AMC Theatres Launches Indie Film Label Leawood Films to Boost Independent Cinema

Movie theaters have been facing a supply issue that has become increasingly apparent as major studios reduce their release schedules. The lingering impacts of the pandemic, combined with the 2023 industry strikes, have led exhibitors to rely more on concert films, live events, and alternative programming to keep their screens filled between traditional studio releases.

AMC Theatres has closely observed this shift, having already achieved notable success by venturing beyond the typical studio pipeline with self-distributed concert events like ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance.’ These successes seem to have convinced the world’s largest theater chain that there is potential to delve even deeper into the distribution business.

This ambition was officially announced this week when AMC revealed the launch of Leawood Films, a new distribution label aimed at bringing small and mid-budget independent films to theaters that might otherwise struggle to find a platform. The label will specifically focus on films that are fully financed or completed by their filmmakers, utilizing AMC’s existing exhibition and marketing infrastructure to reach broader audiences.

Leawood Films is named after Leawood, Kansas, the city where AMC’s corporate headquarters are situated, and the venture will operate from both Los Angeles and its Kansas hometown. AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron highlighted the initiative as a response to a clear industry gap, stating that Leawood Films is being established “to bring more movies to theaters” given the significant excess capacity currently available in the exhibition sector.

To lead the new label, AMC has brought together a team of seasoned Hollywood executives. Former Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich, former Disney and Apple marketing executive Ricky Strauss, and former Bleecker Street distribution chief Kyle Davies will all serve in advisory roles, with Davies specifically handling distribution for the new venture. Entertainment attorney Craig Jacobson of Hansen Jacobson will also represent Leawood Films.

The label plans to collaborate with existing independent distribution companies, including Variance Films, which previously partnered with AMC on the release of the Taylor Swift concert film, and Piece of Magic Entertainment, which recently managed the European theatrical rollout of an animated feature. AMC has been careful to position Leawood Films as complementary to its existing relationships, describing the initiative as “additive” to its long-standing studio and distribution partnerships.

Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, AMC has yet to disclose any specific titles for the label, and the company has indicated that audiences should not expect Leawood’s first theatrical release until sometime in 2027 or 2028 at the earliest. This timeline suggests that the label is still in its early development phase, with representatives likely to begin scouting projects at film festivals in the coming months.

This isn’t entirely new territory for AMC. The chain previously ventured into distribution back in 2011 through Open Road Films, a joint venture with Regal that released titles such as ‘Nightcrawler’ and even won a Best Picture Oscar with ‘Spotlight’ before AMC sold its stake in 2017.

With approximately $4 billion in existing debt and the independent film market known for its challenging profitability, Leawood Films represents a significant gamble for AMC. Nevertheless, following a record-breaking summer at the box office, the theater chain seems confident that there is untapped demand for more diverse theatrical content, even if turning that belief into a sustainable distribution business remains uncertain.

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