Multiplex (movie theater)

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A typical AMC Theatres multiplex.

For the fictional character called Megaplex see Megaplex (Transformers).

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. The expansion was executed at the big-box pace which left many theater companies bankrupt while attempting to "keep up with the Jones'". Almost all major movie theater companies went bankrupt during this hasty development process. 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 Studio 28 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which reopened in 1988 with a seating capacity of 6,000. [1]

Studio 28 and the AMC Grand 24 sparked a wave of megaplexes across the United States. This was financed in part by private equity money and caused a dramatic shift in the American urban 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 really caught on to 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 slowly but surely changing the rules of exhibition in the world's largest film industry.

[edit] References

Marlene Edmunds, "Kinepolis Keeps The Plexes Coming," Variety, June 15, 1998, p. 74.
William Echikson, "Taking The Megaplex On The Road," Business Week, no. 3547 (Oct. 6, 1997), p. 21.