AMC vs. Regal Theater

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Difference between AMC and Regal Theater

If you are looking for a quality movie viewing experience, you can hardly go wrong with AMC and Regal Movies. Both popular haunts for movie buffs all over the country, these two movie theater chains are responsible for selling their share of popcorn, that’s for sure! Let's see how the two compare.


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Profile

AMC Theatres, or AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest chain of movie theaters in North America. AMC currently has more than 5,300 movie screens, and it is one of only four national cinema chains in the United States (one of them is the Regal Entertainment Group) that did not file for bankruptcy during the recession of 2001 to 2002. In fact, AMC theaters are often at the top of “Most Profitable Theatres” lists in North America. AMC is distinguished by its animated mascot, a filmstrip named Clip who was a constant presence in pre-show trailers in AMC theaters from 1991 until 2009, with only a brief hiatus in 2009.

Regal Movies or Regal Entertainment Group is a chain of movie theaters based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company is the owner and operator of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre chains in the United States, and the company currently has almost 6,800 screens in 548 sites all over the country. The company also operates Edwards Theatres and United Artists Theatres in addition to Regal Cinemas.

History

AMC was founded by the Dubinsky Brothers in 1920. The brothers, along with actress Jeanne Eagels, had been traveling all over the Midwest performing shows that consisted of melodramas and tent shows. The brothers later purchased the Regent Theatre located on 12th Street in Kansas City. After a name change from Dubinsky to Durwood came a subsequent change of the company name to Durwood Theatres. One of the brothers’ sons named Stanley subsequently took over the Durwood Theatres in 1961, and changed the name to "American Multi-Cinema, Inc.".

Regal Movies was founded in 1989 in Knoxville, Tennessee, with Mike Campbell at the helm as company CEO. Campbell has since resigned from the board, and the company took on a massive expansion that resulted in numerous large cinemas opening in many suburbs.

Innovations

Among the innovations that AMC introduced are stadium-style seats, in which seats are placed on subsequently higher risers, allowing each person an unobstructed view of the screen. AMC also introduced the armrests that can be raised to create a larger, "loveseat" style seat. Both features have since become standard for almost all theaters today.

Regal Movies for its part launched an all-digital giant screen on April 8, 2010. Known as the Regal Premium Experience or RPX, the screen provides viewers with an immense 60-foot screen illuminated with high-quality digital projectors and fitted with a state-of-the-art sound system, in addition to luxury seats.

Similarities and Differences

AMC

The second largest chain of movie theaters in North America
Has more than 5,300 movie screens

Regal Movies

The largest and most geographically diverse theatre chains in the United States
Currently has almost 6,800 screens

AMC and Regal Theater Video

source: youtube.com

10 Comments

Gerald Rivera . 3+ yrs. ago

I Peter to go to AMC than Regal cinema

Philip . 3+ yrs. ago

Regals has nasty popcorn, terrible previews before the previews (if you get to the movies early you can't visit with your date, you have to watch blaringly loud advertisements, and are ****'s for staff and security following people around. AMC is chill, bigger theaters, and better maintained screens, never seen a wrinkled screen at AMC but by golly I have seen some at Regal.

Robert . 3+ yrs. ago

I would never go to an AMC Theatre because they're completely awful, as they provide horrible customer service and their amenities are quite a lackluster. The last time I was at an AMC, they're theatres were completely nasty, as I literally saw rats running across every 5-10 minutes. Also, their theatre staff members are always prejudice and rude to all patrons.

REG Theatres on the other hand, are way better as they offer better deals on their promotions especially w/ the Regal Crown Club and have higher quality customer service & more theatres. The AMC Stubs is a joke because you have to spend $100 in order to cut you a little slack (AS YOU'LL ONLY GET A $5 REWARD VOUCHER AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH). However, the Regal Crown Club gives you a premium reward for every $50 you spend, which you'll get a reward in half the rate than AMC Stubs (MORE LIKE AMC STABS). REG's are a lot bigger and cleaner than AMC theatres and their theatre staff are always pleasant and courteous to you, unlike lame **** AMC's.

Startswithaj . 3+ yrs. ago

You get a $10 reward loaded to your card, not $5. I don't know about yours, but, my local Regal charges less than $5 for a small popcorn(which is the reward you get at 50 points). Then you get a free small soft drink(at 100 points) which is also ~$5. So, you do get the reward in about half the time but it amounts to the same amount in the end. For me, AMC wins in the end as AMC Stubs members don't pay the $1 per ticket convenience fee that I have to pay with Regal.

That being said, I do like the whole $2 popcorn Tuesdays at Regal(that I usually pay to upgrade to a large). Plus Regal has buckets for their large popcorn but the popcorn "butter" isn't as good as AMC's fake butter oil.

James . 3+ yrs. ago

AMC Stubs sucks because you have to pay $8-12 a year in order to keep it activated. You also have to spend $100 every time to receive a lousy $10 reward voucher via postal mail or instantly activated into your loyalty cards, as that's all it really does. AMC movie tickets are ridiculously expensive in which they're priced around $13-18 (for only general admission). That's why I prefer going to Regal Cinemas because their loyalty card is free and it offers more perks and works a lot faster than AMC. Also, Regal operates more theaters than AMC, as REG have over 6,000 screens nationwide and AMC have around 5,000 (plus, Regal is still expanding).

Startswithaj . 3+ yrs. ago

I think that depends on the area. Where I live, both charge around the same amount for tickets with AMC charging .04 more than Regal. It's 10.75 at Regal and 10.79 at AMC for adult evening tickets. During the day though AMC is a much better deal here(5.49 vs 8 at Regal).

AMC Stubs is really only a good deal if you buy a lot of your tickets on Fandango as you'll easily earn that $8-12 back in the fees you save by going there instead of Regal. Plus AMC has concession upgrades for Stubs members, which is nice.

Startswithaj . 3+ yrs. ago

I forgot to mention that the downside to Regal is that you can only earn a maximum of 20 credits at the box office. So if you're going with a group of people(family, friends, etc), you'd also be better off with AMC.

I'm buying tickets to the opening night of The Force Awakens and am taking four people with me. This will cost a little over $50 and since I'm going to AMC, will get full credit, plus the ticket fee waivers I mentioned in my previous post. If I'd gotten tickets to the Regal instead, I'd have spent all that money and only gotten 20 credits towards my next reward.

A O . 3+ yrs. ago

AMC is by far a better movie experience IMO. I've always enjoyed them.

TJ . 3+ yrs. ago

Regal has changed their rewards program

AMC is daa best . 3+ yrs. ago

Just telling you, the AMC I go to is the BEST. You just pay one price for the ticket, and then you can just go to the other movies! I literally do that ALL the time. To watch a bunch of movies for the price of one is way more better than Regal, where they watch you like a hawk and you can only watch one movie at a time, and you have to buy the ticket for another movie. AMC is just the choice you have to make. CASE CLOSED

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