I’m scrolling through Letterboxd on a Friday night ready to rant about movies and money (I have $5). I’m just a cinephile with a knack for stocks who is obsessed with AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) and the wild ride and the whole entire moviegoing aesthetic. With Q2 2025 earnings dropping soon on August 11th, I’m speculating why Gen Z is low-key saving the box office, how cartoon movies are printing cash like it’s nobody’s business, why the stock price action makes me want to scream into the void, and how there’s a whole generation of shareholders (including me!) waiting for AMC to pull a plot twist and turn things around.
AMC’s Q2 2025 earnings are dropping on August 1, 2025, after market close, with a conference call at 5:00 PM ET. The street’s expecting an EPS of around -$0.10, which is better than last year’s Q2 at -$0.43. Revenue’s projected to be around $1.03 billion, slightly down from last year’s $1.04 billion. But let’s be real—numbers only tell part of the story. AMC’s been on a wild recovery arc since the pandemic crushed the theater biz. Q1 2025 was rough, with revenue at $862.5 million (down 9.34% year-over-year) and an EPS of -$0.58, but they still beat analyst estimates by $0.03.
The buzz is that Q2 could show some heat. Posts on X are hyping a potential positive EPS of $0.08, which would be a huge flex if it happens. AMC’s been grinding, investing over $100 million in theater upgrades like plush recliners and premium formats (IMAX, Dolby Cinema, you know the vibes). They’re also pushing their popcorn game into retail and partnering with Eminem for a “Stans” documentary, chasing that Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concert film bag. If the box office keeps popping off like it did in April 2025 (double April 2024’s numbers!), we might see some solid gains.
Gen Z’s out here making movie theaters cool again, and I’m living for it. They are not just watching movies, they are making it an event. Think aesthetic outfits, snapping pics in front of the neon AMC sign, and posting Letterboxd reviews with four-star ratings and heart emojis. Gen Z’s all about the experience—big screens, booming sound, and that shared energy of gasping at plot twists with strangers. AMC’s leaning into this with their “Go Plan,” dropping $1.0–$1.5 billion over the next few years to upgrade theaters with luxury seats and premium formats. In Q1 2025, they set records for U.S. admissions revenue per patron, which screams that people are willing to pay for the vibe.
Letterboxd is the secret sauce here. It’s like the TikTok of movie reviews—Gen Z’s logging every film, from Barbie to A Minecraft Movie, with unhinged takes and curated lists like “films that feel like a fever dream.” It’s not just a diary; it’s a whole social media flex. Film Twitter (or Film X, I guess?) amplifies this, with stans hyping up releases like The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Zootopia 2. These platforms turn movies into cultural moments, driving Gen Z to theaters to be part of the discourse. Like, you have to see Wicked to tweet about it, right? AMC’s Q4 2024 proved this, with 62 million guests globally, a 20% jump from 2023, thanks to bangers like Moana 2 and Gladiator II.
Another thing I want to reiterate is how cartoon movies are out here making obscene amounts of money, and it’s low-key wild. Like, A Minecraft Movie crushed it in April 2025, pulling in crowds and making AMC’s weekend one of its best since 2019. Animated films like Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King were Q4 2024 MVPs, helping AMC hit $1.3 billion in revenue. Why? Kids drag their parents to theaters, and those parents are dropping cash on tickets, popcorn, and merch. X users have been screaming this for years—kids’ movies are a goldmine because they’re family events. Plus, Gen Z and millennials grew up on Pixar and Disney, so we’re showing up for the nostalgia too (Zootopia 2, anyone?).
The numbers don’t lie: the domestic box office hit $8.56 billion in 2024, and analysts are projecting $9.5 billion for 2025, with animated sequels like Avatar 3 and Jurassic World 4 leading the charge. These films are safe bets—kids love ‘em, adults vibe with ‘em, and they’re perfect for premium formats like 3D and IMAX, which AMC’s banking on. It’s like, why stream Minions when you can feel the bass in Dolby Cinema?
While movies and moviegoing remain upbeat, the stock on the other hands is insufferable. AMC’s barely at $3 right now (that’s like 7 shares for 1 movie ticket!). It’s been a rollercoaster—peaking at $393.63 during the 2021 meme stock frenzy, now chilling at $3.27-$3.52. Every time there’s good news (like Q4 2024’s $1.3 billion revenue or April 2025’s box office doubling), the stock pops… then dips. It’s trading below its 50-day moving average, which is giving bearish vibes. Analysts are mixed—Benchmark’s got a hold rating, and Zacks ranks it #3 (Hold), but EPS estimates for 2025 widened to a loss of $0.66.
The problem? Debt. AMC’s got $4.5 billion in long-term debt, even after cutting $349 million in 2024. They raised $244 million in new money and pushed $2.4 billion of debt to 2029/2030, which is a W for breathing room. But shareholders are salty about dilution from equity raises, like the $184 million stock sale that had X users raging. I get it—it’s hard to stay zen when the chart looks like a horror movie scarier than Terrifer 3.
There’s a whole generation of shareholders—Gen Z and millennials, mostly—holding AMC like it’s a personality trait. We’re the “Ape” army from 2021, still diamond-handing through the dips. X is full of hype posts about AMC’s turnaround, with users pointing to lower rent, debt restructuring, and popcorn distribution as signs of a comeback. We’re not just here for the MOASS (Mother of All Short Squeezes); we believe in the theaters. AMC’s loyalty program and mobile app are keeping us engaged, and the $630 million cash reserve from Q4 2024 feels like a safety net.
But it’s not all hopium. Some X users are skeptical, saying the box office hasn’t fully recovered (still 40% below 2019 levels). Still, with CEO Adam Aron hyping a “multiyear recovery” and a stacked 2025 slate (Mission: Impossible 8, Superman), we’re holding for the long game.
I called 2023-2024 “absolute MONSTERS”. 2023 saw the box office hit $8.91 billion, with Barbie and Oppenheimer (Barbenheimer, anyone?) driving crowds. 2024 was slightly softer at $8.56 billion, down 3.9%, but still crushed expectations with Wicked and Moana 2. Quiet years, like early 2025, still deliver—Q1 2025 had lower revenue, but premium formats and food/beverage sales ($7.15 per patron in Q4 2024) kept things fulfilling. 2025’s projected $9.5 billion box office is giving “cautious optimism” energy.
Letterboxd is the love language of the social media age. It’s where we flex our taste, rate Dune: Part Two 4.5 stars, and argue about A Minecraft Movie’s plot. Film Twitter/X takes it next level—memes, hot takes, and threads about why Wicked deserves an Oscar go viral, driving hype for theatrical releases. AMC’s tapping into this by promoting films like The Fantastic Four on X, knowing Gen Z will show up to post their reviews. These platforms make movies feel like a movement, not just a pastime, and it’s pushing ticket sales in a way streaming can’t touch.
So, here I am, refreshing X for earnings updates, rating Zootopia 2 on Letterboxd, and praying AMC’s stock doesn’t tank again. The Q2 earnings could be a banger if the box office momentum holds, and Gen Z’s aesthetic obsession with theaters is a big green flag. Cartoon movies are carrying the team, but the stock price action is giving me trust issues. Still, I’m part of this shareholder generation, holding my shares like they’re a limited-edition Funko Pop. 2023-2024 were wild, 2025’s got potential, and with Letterboxd and X hyping every release, AMC’s got a shot at a comeback. Let’s see if they stick the landing. What’s your take? Are you riding the AMC wave or nah?
(post generated with Grok prompt)
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