Theatrical Showdown: AMC's Revealed Beyonce Concert Film but Concealed Taylor Swift's Project

AMC Theatres CEO Admits to Leaking Beyonce Concert Film After Keeping Taylor Swift Project a Secret

Beyonce, Taylor Swift. Getty Images(2)

AMC Theatres’ treatment of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé's concert films has upset some fans. The theater chain collaborated with the two Grammy winners to release Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in October 2023 and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé two months later, which turned out to be very successful. However, there were reports that behind the scenes, some Hollywood studios and theater owners were not pleased. They were unhappy that only AMC knew about the films ahead of time, giving them the exclusive opportunity to start selling tickets before anyone else.

"We couldn't spill Taylor's secret, and those theater chains who complained to you? They made $100 million in ticket sales," said Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC Theatres, in an interview with Variety on May 23. "It's not like they sold nothing."

However, after some "hurt feelings" from studios and other theater owners, Variety reported that AMC gave its competitors a top-secret heads-up about Beyoncé's film before tickets were available for sale.

Aron revealed that news about Beyoncé's concert film was leaked by multiple movie circuits. This caused Beyoncé to consider not proceeding with the movie due to the breach of secrecy by the circuits who did not honor their agreement.

The decision of the company to disclose information about Beyoncé's film to competitors, while keeping details about Swift's movie confidential, has upset fans of Beyoncé, known as the BeyHive.

AMC Theatres CEO Admits to Leaking Beyonce Concert Film After Keeping Taylor Swift Project a Secret

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood

One fan expressed their disappointment with AMC Theatres, stating that Beyoncé should not conduct business with them again. The CEO of @AMCTheatres allegedly leaked information about the RENAISSANCE Film to their competition before tickets were even available. This action was seen as a breach of trust and disrespect towards Beyoncé.

Another user shared their opinion, saying that they do not anticipate Beyoncé collaborating with AMC Theatres in the future due to the unprofessional behavior displayed.

We has reached out to Beyoncé and Swift’s teams for comment.

Previously, the “Crazy in Love” singer thanked the movie chain for its support of the movie.

In December 2023, she expressed her deep gratitude to AMC and all the team members who dedicated their hard work to the film on Instagram. She mentioned how challenging it was due to the tight deadline, often spending long hours in editing, coloring, and mixing sessions. Despite the race against time, she was overwhelmed by the support received and believed that all the hard work was truly worth it.

Aron reported that both concert films performed well at the box office, labeling them as successful. As a result, the CEO foresees AMC releasing "two to three" concert films annually in the future.

Editor's P/S:

The controversy surrounding AMC Theatres' handling of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé's concert films highlights the complex dynamics within the entertainment industry. While AMC's exclusive partnership with the two artists initially generated significant revenue, the subsequent disclosure of information about Beyoncé's film to competitors has raised concerns about trust and fairness. Fans of Beyoncé have expressed their disappointment, questioning whether AMC's actions constitute a breach of contract and a lack of respect for the artist.

The incident also raises questions about the future of concert films. As streaming services continue to gain popularity, the release of concert films in theaters may become less common. However, AMC's success with Swift and Beyoncé's films suggests that there is still a market for this type of content. It remains to be seen whether AMC's plan to release multiple concert films annually will be successful, but the controversy surrounding the Beyoncé film has certainly cast a shadow over the company's future in this area.