AMC Theatres Launches National Ad Campaign to Bring People

As film theaters attempt to encourage folks to observe movies on the massive display screen once more whereas the battle towards COVID-19 continues, AMC Theatres is attempting one thing that no theater chain has tried earlier than: a nationwide advert marketing campaign.

The world’s largest chain introduced on Wednesday that it’s kicking off a $25 million advert marketing campaign throughout a number of media platforms, highlighted by an advert that includes Nicole Kidman strolling the halls of one among AMC’s latest places in Porter Ranch, California. The adverts will probably be featured in any respect of AMC’s 600 places in addition to in TV and digital spots within the U.S. and Europe.

It would appear that unprecedented occasions name for unprecedented measures. Theater chains usually don’t have to promote themselves. The studios maintain that by promoting the movies that individuals come to the multiplexes for. But with the pandemic nonetheless leaving some main demographics reluctant to return to theaters, exhibitors try to get the phrase out that their companies are protected locations to observe a film.

Earlier this summer time, the National Association of Theater Owners launched an advert marketing campaign known as “The Big Screen Is Back” that includes a fast sizzle reel of the summer time’s high movies. But AMC is taking it a step additional with an advert interesting to the expertise of moviegoing itself, with Kidman talking wistfully of “dazzling images on a huge silver screen” and “sound you can feel.”

“Especially in recent years, AMC and other theatre chains have introduced sophisticated marketing programs to ensure our theatres are relevant. However, relying on ‘what’s always worked before,’ cinema operators have counted on others to undertake significant television advertising campaigns to drive audiences into our buildings,” AMC CEO Adam Aron mentioned in an announcement.

“With all the change occurring in these uncharted waters in which we now navigate, we believe it is high time for an industry leader like AMC to go on television to remind today’s audiences of the magic that can only be found in a movie theatre and at AMC, with our big seats, our big sound and our big screens.””

While AMC nonetheless faces a whole lot of tens of millions in debt due in 2024, the corporate was in a position to cut back that debt earlier this yr due to an enormous surge in its inventory worth with hundreds of meme merchants boosting it to unprecedented ranges. The studio can also be buying new multiplexes in prime places together with the Grove and Americana places run in Los Angeles by the now-defunct Pacific Theatres.

Still, AMC says that the corporate and theaters normally want the field workplace to return to round 80-90% of pre-pandemic ranges earlier than they’ll begin turning a constant revenue once more. This previous weekend, the summer time field workplace season completed with a complete of $1.75 billion in North America, roughly 47% of the quantity grossed in summer time 2017.