New York City’s AMC Kips Bay 15 movie theater is scheduled to close on January 3, 2027, despite drawing thousands of moviegoers daily and ranking among AMC’s 10 most-attended theaters in the country on several days this summer. AMC Theatres, one of the largest movie theater chains in the United States, is known for its sprawling multiplexes and premium movie experiences.

AMC CEO Adam Aron says the theater chain wants to stay in the neighborhood but that nearby NYU Langone Health wants it out. The hospital plans to expand its medical facilities and is reportedly planning on buying the building housing the theater, a Fairway supermarket and a bank. The building’s current owner has ended its lease with AMC before the transfer was set to occur.

The theater opened its doors in 1999 and has been serving the Kips Bay community for over 27 years. AMC took over the site in 2006, turning it into one of New York City’s largest multiplexes, second only to the chain’s Empire 25 theater in Times Square.

AMC CEO Says the Theater Could Have Stayed Open

“AMC had offered up various alternatives to keep the theater running in conjunction with the hospital’s planned expansion,” Aron said in a letter to the Kips Bay community. These ranged from expanding the existing low-rise building and keeping the cinema to shrinking the theater to make room for the medical facility.

Aron said NYU Langone has turned down all the proposals. He pled with the hospital to rethink its decision, arguing that the neighborhood shouldn’t have to choose between more medical facilities and a functioning movie theater.

Local people have already expressed opposition to the planned closure. Moviegoers protested in September, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and New York State Assembly Member Keith Powers have campaigned for keeping the theater open.

The announcement comes after a record-breaking summer at the domestic box office, which generated $4.76 billion. Driven by moviegoing, big releases like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and Toy Story 5 led the season.

If the closure goes as planned, Kips Bay residents will still get to see the theater before it closes for good for upcoming releases, including Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part III.

Aron does not give up hope for a solution. AMC wants to remain in the community, he says, but the future of the theater depends on being able to reach an agreement before Jan. 3.