AMC declared war on the studio in late April, with chair-CEO Adam Aron writing a strongly worded letter to Langley, saying NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was "breaking the business model and dealings between our two companies."
"It assumes that we will meekly accept a reshaped view of how studios and exhibitors should interact, with zero concern on Universal's part as to how its actions affect us," Aron wrote, according to THR, adding the company assumes it "can have its cake and eat it too."
"It is disappointing to us, but Jeff’s comments as to Universal’s unilateral actions and intentions have left us with no choice," Aron continued. "Therefore, effective immediately AMC will no longer play any Universal movies in any of our theaters in the United States, Europe or the Middle East."
Aron made it clear "AMC is willing to sit down with Universal to discuss different windows strategies and different economic models between your company and ours," but that since those discussions haven't taken place "our decades of incredibly successful business activity together has sadly come to an end."
Universal has reportedly also earned millions in $19.99 digital rentals from other titles as well, including The Invisible Man and The Hunt, according to multiple reports. These films had initially been in movie theaters when cinemas nationwide shut down due to the current health crisis and were later released early on demand.
The studio has other movies scheduled for release including F9, Halloween Kills, The Croods 2, Jurassic World: Dominion, Sing 2 and Minions: The Rise of Gru.
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