- AMC CEO Adam Aron recently floated the idea of a four-day workweek on his Twitter.
- Aron said a longer weekend would be better for AMC Theatres.
The head of the nation's largest chain of movie theaters wants to know whether Americans could use an extra day off – presumably to indulge in their favorite cinematic pastime – and whether he should be a top advocate for the cause.
"Should I be out front urging a 4-day U.S. work week?," AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron asked in one of two polls recently posted on Twitter. He acknowledged that a longer weekend would benefit AMC, which has about 950 theaters globally. "It may be time for America to formally adjust to a 4-day work week, instead of 5," Aron told his 276,000 followers. "Good for AMC too if every weekend is 3 days long. What do you think?"
AMC did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.
The movie-theater business depends heavily on weekend traffic. "Typically, Friday through Sunday represents between 70-75% of box office in a given week," said Phil Contrino, director of media and research at the National Association of Theatre Owners.
In his first poll, posted on Sept. 22, Aron asked Twitter users for their thoughts on four-day workweeks. It drew more than 20,000 responses – with a significant majority favoring four-day workweeks.
In another post the same day, Aron's polled Twitter users on whether he should be a leading voice advocating for shorter workweeks. Twitter users overwhelmingly voted in support.
—Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) September 22, 2022
—Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) September 23, 2022
More than 70 companies in the UK recently started four-day workweek trials in June, Insider reported. So far, a majority of the participants have found that the pilot is going well. 86% said they may consider keeping the model after the trial ends.
One Idaho-based education nonprofit tested out a four-day workweek and found that business has never been better: Workers were dramatically happier, revenue increased, and customer satisfaction was outstanding.
AMC recently announced that the weekend of July 7-10 was its busiest of 2022. AMC admissions revenue in the US increased by 14% in the US and 12% internationally, compared with that same weekend in 2019.
"The box office results week after week after week this summer have demonstrated what we at AMC have believed to be true all along: consumers want to experience their movies through the unrivaled experience of a movie theatre, with its big screens, big sound and comfortable big seats," Aron said in a statement.