Alamo Drafthouse Lays Off Large Portion of Staff

Organizers estimate some sites lost up to 25% of hourly workers

The Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. Union organizers report that management launched mass layoffs this morning at all levels within the company. (Photo by John Anderson)

Staff at the Alamo Drafthouse has been hit by major layoffs, from the corprorate staff to individual locations, in a move that has been refered to as a restructuring.

The cuts at the “dinner and a movie” chain of 44 theatres appear to have affected locations run directly by Sony Pictures Experiences, the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment that owns and operates the Austin-founded company.

Drafthouse United, the union founded in 2022 to represent staff at the Alamo South Lamar, reported that around 34 employees at the flagship location, or roughly 25% of hourly staff, were told by phone call this morning that they were being laid off, effective immediately. This pattern has been reported at Drafthouses around Austin and beyond (although not all locations have been hit equally), while Variety reported that 9% of corporate staff have also lost their jobs.

According to Drafthouse United, staff who were let go were told that they were being released due to the seasonal slowdown, and were selected on a “last in, first out” basis. However, those hit by the layoffs include some extremely experienced staff such as projectionists (among them some with 35mm experience) and programmers, some of whom have been with the Drafthouse for years. The loss of wait and kitchen staff has raised concerns about the visitor experience at locations with reduced staff: however, these losses raise questions about the Drafthouse’s long term commitment to diverse programming and film preservation.

Sony bought the chain in June, 2024 from the previous owners, consisting of Altamont Capital, Fortress Investment Group, and founder Tim League. The cuts come after months of investment in the company by the SPE division, including reopening several locations that were run as franchises, and adding new sites in St. Louis and San Francisco.

Drafthouse United has already launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the hourly workers that have been laid off. Staff may also be eligible for assistance from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, which provides support for people working in theatrical exhibition and distribution, as well as vendors.

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