Movie theaters have changed considerably in the last thirty years.  The modern temples to Hollywood have moved beyond simple auditorium-style seating and now feature stadium seating—thus ensuring cries of “Down in front!” are kept to a minimum (well, maybe not).  Some places even offer leather chairs and gourmet meals to placate the masses of eager viewers.  Of course, we can’t forget the urns of melted butter, 3D glasses, and reminders to turn off all cellular devices (or at least set them to ’stun’).

More change will be coming soon—but from a potentially unexpected source.

According to an article in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times, the second largest movie theater company in the US, AMC Entertainment Inc, has been purchased for 2.6 billion dollars by the Dalian Wanda Group from NE China (Dalian is a town of over 6 million, in case you were interested).

All 346 multiplexes.

All 5,034 screens.

All that popcorn and butter.

The article adds that Dalian Wanda, as part of the deal, will invest up to 500 million dollars in the company.

So, with this in mind . . .

• What would $500 million in improvements to a theater company look like?
• Is it a good thing to have Chinese influence over the film industry in this manner?
• Do you think faith-based films will have an easier or harder time gaining a foothold as a result of this?

SOUND OFF!

One Response to “Sound Off! — Movie Theaters?”

1. Mike Furches  
   May 22nd, 2012 at 2:21 pm

   as to improvements, no guarantees there, but hopefully will be more of a willingness to listen to the desires of the audience. Here in little ol’ Wichita KS, we have the largest IMAX screen in the USA, and on the regular top listings nationally as to movie going audience. Local ownership of those theaters, Bill Warren has done some things I don’t like, but as a whole he has listened to his audience. Giving 1st class theaters, I think some 50+ screens in town, along with the meals, alcohol sales, even in one theater recliners, one theater has a balcony,with a bar and live entertainment, over 40 screens are digital, so there is a profit to be made, if one listens to their local audience, which my experience with AMC is they didn’t

   As to a Chinese influence, as to what folks expect, they still have a govt’ control mindset and promote a political agenda, whether we like it or not. Personally, it will have some impact, if not on picture production, certainly on the AMC Market

   I do think faith based films will also have a harder time making it to the screen. Just my opinion, but again, a political drive. As American’s it is important to understand, we are not raised with the same mindsets of others, certainly not in comparison to the mindset of the Chinese or other communist driven country.

   On a side note, of course all of this can be mute if, China does not try to control its companies, it is yet to be seen as to if that will happen or not. As we don’t have any AMC theaters in our city, hardly any in our state, this isn’t so much of a problem for me to worry about, other than I love movies and if this has an impact on the types of movies made, and their content, it could impact us all.

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