AMC Entertainment unveiled plans Monday to install 40 additional Dolby Cinema auditoriums across its U.S. theaters by 2027, intensifying its bet on premium formats amid shifting audience demands. The expansion, announced during the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, will increase AMC’s Dolby screens by 25%, bringing its total to 200 locations featuring the high-end audiovisual technology.
The Dolby Cinema format combines laser-projected Dolby Vision imaging with 360-degree Dolby Atmos sound, positioning it as a key draw for major studio releases.
AMC CEO Adam Aron noted the chain’s decade-long collaboration with Dolby has made blockbusters “bigger, brighter, and louder,” adding the upgrade reflects commitments to filmmakers and patrons. Dolby Laboratories CEO Kevin Yeaman stated premium formats now “define the modern box office,” citing record 2023 grosses for Dolby screens despite industry-wide challenges.
Data underscores the format’s clout: 49 of the 50 highest-grossing films since 2019 screened in Dolby Vision or Atmos, including upcoming titles like Jurassic World Rebirth and Avatar: Fire and Ash. Over 725 films have played in AMC’s Dolby venues since 2014.
The move follows AMC’s recent decision to debut South Korea-originated ScreenX (270-degree projection) and 4DX (motion seats) formats stateside, signaling a broader premiumization strategy. Exhibitors increasingly rely on such offerings to differentiate from streaming, with Imax reporting a strong 2024 despite last year’s 20% box office dip.
