AMC Kips Bay 15, the second-largest movie theatre in AMC’s New York City footprint, will close by the end of 2026 after the property owner exercised a contractual right to terminate its lease early, the theatre chain confirmed this week.
The End of a 27-Year Run
“We expect that AMC Kips Bay 15 will continue operating until the end of 2026, at which time the theatre will close following the property owner’s decision to exercise its contractual right to terminate the theatre’s lease before its scheduled expiration,” an AMC spokesperson said in a statement. The 15-screen theatre, located on Second Avenue near East 31st Street in Manhattan’s Kips Bay neighbourhood, opened in 1999, with AMC taking over its operations in 2006.
“Since its opening in 1999, the theatre has been an important part of the Kips Bay community and surrounding neighbourhoods, providing guests with a place to enjoy the magic of the movies together,” the company said. “We are immensely grateful to our guests for their loyalty and support throughout the years.” AMC said details are still being finalised and a precise closing date will be announced in the coming months.
A Loss for the East Side
With its 15 screens and an IMAX auditorium, Kips Bay has long offered a wider selection of films than many of Manhattan’s smaller theatres, giving East Side moviegoers an alternative to the busier Empire 25 near Times Square or the 34th Street 14 outside Madison Square Garden. Once Kips Bay closes, AMC’s remaining Manhattan locations will include the 19th Street 6, Village 7, Lincoln Square 13, Orpheum 7, 84th Street 6 and Magic Johnson Harlem 9.
The closure continues a pattern of theatre losses on Manhattan’s East Side in recent years, following the 2019 closures of the 86th Street location of City Cinemas and the Second Avenue Beekman Theatre, and the 2018 closure of the CMX Cinebistro Lenox Hill on 62nd Street. The Third Avenue location of Cinema 123 by Angelika is also currently listed for sale.
Fan Reaction
News of the closure spread quickly on social media after a post by New York Magazine and Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri, prompting calls for a “save Kips Bay” campaign and appeals to New York City officials to intervene. Some social media users pointed to reports of a nearby hospital expansion as a possible factor behind the property owner’s decision, though AMC has not commented on the reasons for the lease termination beyond confirming it was the owner’s choice.
What Happens Next
AMC has said the theatre will keep screening films through the rest of 2026, giving longtime patrons a final stretch to visit before it shuts its doors. No announcement has been made regarding what will replace the multiplex once it closes.
