AMC Entertainment Holdings reported a more than 3.2 million decline in moviegoers during the fourth quarter of 2025, ending December 31, according to a February 23, 2026, company statement. The nation’s largest theatrical movie exhibitor saw 39.7 million attendees in the quarter, compared to nearly 43 million in the same period the previous year.
For the full year 2025, attendance dropped 10% with 155.8 million moviegoers attending AMC Theatres screenings, down from 156.8 million in 2024. Despite a 5% increase in average ticket prices – rising to $13 from $12.45 – revenue in the fourth quarter decreased by 1.1% to $1.29 billion, compared to $1.3 billion in the prior-year period.
The company’s net loss for the quarter narrowed by 6% to $127.4 million, from $135.6 million. But, the fiscal year’s net loss ballooned nearly 80% to $632.4 million, a significant increase from the $352.6 million loss reported in 2024. AMC operated approximately 7,000 screens in North America as of the end of the year, a reduction from the 7,130 screens operated during the same period last year.
AMC CEO Adam Aron attributed the company’s financial performance to the availability of compelling films from studio partners. “As I have said many times before, the not-so-secret formula to a full box‑office recovery is straightforward: we need more great movies from our studio partners,” Aron stated.
Aron’s comments echo a broader industry concern regarding theatrical windows – the period of time a film is exclusively shown in cinemas before becoming available on other platforms. In February 2025, Aron publicly criticized shortened theatrical windows of 17 and 30 days, calling them “too short,” and advocated for a return to a 45-day window, or even extending it to 60 or 74 days, as was standard before the pandemic. This position aligns with that of Michael O’Leary, CEO of Cinema United, who in April 2025 called for a mandatory 45-day theatrical window to safeguard the struggling box office.
O’Leary pointed to a 10% decline in ticket sales for the top 20 box office hits in 2024 compared to 2023, and a 32% drop for the next 80 releases. Early 2025 figures as well indicated a downturn, with North American ticket sales down 7% to $1.34 billion through March 25, 2025, according to Comscore.
The debate over theatrical windows comes as streaming services increasingly impact the film industry. Aron expressed optimism about the theatrical plans of Amazon MGM and Apple Studios, but voiced reservations about Netflix’s strategy, particularly regarding its collaboration with IMAX on the “Narnia” project, noting his desire to observe Netflix drive more patrons to theaters – a proposition Netflix executives have repeatedly declined.
