AMC will close theaters at Dover Mall

DOVER — Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” will be among the matinee showings Sunday on the final day of business for the theaters at the Dover Mall.

AMC Dover 14 will show its final flicks, ending more than 40 years of movies at the mall. Boxes were stacked high in the box offices.

The Dover cinema is one of many across the country that have closed down under economic pressures.

“AMC routinely reviews the theatres in our circuit, as well as opportunities outside of our circuit, and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the company going forward.” wrote Cassie Nichols, a spokeswoman for AMC Theatres.

“We thank our Dover 14 guests for their patronage and have appreciated the support from the community throughout the years of operation.”

Fox Theatres, based in the Reading, Pennsylvania, area, opened the Dover Mall theaters in Dec. 1983 before selling them to Carmike in 1996.
In 1999, Carmike expanded the number of theaters in the Dover Mall from six to 14. Shortly after, the company closed the Carmike cinemas at Rodney Square.

AMC has operated the theaters since acquiring them from Carmike in 2017.

Milford and Middletown theaters will now be best bets for Central Delaware film enthusiasts.

The Dover Mall had no comment when asked about the closure.

AMC said in its annual statement that the company’s revenues were $4.8 million in 2023, up 23 percent from 2022.
AMC said its adjusted net loss in 2023 was $318.8 million. For the year prior, it was $727.9 million.

At the earnings announcement, Adam Aron, AMC Entertainment chairman and CEO cited lingering impacted of the pandemic and the Hollywood writers’ strike among the industry’s challenges.

“What is particularly noteworthy is how much AMC benefited from our trailblazing industry leading efforts with our highly successful distribution of two concert movies, ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ and ‘Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce,’” he said.

“These two movies added greatly to movie theatre ticket sales across our entire industry, as just these two films represented fully one ninth of the complete fourth-quarter domestic industry-wide box office.

“This is a stunning result given that neither of these films were on anyone’s drawing board until mid-year, and that they were the first movies ever distributed by AMC in our entire 103-year history.”

Mr. Aron said fourth-quarter box office numbers for the company were down 35% compared to 2019.

Momentum, he said, was lost due to the writers’ strike after “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” drew large numbers to theaters.

“I am disappointed that Dover is the only major city in Delaware that doesn’t have a movie theater,” said Dover City Manager David Hugg. “Hopefully someone will pick it up and open again.”