English
AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron has publicly addressed the upcoming closure of the AMC Kips Bay 15 theater in Manhattan, confirming the venue will shut its doors on January 3. In an open letter to the local community, Aron blamed the closure on NYU Langone Health’s plans to expand its nearby medical facility and the hospital’s refusal to consider any compromise that would keep the theater open.
A Beloved Theater Forced to Close
The AMC Kips Bay 15, located at 570 Second Avenue, first opened on May 14, 1999. AMC took over the theater in 2006, and it became the chain’s second-largest multiplex in New York City, behind only the Times Square Empire 25. Over its 27-year run, the theater earned a loyal following among local residents.
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Variety first reported the closure in August, noting the theater would end operations by late 2026. However, the final date has since been confirmed as January 3. The building also houses a Fairway supermarket and a bank, both of which face closure as well.
The theater’s popularity has remained strong. Aron noted that on several days during the past summer, the Kips Bay location ranked among the ten most-attended movie theaters in the entire United States. AMC operates more than 500 theaters nationally, making that achievement particularly notable.
NYU Langone Expansion Drives the Decision
Aron made clear that AMC did not choose to leave. He explained that NYU Langone Health is in the process of purchasing the building and wants full use of the space for its expanding medical facility. In response, the current building owner terminated AMC’s lease.
“The decision to retain or end AMC’s tenure in Kips Bay is not ours to make,” Aron wrote. “NYU Langone Health wants to expand, seems to be in the process of buying the building in which your theatre now operates, and it wants us gone.”
AMC proposed several alternatives to avoid closure. One suggestion involved enlarging the existing low-rise building to accommodate both the expanded medical facility and a functioning theater. Another proposal offered to reduce the theater’s footprint to free up additional space. According to Aron, NYU Langone rejected every option. “Sadly, any and all variations that we have proposed have fallen on closed minds,” he wrote.
Community Pushback and Political Support
Local residents have not accepted the closure quietly. In September, community members staged a protest outside the theater in an effort to reverse the decision. Their opposition has drawn support from elected officials as well.
Aron specifically thanked Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and New York State Assembly Member Keith Powers for their advocacy. Both officials have publicly pushed for a solution that would keep the theater operating in the neighborhood.
Aron also acknowledged the broader cultural significance of the venue. He described the theater as “a cultural icon and entertainment lifeline” for nearby residents since its opening more than 25 years ago. He added that moviegoing in Manhattan stretches back more than a century, and that the Kips Bay theater deserves to be part of that tradition.
A Final Call for a Solution
Despite the confirmed closing date, Aron used his letter to make one final appeal to NYU Langone. He called on the hospital to “think creatively” and find a solution that delivers both expanded medical facilities and a functioning AMC theater on Second Avenue.
The closure comes during a strong period for the movie industry. This past summer’s box office generated $4.67 billion domestically, driven by films including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey and Toy Story 5. Major upcoming releases such as Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part III will still screen at Kips Bay before the theater closes for good.
Aron closed his letter on a hopeful but realistic note. “Unless NYU Langone Health lets us delight the Kips Bay community beyond then, to comply with our terminated lease, the lights on AMC Kips Bay 15 will forevermore see their final sunset on January 3,” he wrote. He added that AMC remains proud of its 26-year presence in the Kips Bay community and expressed hope that a workable solution could still emerge before the deadline arrives.
