AMC, Arena One Partner to Bring Live Concert Experiences From Bebe Rexha, Paris Hilton and More to Movie Theaters

AMC Theatres and Arena One will partner on a new concept that will see the exhibition giant showcase live concerts on its screens.

The series will debut in June and feature performances from Bebe Rexha (June 17), Paris Hilton (June 18), Kim Petras (June 19) and Maren Morris (June 20), which will all be simulcast live in more than 300 AMC locations nationwide. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. The program will be dubbed Arena One at AMC and was announced during the movie theater chain’s earnings call on Tuesday. It comes as cinemas have leaned more heavily into alternative content as a way to offset post-pandemic box office declines, as well as cuts to the number of films major studios are releasing.

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AMC worked closely with Taylor Swift to bring a documentary about “The Eras Tour” and her film “The Life of a Showgirl” to its screens, and the company also partnered with Beyonce on her “Renaissance” concert film. But none of those were shown live.

“We built a cinematic stage optimized to translate seamlessly to cinemas, but artists are defining what it becomes,” said Peter Hamilton, CEO of Arena One, in a statement. “They’re not adapting tours; they’re building something new. That’s when a medium sparks reinvention.”

AMC said it will try to recreate the experience of being an arena, with “crowd buzz, sound, and reactions flowing back and forth between the fans and performers in real time.” To do that, the chain will utilize “innovative interactive technology.”

Arena One at AMC will be pricier than an average movie ticket (the national average is around $16), with costs ranging from $40 to $75, along with taxes and processing fees. But they are cheaper than attending a concert, which typically cost upwards of $140 a ticket. The shows are one-night-only events, with pricing set by market and not adjusted based on demand, AMC said.

“We consider this to be a major announcement, as once again AMC Entertainment takes an innovative step forward. Arena One at AMC has the potential to open an entirely new chapter in live entertainment. We are launching it on day one at more than 300 of our U.S. theaters, in some 89 markets from sea to shining sea,” said Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment. “Thanks to Arena One at AMC, music fans across the country will be able to come together for the same live concert, at the same time, all with the accessible premium experience of huge screens, powerful sound, and comfortable seats that AMC guests know and expect.”

AMC Theatres saw its first quarter revenue increase to $1.04 billion, up from $862.5 million in the year-ago period on the strength of hits like “Scream 7” and “Project Hail Mary.” The theater chain’s net losses fell to $117 million, compared to $202.1 million in the same quarter last year. Global attendance at the chain increased from 41.9 million to 47.6 million.