• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead

2

Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline

3

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax was designed to hit the wealthy, but it’s sending most New Yorkers to their estate lawyers

1

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead

2

Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline

3

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax was designed to hit the wealthy, but it’s sending most New Yorkers to their estate lawyers
Arts & EntertainmentMovies

Can Craft Cocktails Save the American Movie Theater?

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 24, 2018, 7:00 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Can a craft cocktail and lobster roll with your movie help defeat Netflix? That’s partly the idea behind iPic Entertainment (IPIC), the Boca Raton-based luxury movie theater chain that recently launched an IPO with a plan to expand beyond its 16 U.S. locations, all of which offer gourmet cuisine and cushy leather seats.

The rise of streaming services like Netflix (NFLX) and others means it’s now more than just cord-cutters who tend to opt for a night at home over a trip to the local multiplex. Box office revenue has been relatively flat in recent years, thanks to rising ticket prices, but actual movie ticket sales dropped 6% last year to hit their lowest level (1.24 million) in over two decades, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Facing a cultural shift, movie theater operators are now forced to go the extra mile. Many of the big chains have already tried rolling out features like reclining chairs, reserved seating, and improved concessions menus with combo deals. But, the bleeding continues. Shares of AMC Entertainment (AMC), the largest U.S. theater-owner, declined by more than half in 2017.

An iPic theater audience.Courtesy of iPic
Courtesy of iPic

Clearly, iPic believes that a luxurious night out can convince homebodies to ditch their TV sets. The company, which saw revenue increase 25% to $69.4 million in the first half of 2017, raised over $15 million from its February IPO to help fund new locations in California, Connecticut, Philadelphia, and New York. Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas has also been expanding across the country with a similar model where waiters dish out non-traditional movie theater fare at your seat.

Not all theaters have to become luxury destinations, but they might need to be more open to new ideas to reverse negative trends. Movie ticketing subscription service MoviePass recently saw its membership base soar to more than 1.5 million, thanks to low pricing, and it is now looking to partner with movie theater chains on profit-sharing deals as it tries to boost movie attendance overall.

One thing is clear: it’ll take a lot more than stale popcorn for movie theaters to compete with your couch.

A version of this article appears in the March 2018 issue of Fortune with the headline “Movie Theaters Want Their Groove Back.”

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

grassmayr
Innovationaustria
425-year-old Austrian bell foundry survives on 3D printing and lasers
By Philipp Jenne and The Associated PressJuly 30, 2026
13 hours ago
ponzi
Arts & Entertainmentfraud
Hollywood producer behind ‘Joker,’ dozens of other films indicted for $100 million Ponzi scheme
By Rebecca Boone and The Associated PressJuly 30, 2026
14 hours ago
interlochen
North AmericaJeffrey Epstein
Probe of exclusive Michigan boarding school finds Epstein and 47 others accused of abuse
By Ed White and The Associated PressJuly 30, 2026
14 hours ago
(l-r) Trinity Celeste Tatum, Bryce Alakai Dettloff
EconomyPersonal Finance
Love Island contestants will spend their winnings on bills and loans because $100K just doesn’t go that far anymore
By Eleanor PringleJuly 30, 2026
17 hours ago
zendaya
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
How Gen Z’s love of ‘handcrafted’ blockbusters created Hollywood’s ‘memory moment’
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 30, 2026
21 hours ago
boehly
Arts & EntertainmentLawsuit
Lawsuit: Penske and Boehly staged Golden Globes boycott to buy it cheap
By Andrew Dalton and The Associated PressJuly 29, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
Success
He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
By Preston ForeJuly 29, 2026
2 days ago
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
Retail
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
By Sydney LakeJuly 29, 2026
2 days ago
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax was designed to hit the wealthy, but it’s sending most New Yorkers to their estate lawyers
Real Estate
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax was designed to hit the wealthy, but it’s sending most New Yorkers to their estate lawyers
By Catherina GioinoJuly 30, 2026
21 hours ago
'Am I paying for the vibes?' Gen Z says it hates capitalism, but their spending patterns show they just don't like being ripped off
Retail
'Am I paying for the vibes?' Gen Z says it hates capitalism, but their spending patterns show they just don't like being ripped off
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 30, 2026
17 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 30, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 30, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 30, 2026
18 hours ago
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
6 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.