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Multiplex (movie theater)
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A multiplex is a movie theater complex with more than three screens. The largest of these complexes are sometimes referred to as a megaplex. Definitions of what constitutes a multiplex vs a megaplex is related to the number of screens.
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A multiplex is a movie theater complex with more than three screens. The largest of these complexes are sometimes referred to as a megaplex. Definitions of what constitutes a multiplex vs a megaplex is related to the number of screens. Often the comparison is arbitrary. For example 12 to 16 screens may constitute a multiplex, whereas 14 to 20 may be branded a megaplex. Megaplex theaters sometimes feature stadium seating and other amenities often not found at smaller movie theaters. Multiplex theatres often feature regular seating; however, the screens are often smaller than those found in traditional movie palaces.
During a high period of growth in many towns the competition presented by a multiplex would often put the town's smaller theaters out of business. Multiplexes were often developed in conjunction with big box stores in power centres or in suburban malls during the 70's and 80's which is commonly referred to as the era of "The Malling of America". The expansion was executed at the big-box pace which left many theater companies bankrupt while attempting to compete — almost all major movie theater companies went bankrupt during this hasty development process, however AMC Theatres did not go into bankruptcy. Daily operations of the local theaters were not much affected despite these corporate level issues.
For several years the world's largest theater was the 18 screen Cineplex in Toronto's Eaton Centre. The world's first 20 screen multiplex was Kinepolis Brussels, which opened in November 1988 with 25 screens. This was shortly followed by Studio 28 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which expanded in December 1988 from 12 to 20 screens with a seating capacity of 6,000. Loeks Theatres, Inc., owner of Studio 28, announced on November 14, 2008 that the theatre would cease operation on November 23.
Studio 28 and the AMC Grand 24 (opened in 1995 as the first 24-screen multiplex built from the ground up in the U.S.) sparked a wave of megaplexes across the United States. This was financed in part by a sale leaseback model with Entertainment Properties Trust (NYSE:EPR) and caused a dramatic shift in the American suburban landscape. AMC Theatres has since then led the way and has built many megaplexes with upwards of 30 screens.
The largest megaplex in the Southern Hemisphere is the 26-screen Megaplex Marion in Adelaide, South Australia. The auditoriums sit on top of Westfield Marion, which is the largest shopping complex in Adelaide.
In India, the mushrooming of multiplexes since the mid-90s has changed the dynamics of the Indian Film Industry. Production costs are now recovered in days, not months and viewers have accepted the concept. There have been concerns over high ticket prices, and the phenomena has predominantly been restricted to the larger cities, but Indian cinema chains like PVR (Priya Village Roadshow), Inox and CineMax are changing the rules of exhibition in the world's largest film industry. The Largest Multiplex in India is the 11 screen multiplex by PVR (Priya Village Roadshow) at The Forum (shopping mall), Bangalore.
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