Approximately 70 employees have been let go from Alamo Drafthouse‘s Manhattan and Brooklyn branches, a move made prior to a potential strike at two of its New York City theaters.
Alamo Drafthouse chose not to provide a statement, however, it’s been reported that these layoffs are related to the typical slowdown in cinema attendance during the off-season. Movie theaters generally increase their staff around holiday periods, as this is typically when moviegoers visit the most. However, audience numbers often decrease in the early part of the year, leaving insufficient hours to employ all the additional staff. Insiders claim that these affected employees were primarily part-time workers who are eligible for rehire come spring, when it’s anticipated that box office sales will pick up again.
The popular cinema circuit, renowned for its silent-movie-esque rule against conversation and cell phone use, dismissed an unspecified number of employees working at various locations nationwide in January, all due to the same reason. Simultaneously, 15 out of 169 staff members (approximately 9%) were terminated at the corporate level during that period as well.
In an attempt to act honestly, layoffs at New York’s venues operated by Alamo Drafthouse were postponed, as reported by sources. On Monday, a charge of unfair labor practices was submitted to the National Labor Relations Board by United Auto Workers Local 2179. This union, established in 2023, advocates for staff members at the company’s venues in lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. Alamo Drafthouse has a third New York City venue in Staten Island that isn’t unionized. The complaint alleges that Alamo Drafthouse neglected to negotiate in good faith before implementing changes to their operations. For several months, the union has been in discussions with management regarding crucial matters such as scheduling, wages, and safety issues.
Last year, Alamo Drafthouse was taken over by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Prior to this acquisition, the cinema chain had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 amidst difficulties faced by global theater chains due to extended pandemic-induced closures and a lack of fresh film releases. Similar to many other movie theater chains, Alamo Drafthouse is still grappling with the lingering effects of the pandemic as well as the double whammy of labor strikes in 2023. The domestic box office earnings in 2024 dropped to $8.75 billion, a decrease of 3.3% compared to the previous year, marking the first instance where revenues didn’t grow post-pandemic compared to the preceding year.
2025 is anticipated to mark a recovery for Hollywood’s financial status, despite a slow start to the year in January and February with box office earnings. It is expected that moviegoing will gain momentum around mid-February with the release of Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” followed by several potential blockbusters such as “Superman,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Wicked: For Good.
Read More
- “I’m a little irritated by him.” George Clooney criticized Quentin Tarantino after allegedly being insulted by him
- South Korea Delays Corporate Crypto Account Decision Amid Regulatory Overhaul
- What was the biggest anime of 2024? The popularity of some titles and lack of interest in others may surprise you
- Destiny 2: When Subclass Boredom Strikes – A Colorful Cry for Help
- Deep Rock Galactic: The Synergy of Drillers and Scouts – Can They Cover Each Other’s Backs?
- Sonic 3 Just Did An Extremely Rare Thing At The Box Office
- Final Fantasy 1: The MP Mystery Unraveled – Spell Slots Explained
- Influencer dies from cardiac arrest while getting tattoo on hospital operating table
- Smite’s New Gods: Balancing Act or Just a Rush Job?
- Twitch CEO explains why they sometimes get bans wrong
2025-02-05 03:16