Full Breakdown
AMC Unveils Leawood Films to Fill Theater Gaps with Indie Releases
9/1/2026, 4:18:32 AM
Core Initiative
AMC Entertainment announced the creation of a new distribution label, Leawood Films, aimed at bringing fully financed, small- and mid-budget movies to its own screens and, potentially, to other theater chains. The venture will operate without a focus on blockbuster tentpoles, instead targeting genre-agnostic titles that lack traditional distribution partners. AMC plans to honor a minimum 45-day theatrical window before a Leawood title moves to premium video-on-demand (PVOD) and at least 90 days before it reaches subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms, with the majority of post-theatrical revenue remaining with the filmmakers. The label is not slated to release films until 2027 or 2028.
Background & Context
The initiative follows industry disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 dual labor strikes, which left many theater owners complaining of a shortage of new content. Recent successes of non-studio projects—such as Angel Studios’ *Sound of Freedom* and Taylor Swift’s concert film—demonstrate market appetite for independently financed titles, prompting AMC to seek a complementary distribution channel that does not compete with its existing studio relationships.
Key Figures
- Adam Aron – Chief Executive Officer, AMC Entertainment.
- Toby Emmerich – Former Warner Bros. film executive, advisory role.
- Ricky Strauss – Former Walt Disney Studios marketing chief, advisory role.
- Kyle Davies – Head of Bleaker Street distribution, advisory role.
- Craig Jacobson – Representative from Hansen Jacobson, involved in launch.
Official Statements & Responses
AMC also noted that the venture will be headquartered in Los Angeles and Leawood, Kansas, and that veteran executives have been assembled to guide the effort.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a modestly scaled initiative focused on taking to the big screen films that are fully financed by their filmmakers,” — AMC CEO Adam Aron, said AMC CEO
