AMC Theatres Faces Unprecedented Customer Revolt Over Secret Popcorn Price Hike Following Viral Social Media Campaign
DENVER, CO — A coordinated consumer backlash against AMC Theatres has erupted online after a leaked internal memo revealed plans to implement a tiered pricing system for its popular popcorn, raising costs for the largest buckets by up to 40 percent in select markets, according to documents reviewed by this station.
The controversy began Tuesday when former employee and frequent moviegoer Jason Miller, 34, posted a photograph of the memo on X, formerly Twitter, which quickly amassed over 2.5 million views. What: The price increase applies exclusively to the largest “Double Feature” popcorn size, which now costs $12.99 at participating locations, up from $9.29. When: The new pricing took effect on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 300 screens in 12 states. Where: The change has been confirmed in theaters in California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Washington, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Who: AMC leadership, including CEO Adam Aron, has remained silent, offering no public statement as of Wednesday evening. Why: The memo cited “inflationary pressures on premium corn supply and rising labor costs,” but customers and analysts suspect a strategic move to boost third-quarter revenue amid declining ticket sales.
“This is a betrayal of the moviegoing experience,” said Miller in an interview, standing outside a Denver AMC. “The era of the fair-priced bucket is over.” As the hashtag #PopcornPocalypse trends globally, with over 500,000 posts in 24 hours, the chain now faces an existential threat: the potential for a nationwide boycott during the crucial holiday blockbuster season, which includes upcoming releases like Dune: Part Two and The Marvels.