements with distributors and initiating aggregate film
In 2004, the company which at the time publicly traded on AMEX under the code AEN was acquired by Marquee Holdings Inc. Marquee is an investment vehicle controlled by affiliates ofJ.P. Morgan Partners, LLC, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase, and Apollo Management, a private investment firm.[30] The company continues to officially be headquartered in Kansas City although it has sold its headquarters building at Ten Main Center where it now leases space.[31]
In 2006, the company announced a new IPO expected to be worth approximately $789 million, however, adverse market conditions convinced the company's management to withdraw from such an offering on May 3, 2007. The company filed for a $450 million IPO, in its third such filing since 2006, on July 14, 2010
AMC's corporate strategy involves achieving continued success by focusing on business fundamentals, which includes maximizing revenues and managing overhead costs and capital expenditures. This aim is reflected in its strategic plan, which includes three stated elements: maximizing the performance of its existing operations by focusing on the fundamentals of its business; growing and improving its theatre portfolio through strategic acquisitions, selective new builds, and the continued disposition of older, underperforming theatres; and enhancing and extending its business and brands.
The most fundamental element of AMC's strategy is customer comfort and pleasure. From its very beginning, AMC has made designing the most pleasurable movie-going experience the main focus of its strategy. This simple strategy would seem to be a given for any organization intent on succeeding in the industry. However, inspired by the vision of its founder, Edward Dur-wood, AMC implements specific elements and innovations to achieve its aims. The company is always on the lookout for new opportunities that will enable it to enhance the movie-going experience.
AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include the Emmy® Award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and entertaining non-scripted programming such as AMC News. AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with curated movie franchises like AMC Hollywood Icon andAMC Complete Collection. Available in more than 96 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, which includes sister networks IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central.
The Dubinskys eventually changed their name to Durwood and the company was called Durwood Theatres.
In 1961, Edward's son, Stanley, took control of Durwood Theatres when his father died. Stanley had attended Harvard University and served as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.
He renamed Durwood Theatres to "American Multi-Cinema, Inc.", and began to apply military management and the insights of management science to revolutionize the movie theatre industry. As he later explained to Variety, "We needed to define what our company was doing in the (exhibition) business. My dad wasn't that organized." It was founded on the belief that every "guest" (as AMC calls them) was to be treated first.
Distribution strategy
AMC and Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that Anchor Bay Entertainment will distribute AMC’s original hit series, “The Walking Dead,” on Blu-ray™ and DVD in the U.S. and Canada. “The Walking Dead” premiered on AMC on Sunday, October 31st – Halloween night and its debut reigns as the biggest series debut in cable’s history among Adults 18-49 with 4.2 million*. The series is based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Season one consists of six, one-hour episodes. Today’s announcement was made jointly by Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment and Marci Wiseman, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for AMC.
“We’re pleased to be working on ‘The Walking Dead’ series with the team at AMC,” Clark said. “We have some unique plans for the release and can’t wait to put them into motion. We’re lucky to have such talented and committed partners at the network.”
“Anchor Bay is the leading distributor for the horror genre, and we could not have a better partner as we expand into this lucrative new market,” Wiseman said. “‘The Walking Dead’ is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama and we are excited to extend its life into the retail marketplace.”
“Anchor Bay is the perfect home for ‘The Walking Dead,’” added Kevin Kasha, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions and Co-Productions of Anchor Bay Films. “Over the years, the Anchor Bay Entertainment brand has become synonymous with the horror genre and this series is horror at its absolute best.”
“The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years that ensue after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. He goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.
AMC has been successful in integrating competitive theater circuits into its family. In March 2002, AMC bought General Cinema Corporation, which added 621 screens to the company assets as well as Gulf States Theaters which had 68 screens in the greater New Orleans area. In late 2003, AMC acquired MegaStar Theatres, adding top-quality assets to its Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul markets. Then on January 26, 2006, AMC merged with Loews Cineplex Entertainment; AMC was the winner in the merger and the newly acquired Loews company was renamed AMC Entertainment, Inc.
The company has interests in 385 theaters with 5,128 screens in six countries. Some of the U.S. theaters are named for basketball legend and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who became a partner of Loews in the mid-1990s. AMC also owns and operates a small series of theatres in the Metro Detroit area known as Star Theatres. The Star Theatres chain was acquired in the Loews Cineplex Entertainment merger, as it was one of Loews' assets.
The company has theaters in the United States and Canada. In addition the company operates two cinemas in the United Kingdom (inBirmingham and Manchester), one cinema in Dunkirk, France, and two in Hong Kong. AMC previously operated theaters in Brazil,Chile, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay. January 19, 2010, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to sell most of the assets to AMC Entertainment, Inc., combining the nation's second and sixth largest movie theater chains.
On May 25, 2010, the $275 million sale between Kerasotes Theatres and AMC Entertainment, Inc. was completed.
Richard M. Fay serves as President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution of Summit Entertainment, LLC. Mr. Fay develops, oversees and executes the distribution strategy for Summit Entertainment's domestic film slate. Mr. Fay served as President of AMC Film a subsidiary of AMC Entertainment Inc., for 10 years since September 8, 1995 .During his tenure at AMC, he was also responsible for negotiating all the film settlements with distributors and initiating aggregate film
In 2004, the company which at the time publicly traded on AMEX under the code AEN was acquired by Marquee Holdings Inc. Marquee is an investment vehicle controlled by affiliates ofJ.P. Morgan Partners, LLC, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase, and Apollo Management, a private investment firm.[30] The company continues to officially be headquartered in Kansas City although it has sold its headquarters building at Ten Main Center where it now leases space.[31]
In 2006, the company announced a new IPO expected to be worth approximately $789 million, however, adverse market conditions convinced the company's management to withdraw from such an offering on May 3, 2007. The company filed for a $450 million IPO, in its third such filing since 2006, on July 14, 2010
AMC's corporate strategy involves achieving continued success by focusing on business fundamentals, which includes maximizing revenues and managing overhead costs and capital expenditures. This aim is reflected in its strategic plan, which includes three stated elements: maximizing the performance of its existing operations by focusing on the fundamentals of its business; growing and improving its theatre portfolio through strategic acquisitions, selective new builds, and the continued disposition of older, underperforming theatres; and enhancing and extending its business and brands.
The most fundamental element of AMC's strategy is customer comfort and pleasure. From its very beginning, AMC has made designing the most pleasurable movie-going experience the main focus of its strategy. This simple strategy would seem to be a given for any organization intent on succeeding in the industry. However, inspired by the vision of its founder, Edward Dur-wood, AMC implements specific elements and innovations to achieve its aims. The company is always on the lookout for new opportunities that will enable it to enhance the movie-going experience.
AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include the Emmy® Award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and entertaining non-scripted programming such as AMC News. AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with curated movie franchises like AMC Hollywood Icon andAMC Complete Collection. Available in more than 96 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, which includes sister networks IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central.