For the second time in just five years, CMX Cinemas, a ubiquitous dine-in theater chain, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing was made Tuesday, July 1, by its parent company, Cinemex Holdings USA.
Briefly, the company is using bankruptcy laws to pause debt repayment temporarily while it figures out a new way to run its business and finances. This type of filing, Subchapter V of Chapter 11, aims to allow small- and medium-sized businesses to restructure faster.
What does it mean for cinema-goers?
Don’t worry—CMX Cinemas is not shutting down shop. In fact, the company said business as usual will continue during this time. You can just go to the cinema, grab a bag of popcorn, and catch the latest films as you always do.
“CMX continues to welcome customers to its cinemas as usual,” the company said in their press release. “Employees will also continue receiving their normal pay and benefits without any changes.”
So if you’re in the area of a CMX theater, it’s still open and showing movies like normal.
Where are these CMX cinemas?
CMX Cinemas operates 28 locations in eight states, including
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Virginia
These theaters are renowned for providing you with a luxury experience—plush seats, gourmet snacks, and even full meals and drinks brought to your seat.
Why did CMX file for bankruptcy for the second time?
CMX filed for bankruptcy previously in April 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led all the cinemas to shut down across the country. With nobody going out and watching movies, the company could not earn as much money as it needed to pay for its expenses.
Then CMX came out of bankruptcy by December 2020, within a short period. Yet, in 2025, there are again financial problems.
According to court documents, CMX Cinemas currently has:
- Assets of $50 million to $100 million
- Debt of $1 million to $10 million
Going bankrupt doesn’t always mean the business is shutting its doors—it means they’re asking for legal protection while they figure out how to better manage their finances.
What’s next for CMX?
The company also says that it is aiming to finalize the restructuring exercise by the third quarter of 2025 — i.e., between July and September next year.
CMX is confident this exercise will make it stronger and more stable in the future. It also wants to protect the interests of employees, film lovers, and business partners.
All of which plays out within the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, where the legal process has already been initiated.
A reminder: It’s still movie time
Despite “bankruptcy” having a certain sense of foreboding, this is all simply a case of pressing the reset button for CMX. The theaters are still showing, the employees are still working, and the company is hoping to come out of the process in better shape than ever.
If you’re a movie lover who lives in one of CMX’s eight states of operation, you can still buy a ticket, grab your favorite snacks, and see the film—business as usual.
So, for now, kick back and get comfortable, and let the credits roll—CMX Cinemas is not closing down, just returning.
