AMC is closing a beloved movie theater in Manhattan, and it’s a big loss. The theater is the second-largest movie theater in the borough.
Variety broke the news that AMC is closing AMC Kips Bay 15 by the end of the year. “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,” a spokesperson for the company told Variety.
The decision caught some movie buffs by surprise, and they are irate about it.
“End of an era. So many memories seeing movie here as a kid,” a man wrote on X.
Fans Unloaded Online After the AMC Announcement
Kips Bay 15. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
Fans were unhappy about the closure. “Whut????? Kips Bay has been my second go-to theater in NYC after Lincoln for the better part of the 21st century. Its IMAX screen is very good and will be missed,” wrote one man on X.
“NY has barely got any good theaters left. This city is becoming laughable. How do complain about people not coming to the theaters enough & then finally decide to close after one of your biggest years yet ? Ridiculous… I won’t be mad if streaming truly takes over,” wrote another person.
“This is the worst thing that could have possibly happened today,” a fan concluded.
“That’s a blow to movie goers on the east side of Manhattan. Theaters are few over there and what is there is not great,” added another person.
The Kips Bay 15 Theater Had 15 Screens and an IMAX Theater
The theater offered a lot – 15 screens and an IMAX experience. So why is it closing?
NBC New York Called Kips Bay 15 “a staple of the theater chain’s New York footprint.” According to NBC New York, the theater is located in an area where a hospital expansion is planned.
The multiplex movie theater was located on Second Avenue near East 31st Street. “The theater first opened in 1999, with AMC taking over operations in 2006,” Time Out reported, noting that fans enjoyed the variety of movie options since many other theaters in Manhattan are a lot smaller. The theater also offered discount matinees.
“Depressed is an understatement,” a movie fan wrote on X. “Apparently the AMC Kips Bay will be closing by December because the NYU hospital is expanding. A perfect encapsulation of our times,” wrote another person.
However, City Reporter noted that it’s not clear what will end up in the theater space. “The land where the theater stands is owned by Kips Bay Development Limited Partnership, which is affiliated with JD Carlisle Development Corp. and MD Carlisle Construction Corp.,” that site reported.
According to Deadline, the only Manhattan theater that boasts more screens than Kips Bay 15 is an AMC theater that is located in Times Square.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Aug 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.