After an unbelievable run-up, the stock price of cinema circuit AMC Entertainment is in free fall, as the flood of small investors calling themselves apes evaporates. From a high surpassing $55 a share last year, AMC closed at $14.52 a share today. With the air out of the balloon, professional investors expect AMC’s stock price to settle under $10/share because of its heavy … [Read more...] about ‘People’s’ Rescue of AMC Fizzles
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Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters
A little-understood aspect of cinema booking contracts is that a larger percentage of boxoffice revenue is allocated to the Hollywood major studios as a blockbuster film climbs into the stratosphere. The result is that the financial benefits of outsized hits disproportionately go into the pockets of major-studio distributors, and less so to theaters. Hey all you “meme” small … [Read more...] about Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters
AMC Unspools Surprise $25m Ad Campaign
AMC Theatres launches a $25 million-plus marketing campaign with Nicole Kidman as star presenter this week to encourage a return to moviegoing amid the pandemic. The key copyline is “AMC Theatres. We Make Movies Better" in what is an advocacy and brand-building exercise. The campaign is a surprise because cinemas don’t normally bankroll pricey advertising, instead relying on … [Read more...] about AMC Unspools Surprise $25m Ad Campaign
Cinemas Show Comeback Grit
Though battered, the domestic movie theater industry showed surprising confidence at annual industry gathering CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Aug 23-26. Pundits can scoff, but I spent three days at the cinema trade show with nearly 2,000 executives who rolled up their sleeves to do business. Reflecting the devastation of the Covid pandemic, that headcount is down from 3,000-3,500 … [Read more...] about Cinemas Show Comeback Grit
‘Apes’ Love AMC Stock … So Far
Small investors bid up the share price of largest U.S. movie theater circuit AMC Entertainment to heights that baffled Wall Street professionals. These investors embraced the nickname of “apes” because they are unsophisticated in investing but group movement made them strong like gorillas. What comes next is that high-flying AMC will have to deliver profits that justify its … [Read more...] about ‘Apes’ Love AMC Stock … So Far
Cinema Marketing Ignites ‘Quiet II’
Horror film “A Quiet Place II” scared up a blockbuster $57 million in domestic box office for the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend with a conventional cinema marketing campaign. The messaging included “Only In Theatres” as a key copy line; "Quiet" won't hit video streaming until 45 days after cinema premiere. The Paramount Pictures release bettered second-ranked weekend … [Read more...] about Cinema Marketing Ignites ‘Quiet II’
Digital Disciple Endorses Cinema
The digital native atop Hollywood’s largest major studio gave a full endorsement to cinema release, as the broader rebound of the theatrical film business takes shape post-pandemic. Jason Kilar, head of mammoth Hollywood enterprise WarnerMedia, told a recent MoffettNathanson investors' conference: “You should expect us to lean into theatrical distribution for decades and … [Read more...] about Digital Disciple Endorses Cinema
No. 3 Cinema Chain Opens VOD Windows
The nation’s third-largest theater circuit, Cinemark Holdings, reached a deal with all five Hollywood major studios allowing rapid video-on-demand adjacent to cinema release, indicating the industry is moving to shorter windows and cooperation. In a separate initiative, the Plano, Texas-based theater chain booked Netflix original movie “Army of the Dead” apparently on a … [Read more...] about No. 3 Cinema Chain Opens VOD Windows
Hollywood’s ♥️ Affair: Still ‘Dating’ Cinema
Hollywood still shows its love for cinema, despite the naysayers. Lost in the current theatrical release depression is that movie distributors continue to aggressively schedule cinema premieres months and even years ahead, when the Covid-19 is expected to be gone. Such film release scheduling is known as “dating” in Hollywood parlance. And, yes, such dating can be undone. … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s ♥️ Affair: Still ‘Dating’ Cinema
Virus Costs Cinema $32bn, But Rebound Forecast
Global boxoffice revenue will decline $32 billion due to Covid-19 closures, representing a 71.5% plunge, estimates a London-based researcher that is nonetheless upbeat about a healthy though not complete rebound in two years. Omdia Research’s latest syndicated report "Movie Windows: Adapting for the Future” forecasts 2020 global boxoffice will amount to just $13 billion, for … [Read more...] about Virus Costs Cinema $32bn, But Rebound Forecast