AMC unveils 45-day theatrical window deal with Warner Bros.

AMC Theatres on its earnings call Monday announced that it has set a deal on a shortened theatrical window with Warner Bros., agreeing to exclusively release their films for 2022 in a 45-day window. “We’re especially pleased that Warners has decided to move away from day-and-date releases and commit to theatrical windows as well,” Chairman and CEO, AMC Entertainment Adam Aron said. “We’re having conversations with other movie studios in Hollywood.”

The news followed the company's conference call revealing its second-quarter earnings, including the chain picking up eight older Arclight Cinemas leases, three of which are in L.A.. According to the chain's CEO, the strategy was discovered to be effective for the creation of motion picture franchises.

Warner Bros. recently sealed a similar deal with Cineworld, preparing itself for a year of experimentation using its full 2021 slate in theaters and on HBO Max for one-month day-and-date.  “It’s especially gratifying that Warner Bros is yet again embracing a theatrical window,” Aron said in a statement.

With $423 million in domestic box office grosses so far this year, Warner Bros. has the highest annual market share at 24%. But the studio has only seen one of its 12 films, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” reach the $100 million mark. This past weekend, the studio’s DC film “The Suicide Squad” opened below expectations to a $26.5 million launch in North America. “For us at AMC, it’s especially pleasing to be working so harmoniously with Warner Bros. once again. We’re in active dialog with every major studio on this topic," Aron continued. "We’re hearing considerable support that an exclusive theatrical window is an important way to build a successful movie franchise.”

Among the films set for release by Warner Bros. next year are the DC films “The Batman,” “Black Adam,” “The Flash” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” The studio also plans to release the Baz Luhrmann biopic “Elvis” starring newcomer Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker.