The Hollywood Reporter
An ongoing and apparently sustained Hollywood box office recovery underpinned solid revenue growth for AMC Theatres during the second quarter
Overall revenue was up 14 percent to $1.59 billion, compared to $1.39 billion in the same period of 2025, even as AMC increased its net loss to $11.4 million, against a year-earlier $4.7 million. The adjusted EBITDA came to $320.6 million, compared to $189.2 million
The second quarter results at AMC follow the exhibition industry seeing gains from steady supply of Hollywood tentpole releases like Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and surprise horror pics like Backrooms and Obsession, to get film lovers back in the habit of going to the multiplex in pre-pandemic numbers
Just this weekend, Christopher Nolan’s epic drama The Odyssey revived the summer box office with this year’s biggest live-action debut and the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s highest-grossing global launch of $124 million
That’s allowed exhibitors to look to full-year 2026 box office likely to exceed the comparable performance for last year, and possibly set a new annual record
“Both our U.S. and European businesses showed great progress in the second quarter. The momentum in the total industry-wide domestic box office was undeniable, reaching approximately $2.99 billion, up 10.7 percent from last year’s second quarter, making this the biggest box office quarter in seven years and the fifth biggest quarter ever,” AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron said in a statement on Monday morning
U.S. market attendance rose 12 percent to 52.2 million patrons, compared to 46.8 million in 2025, while international markets attendance was also up by 18 percent to 18.7 million cinemagoers, against 16 million patrons
Aron also talked up fortunes for his debt-laden company as it looks to recover from the impact of pandemic-era box office disruptions: “This demonstrates the inherent operating leverage in our business model at a time of rising revenues, combined with the power of AMC’s market leading position, the appeal of our theatres, the increasing numbers of our premium offerings, the prowess of our marketing programs and our ability to keep a tight lid on our costs
The theater chain’s chief added, “Finally, after some admittedly tough years as our industry recovered only slowly from the ravages of COVID-19 and its aftermath, the relentless focus of AMC on delighting our guests as we execute with all cylinders blazing is reflected in our record-setting second quarter financial results.”
