Giants of Exhibition 2022

Celebrating the Top 50 Cinema Circuits in North America

2021 was a transition year for theatrical exhibition as it embarked on a global recovery effort from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. The year began with a gradual reopening of theaters, leading up to the return of cinemas in key markets like Los Angeles and New York in March. By May, studios found enough confidence to commit to a consistent release schedule—reigniting the box office with the release of Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II over Memorial Day weekend.

The recovery came too late for some cinema chains, as evidenced by the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of the Pacific/Arclight circuit in June. The company’s demise left a notable void on the U.S.’s West Coast and turned some of the region’s most lucrative locations into acquisition targets of other major chains. Despite the struggles, the industry accomplished new box office benchmarks as capacity restrictions were lifted throughout the summer. A stellar Q3 with titles like Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage and MGM/UA’s No Time to Die set the stage for the first major hit of the pandemic in mid-December: Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. The latest installment in the Spider-Man franchise reinforced the cultural importance of the moviegoing experience—providing a glimpse of the industry’s potential in the months to come.

RankCompanyFoundedHeadquartersSitesScreens
1AMC Entertainment 1920Leawood, KS5957,768
2Regal1989Knoxville, TN5116,853
3Cinemark USA1984Plano, TX3244,440
4Cineplex Inc.2003Toronto, ON1601,652
5Marcus Theatres Corp.1935Milwaukee, WI851,064
6B & B Theatres1924Kansas City, MO56513
7Harkins Theatres1933Scottsdale, AZ33494
8Malco Theatres Inc.1915Memphis, TN33351
9Emagine Entertainment1997Troy, MI28342
10CMX Cinemas2017Miami, FL32341
11Landmark Cinemas of Canada1965Calgary, AL40325
12Alamo Drafthouse Cinema1997Austin, TX37301
13National Amusements (Showcase Cinemas)1936Norwood, MA22291
14Caribbean Cinemas1968San Juan, PR32281
15Southern Theatres2003New Orleans, LA18266
16Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas2011Dallas, TX26260
17Georgia Theatre Company1992Saint Simons Island, GA24253
18Premiere Cinema Corp.1993Big Spring, TX22249
19NCG (Neighborhood Cinemas Group)1983Owosso, MI25246
20Reading Cinemas USA2000New York, NY24238
21Studio Movie Grill2000Dallas, TX21226
22Landmark Theatres1974West Hollywood, CA38216
23UEC Theatres1993Maple Grove, MN22191
24GQT Movies2020Grand Rapids, MI24189
25Galaxy Theatres, LLC1998Sherman Oaks, CA16183
26Cinema West1984Petaluma, CA17174
27Larry H. Miller Theatres (Megaplex Theatres)1999Sandy, UT15173
28Regency Theatres, Inc.1996Agoura Hills, CA25172
29MJR Theatres1980Bloomfield Hills, MI10164
30Marquee Cinemas, Inc.1979Beckley, WV15162
31Phoenix Theatres2001Knoxville, TN14155
32Cinema Entertainment Corp.1964Waite Park, MN19154
33Celebration Cinema By Studio C1944Grand Rapids, MI11149
34EVO Entertainment2014Austin, TX16148
35Cinémas Guzzo2003Terrebonne, QC10145
36Epic Theatres2003Deltona, FL12144
37Coming Attractions Theatres, Inc.1985Ashland, OR18142
38Santikos Entertainment1948San Antonio, TX11136
39Flagship Premium Cinemas1995Cambridge, MA18131
39Classic Cinemas1978Downers Grove, IL15131
41Bow Tie Cinemas1900Ridgefield, CT15128
42Look Brands, LLC2021Dallas, TX8127
42Apple Cinemas2013Walpole, MA12127
44R/C Theatres1932Reisterstown, MD13119
45Allen Theatres1912Las Cruces, NM16112
46Mitchell Theatres2005Elkhart, KS15107
47IPIC Theaters2007Boca Raton, FL13102
48R.L. Fridley Theatres1972Des Moines, IA1897
49Metropolitan Theatres Corp.1923Los Angeles, CA1794
50Xscape Theatres2013New Albany, IN794