An AMC moviegoer’s viral TikTok has sparked outrage after they were reportedly removed from their assigned seats during a screening of Wicked at AMC New City 14 in Chicago. The incident, which Tyler (@gaywithopinions) described as an “absolute disaster,” has garnered widespread attention online, amassing over 64,000 views as of this writing.
Tyler’s eight-minute video recounts how a special birthday outing with friends quickly turned sour after a mix-up at the theater. In the video, Tyler explains how he and his group had purchased tickets weeks in advance for the highly anticipated Wicked screening. Arriving early and taking their designated seats, everything seemed to be going smoothly until the opening scene of the film.
According to Tyler, the trouble began when an AMC employee approached their group after Nicole Kidman’s famous introduction appeared on the screen. The worker reportedly asked to see their tickets and, after checking them, claimed there had been a scheduling mix-up. The employee explained that a canceled screening in Theater 12 for Wicked had been merged with the show in Theater 10, where Tyler’s group was seated.
@gaywithopinions Hiiii @AMC Theatres, what happened today was…..not cute? Hope you can make this situation better for us. @Wicked Movie we were so so excited to see the film today, we’ve been looking forward to it since the DAY it was announced. We’re sad we didn’t get the chance to see it 😭😭😭 #amc #amctheaters #amcalist #amcstubs #wickedmovie #wicked
Despite the tickets being valid, Tyler says they were told to vacate their seats to accommodate the latecomers from the other theater. The employee offered them alternative seating in the front row, but the new seats were scattered throughout the theater, making it impossible for the group to sit together. One of Tyler’s friends, who suffers from motion sickness, was also unable to sit in the front row due to the potential for discomfort.
Tyler was left frustrated and confused, especially after the group had gone to great lengths to ensure they had their tickets and arrived early. To make matters worse, Tyler claims the theater offered only a partial solution: they were refunded with an AMC gift card due to issues with Apple Pay and given two movie vouchers. Tyler, however, felt this was insufficient given that as an A-List member, he already had the privilege of seeing three films a week for free.
“By kicking us out, they essentially took away the opportunity for us to see the movie at all,” Tyler said in the video. “There were no other showtimes available, and the staff suggested another theater, which made no sense. Why would I travel somewhere else when I already have tickets to this screening?”
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Feeling that the situation was mishandled, Tyler decided to escalate the matter. He called AMC’s corporate customer service line, where he was advised to tag AMC’s A-List social media team for further assistance. In the video, Tyler can be seen asking, “Has anyone experienced something like this? It just felt so uncanny and bizarre, like literally being evicted from the theater on my friend’s birthday.”
Tyler did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment via TikTok or email.
AMC Customers Share Similar Complaints
Tyler’s story has resonated with other moviegoers, many of whom shared similar grievances in the video’s comments section. One commenter wrote, “This exact situation happened to me in this EXACT theater. They had changed the theater and double-booked the seats. This is NOT a one-time issue!”
Other users shared their own frustrations with AMC’s service. One commenter recalled, “We had an awful experience yesterday at the same AMC. We bought tickets for the 3:30 show, but when we got there, they announced that there was no 3:30 show at all!”
Another commenter recounted an incident where they purchased special collector’s popcorn for Mean Girls but were given regular popcorn without the tin. “They just tried to deliver me regular popcorn without the tin and hoped I wouldn’t notice,” the commenter wrote, illustrating a broader dissatisfaction with AMC’s service.
AMC’s Troubles Continue
Tyler’s viral video is not the first instance of AMC facing customer backlash on social media. Back in March, the theater chain was criticized after a TikTok showed a staff member using a streaming service to play a movie, a mishap that left moviegoers furious. “Always messing stuff up, man,” said B Free, who posted the clip, highlighting ongoing frustration with the company.
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AMC has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident. However, the company has faced repeated criticism from customers over issues ranging from seat reservations and theater cleanliness to errors with ticketing and customer service.
For many, Tyler’s experience raises broader questions about AMC’s management and customer service practices. With movie theaters still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, incidents like these can leave a lasting impact on customer loyalty. While AMC has long been a leader in the theater industry, its reputation may be at risk if these kinds of service issues continue to proliferate.
As Tyler’s video continues to circulate online, the hope is that the viral attention will prompt the theater chain to address the concerns of its patrons and improve its handling of customer service issues in the future.
