AMC Entertainment is making a permanent move into the film distribution business. To this end, the world’s largest cinema chain and US market leader is launching a new label Leawood Films. The focus will be on low- and medium-budget films that have already been screened at major film festivals but do not yet have a US distributor.

With this launch, AMC is expanding on a strategy the company has already tested with its successful concert films featuring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Its in-house releases to date include „Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour“, „Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé“ and „Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl“.

For its sales operations in North America, AMC is once again relying on Variance, which has already released the three previous event films in cinemas. International distribution is handled by Piece of Magic Entertainment, whilst AMC itself will be responsible for marketing. The films produced by the new label are to be released not only in AMC’s own cinemas but also through other cinema operators worldwide.

Leawood Films is explicitly adopting a limited approach. Blockbusters are not to be part of the programme. Instead, AMC aims to bring additional films to the big screen and, in particular, to expand its range of independent and festival films with small to medium-sized budgets. The first titles are due to be announced in 2027 or 2028.

For cinema release, a Exclusive 45-day cinema run This is to be in place before the films become available as premium VOD. The streaming blackout period is to last a total of 90 days.

Leawood Films is supported by a team of advisers led by the former chairman of Warner Bros. Toby Emmerich, the former head of marketing at Disney Ricky Strauss and Kyle Davies, who most recently worked at Bleecker Street and previously worked in Paramount’s distribution division. The team reports to the AMC CEO Adam Aron.

According to Leawood Films, AMC does not view the company as competition to its existing studio and distribution partners, but rather as a complement to them. The aim is to bring additional high-quality films to cinemas in light of existing overcapacity in the cinema market.