Fade to black: The covid-19 pandemic of 2020 forced extended closure of more than 40,000 movie screens in 5,500 commercial movie theaters in America. It is a devastating blow to an industry already facing long-term structural competition from stream-at-home movie services. How will the industry sort itself out when theaters re-open? Here are the major players to watch.
AMC Entertainment, since its acquisition of Carmike Cinemas in 2016, owns 8,380 screens in more than 600 U.S. theaters. The company is a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda, which is owned by Chinese tycoon Wang Jianlin. [ticker: AMC]
Regal Entertainment, a division of the British chain Cineworld, owns 7,361 screens in the USA
Cinemark Theaters, which also owns Century Theatres and Rave Cinemas, operates 4,518 U.S. screens
Smaller movie exhibition chains include:
- Marcus Theaters owns 675 screens
- Harkins Theaters owns 446 screens
- B&B Theaters owns 414 screens
- National Amusements owns 409 screens
- Bow Tie Cinemas owns 400 screens
Sources: Company reports, via qz.com