AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron on Tuesday gave investors an update on his recovery from a minor stroke on November 17 last year during a visit to London.
“Just before Thanksgiving, while on a business trip to London, I had a minor stroke,” Aaron told analysts on a conference call about his stay at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neuroscience, a public hospital in London known for providing stroke care. “Fortunately, I received immediate care at a wonderful hospital in London run by the U.K.’s National Health Service.”
“It was envisioned that I would make a quick and full recovery,” Aaron added in prepared remarks on the call after the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results were released on Monday. “There was no problem with cognition at the time of the stroke, and there was no problem with thinking, reasoning, decision making or memory.”
Aaron said he lost his ability to speak for “a day or so,” and speech therapy followed. “That was 14 weeks ago. You can hear my voice for yourselves today. My voice is back. And I’m happy to report to you all that I’m in fighting shape and fully prepared to do battle,” he added as he continues to serve as Chairman, CEO and President of AMC.
At the time of his mini-stroke, AMC said in a statement: “Fortunately, there are no signs of loss of cognitive brain function related to Mr. Aaron’s ability to process complex information, his memory or written communication, all of which are normal and unimpaired. His only meaningful limitation was the initial slurring of his speech. He immediately began speech therapy, and has already seen a marked recovery in the quality and tone of his voice. He expects to make a rapid and full recovery.”
On the analyst’s call. Aaron also said that the exhibition giant will follow Netflix’s recent New Year’s Eve screening in select theaters Stranger Things: The End With additional collaborations between the world’s largest chain and the video streaming giant.
“As a result, our two companies should be the best of friends, and I can assure you that AMC is excited about the prospect of expanding our relationship with Netflix. We look forward to working together to create innovative, mutually beneficial theatrical events that drive value for both companies,” Aaron told investors, as his company continues to adapt to the post-pandemic emergence of video streaming services like Netflix as they place competitive pressures on local multiplexes.
He also pointed to marketing plans by AMC Theaters to offer “preferred” seating in its theaters later this year to be reserved initially for AMC Stubs roster and Stubs Premiere members. “We will ensure that the best seats in our auditoriums will initially be allocated only to our best clients anyway,” Arun said.
The head of AMC Theaters, while monitoring a potential strike in Hollywood as new contract talks begin between major studios and industry unions, advised against any bargaining fireworks and disruption to work later this year after a double 100-day work stoppage in 2023.
“I think the general consensus is that the two strikes two years ago were devastating for everyone associated with the film industry, devastating for union members, devastating for filmmakers — and I certainly hope we don’t have to repeat anything like that, that union negotiations proceed in such a way that deals are fulfilled, and production continues uninterrupted,” Aaron told analysts. He cautioned that AMC Theaters and other major exhibitors are not a party to the current industry negotiations.
