AMC CEO Urges NYU Langone to Compromise as Kips Bay Theater Faces January 3 Closure
AMC CEO Adam Aron has issued an open letter opposing the closure of the AMC Kips Bay 15 multiplex, which is set to shut on January 3, 2026. Aron stated that AMC wishes to remain in the location but faces a terminated lease due to NYU Langone’s acquisition of the building for medical expansion. Despite proposing compromises, such as reducing the theater’s size or enlarging the existing structure, Aron claimed NYU Langone rejected all alternatives. The closure will also affect a co-located Fairway supermarket and bank. Local officials and residents have protested the decision, arguing the theater is a vital community hub.
Key points
- AMC Kips Bay 15 will close on January 3, 2026, ending a 27-year run at the location.
- The theater is located at 570 Second Avenue in Manhattan and is the chain’s second-largest multiplex in the city.
- The building also houses a Fairway supermarket and a bank, both of which are expected to close.
- AMC CEO Adam Aron stated that the lease was terminated in anticipation of the property transfer to NYU Langone.
- Aron proposed alternatives, including shrinking the theater or expanding the current low-rise building, but claimed NYU Langone rejected them.
- The theater was among the top 10 most attended AMC locations in the US during several days in the summer of 2026.
Background
The closure was first reported in August 2026, following the private acquisition of the site by NYU Langone over a year prior. In September 2026, local residents and officials held a rally with over 100 attendees to demand a compromise. The site is part of a broader trend of NYU Langone expanding its healthcare footprint in Manhattan, including the recent opening of a new imaging center on the Upper West Side in October 2026.
How outlets are covering it
Variety and Deadline both report that AMC CEO Adam Aron has publicly opposed the closure, emphasizing that AMC does not want to leave. Both outlets highlight Aron’s claim that NYU Langone rejected all proposed compromises, including reducing the theater’s size. Variety notes the theater’s high attendance rankings, while Deadline emphasizes the political involvement of local officials like Brad Hoylman-Sigal. Both sources agree that the decision rests with NYU Langone and the building owner, not AMC.
Why it matters
The closure of a major multiplex in a dense urban area like Manhattan highlights the tension between commercial entertainment spaces and expanding healthcare infrastructure. It also raises questions about the transparency of real estate transactions and their impact on local community amenities. The case may set a precedent for how other cities handle conflicts between cultural venues and institutional expansion.
What to watch
The theater is scheduled to close on January 3, 2026. Unless a last-minute compromise is reached, the space will be transferred to NYU Langone for medical expansion. Residents and officials may continue to advocate for a solution, but time is running out as the lease termination date approaches.
- AMC Kips Bay Theater Sets Closing Date, CEO Speaks Out Against NYU Langone Variety
- AMC Theatres Wants NYC Multiplex To Remain But Decision "Not Ours To Make" Deadline
- AMC Sets Jan. 3 Closing for Manhattan’s Kips Bay 15 as CEO Appeals to NYU Langone Northeast Times
- New York’s AMC Kips Bay Theater Closes on Jan. 3; CEO Says ‘AMC Wants to Stay’ but NYU Langone ‘Wants Us Gone’ IMDb
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