Dine-in movie theaters have become a force, emerging from a niche, as some pure in-cinema eating/drinking chains now rank as leading circuits, notes a Fast Company article by Patrick J. Sauer.
Plush seating, intimate auditoriums and at-your-seat service are basic for the category, and the Fast Company magazine article notes that “truffle popcorn can be paired with something quaffable, like say an $85 bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne.”
Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill and Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse rank 13th and 17th respectively among U.S. theater chains based on screen count. In addition, #4 circuit Marcus bought New Orleans-based Movie Tavern chain for $126 million last year. In 2018, Alamo Drafthouse logged revenue of $300 million across all its 37 theaters in 10 states, half of which are owned outright by Alamo, with the others franchised to local operators.
The major circuits like AMC Entertainment and National Amusements are opening dine-in theaters selectively. The Fast Company article notes dine-in theaters launched in urban areas, but now increasingly pop up outside of city centers.
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