Full Breakdown
AMC Kips Bay 15 Multiplex to Close by End of 2026
8/25/2026, 12:00:43 AM
Core Event
The AMC Kips Bay 15 theater, a 15-screen multiplex on Manhattan’s East Side that includes an IMAX auditorium, will cease operations at the end of 2026. The property owner has elected to exercise a contractual right to terminate the lease before its scheduled expiration, prompting the closure.
Background & Context
The venue opened in 1999 and was taken over by AMC in 2006, becoming the chain’s second-largest multiplex in Manhattan. It has long served the Kips Bay neighborhood and surrounding areas, offering a broader film selection than nearby venues such as Empire 25 in Times Square and the 34th Street 14 near Madison Square Garden. In recent years, the East Side has seen several theater closures, including City Cinemas on 86th Street (May 2019), the Beekman Theatre on Second Avenue (September 2019), and CMX Cinebistro Lenox Hill on 62nd Street (October 2018). The Kips Bay closure adds to this trend.
Impact on Manhattan’s Cinema Landscape
With the loss of Kips Bay’s 15 screens, AMC’s remaining Manhattan locations will be the 19th Street 6, Village 7, Lincoln Square 13 (home to the city’s true 70 mm IMAX), Orpheum 7, 84th Street 6, and Magic Johnson Harlem 9. The theater’s shutdown reduces the total number of AMC screens in the borough and eliminates a key alternative for midtown patrons seeking to avoid the crowds at Empire 25 and the 34th Street venue.
Official Statements & Responses
An AMC spokesperson told reporters that the theater will continue operating until the end of 2026, after which it will close following the landlord’s lease termination decision. The spokesperson also expressed gratitude to longtime guests for their loyalty and support throughout the theater’s history.
What’s Next
Details of the exact closure date and any plans for the space remain pending. AMC indicated that a formal announcement will be made in the coming months, and the company has not disclosed any immediate replacement or relocation strategies for affected patrons.
