AMC Theatres Gets Into Distribution Business, Launches Leawood Films
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- AMC Theatres is launching a new distribution label, Leawood Films, to handle small and mid-sized movies that are fully financed and completed, aiming to bring more independent films to theaters.
- Leawood Films will operate as a gun-for-hire distributor, allowing filmmakers to retain ownership of their intellectual property and downstream revenues, with offices in Kansas and Los Angeles.
- Distribution will be managed by Variance in North America and Piece of Magic Entertainment internationally, while AMC will oversee marketing; releases will follow traditional theatrical windows before moving to Premium VOD and streaming.
- The label is advised by industry veterans including Toby Emmerich, Ricky Strauss, Kyle Davies, and attorney Craig Jacobson, all reporting to AMC CEO Adam Aron, who emphasizes the initiative’s goal to complement existing studio partnerships rather than compete.
- AMC aims to increase theatrical availability for diverse films, leveraging its industry relationships and marketing expertise to support filmmakers and enrich the moviegoing experience with more high-quality content.
