AMC Kips Bay 15 to Close on January 3, 2027

The 15-screen Manhattan theater will shut its doors as NYU Langone Health acquires the building.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings

AMC Kips Bay 15 to Close on January 3, 2027

Live Poll

Should medical facility expansion take precedence over keeping existing local cultural landmarks like theaters open?

The AMC Kips Bay 15 movie theater at 570 Second Avenue in Manhattan is set to permanently close on January 3, 2027. The closure follows the building owner's termination of the AMC lease in anticipation of a sale to NYU Langone Health.

Why it matters

NYU Langone Health is purchasing the building to facilitate the expansion of its nearby medical facility. The acquisition will result in the closure of the theater as well as other commercial tenants in the building, including a Fairway supermarket and a bank.

The Kips Bay location has operated for 27 years since its opening on May 14, 1999, and features 15 screens. AMC took over operations at this site in 2006.

The players

AMC

This is a major American movie theater chain that operates approximately 500 theaters across the United States.

NYU Langone Health

This is a prominent academic medical center based in New York City that is expanding its healthcare facilities.

The details

AMC attempted to negotiate with NYU Langone Health to share the space or reduce the theater's footprint, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Local residents also staged a protest in September 2026 in an attempt to prevent the theater from shutting down.

The theater opened at 570 Second Avenue on May 14, 1999.
AMC began operating the theater in 2006.
Local residents held a protest against the closure in September 2026.
The AMC theater is scheduled to permanently close on January 3, 2027.

Market Landscape

This closure highlights the ongoing competition for physical space in New York City as large institutional healthcare providers prioritize site acquisition over commercial retail. It reflects a broader trend of institutional expansion displacing traditional entertainment venues in high-density urban corridors.

Local moviegoers will lose access to this 15-screen cinema starting in January 2027. Residents who rely on the building for the Fairway supermarket or the bank will also need to locate alternative services in the Kips Bay neighborhood.

The takeaway

Large-scale institutional real estate acquisitions can drastically alter the commercial landscape of a neighborhood. Residents should monitor local development news to prepare for the loss of long-standing community amenities.