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AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 21.2% year over year: Total revenues were $1,045.4 million, up 21.2% from $862.5 million. In constant currency, revenues were $1,015.6 million, up 17.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Adjusted EBITDA was $38.3 million, compared with negative $57.7 million, an improvement of $96.0 million. Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA was $35.9 million. Source
  • North American box office up 22%: Management said the North American box office rose 22% in the first quarter, the first-quarter level highest since the pandemic closed theatres in early 2020. PROJECT HAIL MARY became the top grossing movie of the year to that point. Source
  • U.S. markets Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: U.S. markets revenue was $740.8 million, up from $617.0 million. U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.9 million, against negative $57.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash outflow narrowed: Net cash used in operating activities was $128.5 million, against $370.0 million. Free cash flow was negative $174.7 million, against negative $417.0 million. Source
  • At-the-market sales raised $71.7 million: As of May 5, 2026, AMC raised about $71.7 million gross, before commissions and fees, from about 62.1 million Class A shares. Source
  • Studios moving toward 45-day windows: Management said studio partners renewed commitments to increase theatrical releases and extend theatrical windows to at least 45 days. Source

“AMC achieved our best Adjusted EBITDA first quarter result since 2019 pre-pandemic, an Adjusted EBITDA improvement of $96 million year over.”

AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Adjusted EBITDA definition changed to adjust for net periodic pension cost. Prior-period figures were recast; the Q1 2025 impact was an improvement of $0.3 million. Source
  • New: Odeon Finco PLC refinancing completed: the $400 million 12.75% notes due 2027 were replaced by a $425.0 million 10.50% first lien term loan due 2031. The prior release also described a $2 billion term loan due 2029, which the current documents do not mention. Source
  • New: Hycroft shares sold in the first quarter: 700,000 shares at an average price of $42.40, generating $29.7 million before brokerage commissions. Source
  • New: Holders of the 1.5% exchangeable notes due 2030 elected to convert about $155.8 million of notes into common stock on May 4, 2026. Source
  • New: Arena One at AMC announced: a live concert format in theatres, launching in June at more than 300 US theatres. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 21.2% year over year: Total revenues were $1,045.4 million, up 21.2% from $862.5 million. In constant currency, revenues were $1,015.6 million, up 17.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Adjusted EBITDA was $38.3 million, compared with negative $57.7 million, an improvement of $96.0 million. Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA was $35.9 million. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $117.1 million: Net loss was $117.1 million against $202.1 million. Diluted loss per share was $0.22 against $0.47; adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.36 against $0.58. Source

Box office and film slate

  • North American box office up 22%: Management said the North American box office rose 22% in the first quarter, the first-quarter level highest since the pandemic closed theatres in early 2020. PROJECT HAIL MARY became the top grossing movie of the year to that point. Source
  • Second quarter opened with three hits: Management said the second quarter began with three more blockbuster hits in a row: THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE, MICHAEL and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2. Source
  • Second-half 2026 growth expected: Management said it is optimistic about the 2026 film slate, especially the second half, which it believes will show more growth and add up to a record post-pandemic full-year box office. Source

“Our much-improved results clearly demonstrate the operating leverage inherent in our business, generating markedly improving results at a time when revenues are rising.”

AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron

Segments and regions

  • U.S. markets Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: U.S. markets revenue was $740.8 million, up from $617.0 million. U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.9 million, against negative $57.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • International results improved across Europe: International markets revenue was $304.6 million, up from $245.5 million. International Adjusted EBITDA was $16.4 million, against negative $0.6 million. Management cited the European footprint. Source
  • Constant-currency international margin per patron fell: Constant currency international contribution margin was $192.8 million, up from $175.7 million, but per patron it was $11.42, against $11.72 in 2025. Source

Pricing, per-patron economics and costs

  • Ticket and food spend per patron rose: Consolidated average ticket price was $12.15, against $11.30. Food and beverage revenue per patron was $7.29, against $6.76. U.S. markets average ticket price was $12.90. Source
  • Contribution margin per patron rose: Consolidated contribution margin per patron was $15.19, against $14.33. Total contribution margin was $723.4 million, against $600.5 million. Source
  • Film and food costs rose: Film exhibition costs were $255.6 million, against $204.8 million. Food and beverage costs were $66.4 million, against $57.2 million. Source

“With the reporting of AMC’s best first quarter Adjusted EBITDA results in 7 years, combined with industry and company momentum that is unmistakable, we simply could not be more optimistic about the future of our industry and of AMC.”

AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron

Cash flow and debt

  • Operating cash outflow narrowed: Net cash used in operating activities was $128.5 million, against $370.0 million. Free cash flow was negative $174.7 million, against negative $417.0 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined over the quarter: Cash and cash equivalents were $339.2 million at March 31, 2026, against $428.5 million at December 31, 2025. Restricted cash was $41.7 million. Source
  • Corporate interest expense rose: Interest expense on corporate borrowings was $119.9 million, against $109.0 million. Finance lease interest was $1.5 million, against $1.2 million. Source
  • Corporate borrowings declined: Corporate borrowings were $3,963.9 million at March 31, 2026, against $4,038.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Equity sales and Hycroft holdings

  • At-the-market sales raised $71.7 million: As of May 5, 2026, AMC raised about $71.7 million gross, before commissions and fees, from about 62.1 million Class A shares. Source
  • Cumulative Hycroft proceeds reached $53.8 million: Cumulative Hycroft proceeds reached $53.8 million, including sales from the fourth quarter of 2025, against an initial $27.9 million invested in March 2022. Source
  • Hycroft stake held at quarter end: AMC held 129,478 Hycroft common shares at March 31, 2026, after a cashless warrant exercise at $10.68 and a sale of 700,000 shares. Source

Studios, release windows and labor

  • Studios moving toward 45-day windows: Management said studio partners renewed commitments to increase theatrical releases and extend theatrical windows to at least 45 days. Source
  • Universal and Paramount window announcements: Management said it was particularly pleased by recent Universal and Paramount announcements on theatrical windows. Source
  • Labor agreements reached with guilds: Management said producers recently reached multi-year labor agreements with SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild, assuring labor peace. Source
  • Netflix to give NARNIA theatrical release: Management described Netflix's planned global theatrical release of Greta Gerwig's NARNIA, with a 49-day window, as significant for the industry. Source

Capital expenditures and screen changes

  • Capital expenditures by segment: Capital expenditures were $46.2 million, with U.S. markets $34.7 million and International markets $11.5 million, against $47.0 million in total a year earlier. Source
  • Growth capital spending rose: Growth capital expenditures were $11.4 million, against $7.8 million. Maintenance capital expenditures were $18.9 million, against $24.1 million. Source
  • Screen disposals and closures: The company disposed of 34 screens in the quarter, against 80 a year earlier, and recorded net construction closures of 7 screens. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Arena One launch in June: Launch in June at more than 300 US theatres; management expects a live concert experience almost nationwide on day one. Source
  • Note exchange settlement timing: Most of the exchange is expected to complete May 5, 2026; the remainder follows once certain ownership limits are satisfied. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance (thousands of patrons) Source47,622 (prior year 41,903; up 13.6%)
U.S. markets attendance (thousands) Source30,733 (prior year 26,907; up 14.2%)
International markets attendance (thousands) Source16,889 (prior year 14,996; up 12.6%)
Theatres operated Source852 (prior year 865)
Screens operated Source9,607 (prior year 9,725)
Average screens Source9,310 (prior year 9,430; down 1.3%)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said balance sheet strengthening is ongoing, citing liquidity and financial flexibility work alongside the debt and equity actions listed above. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated its expectation of significantly rising revenues for 2026, describing it as a continued expectation. Source
  • Not stated: The February release expected completion in the first quarter of 2026. The May release reports the refinancing without a stated timing comparison.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.