Online ticket sales for screenings of "Iron Man 3" at AMC Theaters, Regal Cinemas and Cinemark Theaters began Thursday, after the chains and Disney settled a dispute over the split on box office revenues.
The top three U.S. theater cinema chains — AMC, Regal and Cinemark — had suspended sales while Disney sought to negotiate a more favorable agreement. No details of the pacts were announced, but a Disney spokesman confirmed Thursday that the new deals were done.
"We thank our partners at Disney for working with us to achieve economical terms so we can present our guests with one of the biggest blockbusters of 2013 and solidly kick off the summer movie season," a spokesman for AMC Theaters told TheWrap.
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"After some extensive talks with Disney, we’re glad to say that Tony Stark will definitely be in our theatres," said a Regal spokesman. "We’ve got Fandango working overtime right now to place tickets back on sale at all Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theaters."
By 2 p.m. PT "Iron Man 3" tickets were available from online brokers Fandango.and MovieTickets.com.
A 50-50 split is typical on most films but studios almost always get a higher percentage on blockbusters. Disney hadn't renegotiated terms with the theaters chains in years, and with the rollout of the summer's first blockbuster looming, decided the timing was right.
The lack of presales wasn't expected to cut into the Marvel superhero saga's box office unless it had extended into Thursday or Friday of next week.