A number of the nation’s
largest movie theatre operators released their third quarter earnings this
week, highlighting sky-high results from a record-breaking summer. AMC
Theatres and Cinemark
both posted strong revenues and income, powered by star performers of the
summer Christopher Nolan and Universal’s
THE
ODYSSEY and Sony’s SPIDER
MAN: BRAND NEW DAY.
For the July-September
quarter, AMC Theatres took in $1.71 billion in revenue and $109.3 million in
income compared with $1.3 billion in revenue and a loss of $298.2 million in Q3
2025. These massive improvements to the
exhibitor’s bottom line have allowed it to restructure some of its substantial
debts to extend the payback window and improve terms.
Cinemark’s Q3 report
revealed similar trends, reporting a record $1.1 billion in revenue and $123 million
in income. Both exhibitors benefitted
from the Premium Large Format craze, with audiences flocking to each exhibitor’s
in-house PLF and IMAX screens. IMAX was
a particular draw for THE ODYSSEY, with its director Christopher Nolan using IMAX
cameras to film hist feature and promoting IMAX screenings as the best way to
enjoy the film as “he intended” it to be seen.
IMAX
released its Q3 earnings as well, showing recording breaking box
office, profit, and income.
Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble
also made news during his Q3 earnings call by announcing Cinemark would not feature
THE
FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH on their IMAX screens. Gamble’s rationale for not screening the film
was that Netflix
only offering exhibitors a 27-day exclusive window to play in theatres. Gamble explained that showing a film with
this short a theatrical window was “not in Cinemark’s best interest”. IMAX
CEO Rich Gelfond responded by saying “frankly, I don’t
understand”, as he views the Netflix arrangement as a “win-win” for
Cinemark. As it stands, CLIFF BOOTH is scheduled
to be played on IMAX screens at a select number of smaller independent theatres
during the 27-day period.
