AMC posts surprise profit, record revenue as blockbuster films lift ticket sales

AMC Entertainment Holdings

20/07/2026 12:35

July 20 (Reuters) - Theater chain AMC Entertainment AMC.N posted a surprise second-quarter adjusted profit and record revenue that beat Wall Street expectations, as blockbuster titles like "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Obsession" boosted ticket sales. 
Shares of the Leawood, Kansas-based entertainment company jumped 16.5% in premarket trading on Monday. 
The cinema industry entered 2026 with a broader slate of theatrical releases after years of disruption from the pandemic and Hollywood strikes.
Major studios, including Disney and Universal, have committed to supporting exclusive theatrical release windows for many major films, a trend movie theater operators say helps drive cinema attendance.
During the second quarter, AMC reported its highest-ever revenue of $1.60 billion. Analysts on average estimated sales of $1.47 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at 14 cents, compared with a 6-cent loss expected.
During the second quarter, six different films delivered domestic opening weekend grosses exceeding $75 million, AMC said.
Attendance at AMC's U.S. and international markets rose 12% and about 18%, respectively, during the quarter ended June 30.

(Reporting by Anzar Mehraj in Bengaluru)
((Anzar.Mehraj@thomsonreuters.com;))