AMC Theatres, Universal reach deal to bring new movies to homes earlier

Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres and have agreed to allow the studio’s movies to be made available to US audiences at home after 17 days in cinemas.

Universal may offer movies via AMC Theatres On Demand and other online platforms under the agreement.

AMC will get a portion of the revenue that Universal generates from sales of “premium video-on-demand” in the first weeks that films become available for home viewing.

The two companies are discussing distribution for Europe and the Middle East.

Studios have been pursuing to make movies available in homes sooner than the usual 90 days after cinema debuts, but theaters resisted the idea.

The standoff prompted AMC to announce it would no longer show Universal films in its theaters.

On Tuesday, AMC chief executive Adam Aron said that in agreeing to offer films in homes after 17 days, it embraces the new industry model amid the economics of the new structure and creates the added potential for increased movie studio profitability.

According to Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, the deal with AMC is towards ensuring a thriving future and in meeting consumer demand with flexibility and optionality.

AMC Theatres is seeking to reopen its cinemas in August.