AMC Theatres is threatening to ban Universal Pictures films from its chain (the largest in the country) after NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said the success of Trolls: World Tour proved theaters may not be necessary in the future. Trolls has snagged $100 million in VOD rentals in North America, not far behind the $116 million the original Trolls earned in its first three weeks in the 2016 B.O. during the same three-week time-period.
“It is disappointing to us, but Jeff’s comments as to Universal’s unilateral actions and intentions have left us with no choice. Therefore, effectively immediately AMC will no longer play any Universal movies in any of our theaters in the United States, Europe or the Middle East,” AMC Theatres chair-CEO Adam Aron wrote.