Confirming what I previously told you – that this past summer was the summer of flops – now it’s confirmed that AMC theaters have posted a massive quarterly loss for the summer.
Those flops include the tail end of Thunderbolts (released Q2), Jurassic World: Rebirth (lowest of the franchise), James Gunn’s Superman, and Marvel’s big bust of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
What did AMC report? Fewer people visited theaters
AMC Theatres posted a steep $298.2 million quarterly loss, and the results paint a clear picture of how the theatrical market performed during the same period Warner Bros. credited Superman for boosting its earnings.
Even with new releases like Superman, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Fantastic Four, moviegoer turnout was lower than last year. The numbers back up what we noted earlier: Superman helped Warner Bros.’ quarter, but the industry isn’t seeing the kind of box office strength it had in previous years.
Variety reports that AMC’s revenue for the three-month period ending in September dropped to $1.3 billion, a 3.6 percent decline from 2024. The chain also posted a wider net loss than the year prior. Concession sales and admissions both fell, showing that fewer people visited theaters during the quarter.
AMC Confirms the Quarter Was Softer Than 2024
AMC’s quarterly attendance tells the story. Admissions dropped from $744.2 million in 2024 to $715.1 million this year. Food and beverage sales also fell by nearly $40 million. These numbers show a noticeable dip in overall foot traffic, even with several “high-profile” franchise releases on the schedule.
AMC CEO Adam Aron said the year played out exactly as they predicted: a weak first quarter, a strong second quarter, and then a softer third quarter. That “soft” period aligns with what the numbers show. The summer’s slate didn’t land the way theaters hoped, especially when compared to last year’s lineup, which had juggernauts like Deadpool & Wolverine and Despicable Me 4.
AMC did hit Wall Street expectations, but the industry trend is clear. Big brands alone aren’t pulling the same attendance they used to, as the content isn’t good enough to draw in moviegoers.
Superman, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Fantastic Four Didn’t Match Last Year’s Hits
Superman performed well enough for Warner Bros. to highlight it in their Q3 earnings, but from the exhibitor side, the film didn’t spark a major surge in theater traffic (especially internationally). Jurassic World Rebirth and Weapons also made noise at the box office, and Fantastic Four added another tentpole title to the mix.
Even with all of that, AMC still saw declines in admissions and food sales.
This reinforces what we reported earlier. Superman added revenue to Warner Bros.’ quarter, but the film didn’t behave like a breakout hit, and it didn’t elevate the theatrical market in a noticeable way.
The broader slate had the same issue. Releases were solid, not explosive. Audiences showed up, but not in the size that theaters needed to match 2024’s performance.
