Key Takeaways
- AMC Entertainment experienced its strongest opening weekend of 2026 with Project Hail Mary
- Worldwide ticket sales revenue surged more than 70% compared to the equivalent weekend in 2025
- Project Hail Mary earned over $140M globally, setting a new record for Amazon MGM’s launch performance
- Premium IMAX presentations contributed $28M to the worldwide haul
- CEO Adam Aron projects 2026 will mark the strongest cinema attendance since pre-pandemic 2019
Ryan Gosling’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, Project Hail Mary, delivered a blockbuster performance for AMC Entertainment over the weekend — and the theater chain has the numbers to prove it.
Amazon MGM Studios and AMC Theatres have a massive hit with Ryan Gosling’s new Project Hail Mary. The highest grossing movie opening of 2026. More than $80 million domestically and $140 million globally. AMC‘s global ticket revenues up by more than a huge 70% year-over-year!… pic.twitter.com/ke0G9POMC8
— Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) March 23, 2026
The company announced Monday that the space adventure film produced its most successful opening weekend of the year. Worldwide ticket revenue for the three-day period exceeded the comparable 2025 weekend by more than 70%.
The performance also secured the weekend’s position as AMC’s second-best of 2026 in terms of admissions revenue, both domestically and internationally across its theater network, which includes its ODEON Cinemas brand.
Industry tracking indicates the film launched to more than $140 million in global box office receipts. This achievement establishes it as Amazon MGM’s most successful theatrical launch to date.
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., AMC
Shares of AMC were changing hands around $0.98 on Monday, hovering near the stock’s 52-week low point. The entertainment company faces significant debt obligations and reported a negative earnings per share of -$1.34 for the trailing twelve-month period.
Weekend Performance Details
Premium IMAX presentations across the globe generated $28 million of the film’s total opening weekend gross. The movie had already accumulated $11 million through Thursday evening preview showings, industry publication Deadline reported.
“PROJECT HAIL MARY is a terrific example of how original storytelling combined with expert marketing of the theatrical experience can resonate with audiences,” said AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron.
Aron further indicated that the film’s robust performance, when viewed alongside broader 2026 box office momentum, reinforces management’s expectation that this year will represent the industry’s best theatrical attendance figures since 2019.
Financial Snapshot and Recent Developments
AMC Entertainment maintains a global footprint of approximately 855 theater locations featuring 9,640 screens. The exhibition company provides several premium viewing experiences, including IMAX at AMC, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, and PRIME at AMC.
In its latest quarterly earnings report, the theater chain recorded an adjusted loss per share of -$0.18, surpassing Wall Street’s consensus estimate of -$0.25. Total revenue reached $1.29 billion, topping analyst projections of $1.27 billion.
The company recently expanded its premium screen offerings by launching four new auditoriums through a collaboration with CJ 4DPLEX. The expansion includes two SCREENX installations in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, plus two 4DX theaters in Houston and Kansas City.
On the capital structure front, AMC arranged a $425 million credit line with Deutsche Bank aimed at refinancing outstanding obligations associated with its Odeon Finco PLC subsidiary.
Additionally, the company modified terms governing its 2029 Senior Secured Notes, specifically revising collateral provisions with select bondholders.
AMC shares traded at $0.98 during Monday morning’s session, positioning close to the stock’s lowest point over the past 52 weeks.
