Latest in Exhibition

It seems like a distant memory — taking refuge in the welcoming comfort of a movie theater. And now it may become even more distant. Key players at the studios are worried that summer openings may simply not happen; further, that scores of movie theaters may not survive the year. Equally alarming: Ticket buyers are…

UPDATED with closing stock price. Three Wall Street analysts offered positive sentiments Thursday about the prospects for Cinemark, the No. 3 U.S. exhibitor, after it outlined plans to reopen movie theaters in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Executives’ comments during a conference call with analysts Wednesday…

UPDATED EXCLUSIVE w/chart: As more theaters have inched toward opening as COVID-19 safety restrictions are eased in states like Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee, a top 10 box office chart has emerged, and we just got our hands on the last two weekends. First of all, it’s still pretty grim out there and this gives you an…

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded shares of theater chain AMC Entertainment after the company announced plans for a debt exchange offer that the agency sees as "distressed." If completed, S&P said, the move — announced in an SEC filing – would be "tantamount to a default" because noteholders will likely receive less…

While Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi continued to champion the theatrical window this morning on the chain’s Q1 earnings call, he also told investors and financial analysts that when it comes to smaller and lower-grossing titles, “we’re open to talking with studio partners about alternatives we can consider.” “I don’t want…

Mark Zoradi, a former?longtime Disney executive who is now CEO of major exhibitor Cinemark, believes business comparable with what existed prior to COVID-19 won’t return until at least 2022. “The reality is I don’t think we’re going to be able to get into a full-on rhythm again of product cycles and all that we had…

Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi remained confident this morning on the exhibitor’s Q1 call that Warner Bros.’ Christopher Nolan movie Tenet?will remain on track and open on its planned July 17 release date. While Solstice Studios’ Unhinged will be the first new wide release movie in those theaters that are open on July 1, Ten…

Giant exhib AMC Entertainment said it expects to report ballooning losses of between $2.1 and $2.4 billion for the first quarter ended in March on one-time charges compared with losses of $130 million the year before. Announcing preliminary results Wednesday, it anticipated revenue of $941 million last quarter versus…

Cinemark, the No. 3 U.S. exhibitor, reported first-quarter results below Wall Street expectations, revealing the extent of the damage done to its business by COVID-19 on its business. Revenue for the period ending March 31 totaled $543.6 million, down 24% from the year-ago period due to the closure of theaters in…

EXCLUSIVE: Some international box office markets that are up and running — even if not at full steam — saw increases this weekend while others faced drops given good weather in some spots and an overall lack of new product. However, Disney floated Kristen Stewart-starrer Underwater into Korea for the first time with a…

Studios look set to gain the upper hand in skirmishes with exhibition over windowing as trends during the COVID-19 pandemic extend into the future with mid-range films generating the $50-$100 million range the most at risk of dwindling theatrical runs, according to a leading Wall Street analyst. Exhibitors have until…

EXCLUSIVE:?Despite the Polish government giving exhibitors the green light to resume operations this week, the country’s major exhibitors say they are planning to take a slow and steady approach to re-opening. Last week, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that cinemas in the country would be allowed…